Children's Home run by Clear Water Care Homes Ltd in Sandwell

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 1 Registered provider: Clear Water Care Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in June 2021. She is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. Three children spoke with the inspector.

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Inspection date: 28 January 2026

Date of last inspection: 9 September 2025

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Inspection date: 28 January 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

An assurance visit at this children’s home was undertaken following whistle blowing concerns reported to Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Four children currently live at the home and, overall, they report feeling safe. Children benefit from well-maintained communal and outdoor spaces that provide opportunities for relaxation and meaningful activities. Bedrooms are appropriately furnished and personalised with children’s own belongings, which helps to promote a sense of identity and belonging. This supports children to feel secure and settled in the home and contributes positively to their emotional stability and ongoing progress.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager and deputy manager demonstrate a strong understanding of children’s individual vulnerabilities and the potential risks they face. Clear guidance and agreed strategies are set out in written risk assessments, which staff follow consistently. This understanding is well embedded in day-to-day practice and enables staff to effectively reduce and manage risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff encourage children to enjoy a variety of activities. Activities include soft play and boxing. Some of these experiences are new to the children. Children are supported to take age ‑ appropriate risks, for example spending time out with friends and having suita- ble access to mobile devices. Staff also encourage children to express their identity and are accepting in their approach. This builds children’s self-esteem and emotional well- being.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of children going missing from the home are low. However, when incidents do occur, staff are effective in how they manage and support these incidents to help the children return quickly and safely. When located, the children are welcomed back home and offered reassurance.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has taken appropriate action to strengthen external monitoring arrangements; independent visitor reports are now submitted to Ofsted, improving regulatory oversight. However, the registered manager has not yet ensured that the independent visitor consistently seeks and includes feedback from family members and relevant professionals. This limits the use of external perspectives to inform reflective practice and to further improve the quality of care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager does not always notify external professionals and the regulator in a timely manner when serious incidents have taken place. This lack of information-sharing weakens external scrutiny of the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 3 Leaders and managers did not make the local authority aware of a safeguarding concern regarding a child in their care. The failure to inform the appropriate safeguarding agencies promptly significantly limits their ability to assess risk, take timely protective action, and ensure the ongoing safety and welfare of children.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has not ensured that an up-to-date statement of purpose has been provided to Ofsted. This shortfall means the home has not supplied a current staffing structure, limiting the regulators understanding of how the home is organised and staffed.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual does not use thorough, consistent approaches when managing allegations. There have been huge delays in sharing concerns with professionals. There has been a lack of professional curiosity, and investigations do not identify the shortfalls in staff practice or implement effective actions to improve this. As a result, statutory safeguarding responsibilities have not been fulfilled.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager’s monitoring systems are embedded in her practice and provide her with effective oversight of the day-to-day running of the home. However, oversight from the responsible individual is poor. There are currently no robust quality assurance systems in place to independently evaluate the standard of care provided to children. While the responsible individual recognises this shortfall and has begun to introduce quality assurance audits, these arrangements are not yet implemented and will require time to become fully established. As a result, there is limited assurance that weaknesses in practice are consistently identified and addressed in a timely manner to drive improvement. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/09/2025 Full Good 14/05/2024 Full Good 23/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the registered person and responsible individual ensuring that the local authority are made aware of any safeguarding concerns regarding children in their care. 6 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 6 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 6 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to leaders of the home ensuring robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place, used regularly, and recorded.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to any revised statement of purpose being submitted to HMCI within 28 days. 6 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to an incident that leaders understood should have been notified to Ofsted. 6 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the 6 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 7 independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent visitor consults with all relevant people, including children, during their visits and reports are sent to HMCI within timescales. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Clear Water Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Elsenwood Crescent, Camberley, Surrey GU15 2BA

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Inspector

Julia Tompson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 9 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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