Children's home run by Athena Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2845281 1 Registered provider: Athena Children’s Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in September 2025 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in October 2025. There is a manager in post who has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Date of last inspection:

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Date of last inspection:

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2845281 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home opened, 3 children have moved into the home. Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection, and 2 children spoke with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm, welcoming and personalised to each child. Bedrooms reflect children’s identities and preferences. The staff support children to look after their personal space. This contributes to children feeling valued, respected and settled at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote an inclusive and welcoming environment in which diversity is recognised, valued and celebrated. They take time to understand each child’s identity, cultural background and personal experiences. As a result, children feel respected and develop a strong sense of belonging. For example, staff supported a child who recently arrived from another country. They researched traditional foods and cultural recipes to help the child feel more at home and to ensure that familiar dishes could be prepared. This thoughtful and personalised approach demonstrates the setting’s commitment to meeting children’s individual needs and promoting cultural inclusion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are consistently sought and acted on. Staff provide regular opportunities for children to share what matters to them. When group meetings are not well attended, staff adapt practice and meet with children individually, so their voices are not lost.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work effectively to remove barriers to communication so that children are well understood. For example, they arranged an interpreter for a child who is developing his English language. This ensured he understood the children’s guide and the expectations of the home, and could meaningfully contribute to discussions about his care. Staff also ensure he has access to advocacy services, which strengthens his ability to express his views and influence decisions about his life. As a result, children are listened to and their views inform their day-to-day experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from regular and positive contact with their families. Staff manage this sensitively and with a high level of flexibility, ensuring that arrangements reflect each child’s individual needs. Families consistently speak highly of the home, describing staff as ‘amazing, caring and friendly’ and expressing strong confidence in the care their children receive. One parent told the inspector, ‘I can go home knowing he is safe… they are so flexible.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their individual starting points because staff provide consistent, nurturing care and clear routines. Staff recognise and celebrate children’s achievements in ways that build their confidence, self-esteem and sense of identity. They support children effectively to develop age-appropriate independence skills and resilience. However, weekly planners are stored in the staff office rather than in Inspection report for children’s home: 2845281 3 communal areas accessible to children. As a result, children must ask staff to view information about their routines, which limits their autonomy and does not fully promote their ownership of daily plans.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff know the children well and understand their individual risks and vulnerabilities. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of each child’s needs and implement agreed strategies to keep them safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing, the missing-from-care protocol is implemented promptly and appropriately, with staff notifying the police in line with expectations. On return, children are offered time and space to talk about their experiences. Return-home interviews are offered by the local authority, although these are not always accepted by the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Room searches are carried out sensitively, with clear recording and oversight. Staff ensure that children understand the reason for any search, and reassurance is provided throughout. Consequences are minimal and, when used, are proportionate and clearly linked to behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incident records demonstrate largely therapeutic and nurturing approaches. Staff focus on reinforcing positive behaviour, supporting emotional regulation, and helping children understand the impact of their actions. This supports a home in which children feel safe, listened to and supported to make safer choices.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments and individual plans are up to date, regularly reviewed and clearly identify risks and protective factors. Although these documents are clear and concise, they do not yet consistently reflect the child’s voice or their input into planning.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Daily records and incident documents do not always capture children’s discussions, views or voice in their own words. This limits the home’s ability to evidence how staff show curiosity, warmth and reflective practice, or how children contribute to their own care journey.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the time of the inspection, the registered manager post is vacant. The acting team manager holds relevant qualifications and is working towards her level 5 in leadership and management. She has submitted her application to register with Ofsted. The inspection was led by the acting manager supported by the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a strong understanding of the children’s individual needs and consistently implement child-focused practice. They advocate effectively for the children and ensure their voices and best interests are central to all decision-making. Inspection report for children’s home: 2845281 4 Leaders and managers have established positive, trusting relationships with children, families and professionals. This contributes to a homely and nurturing environment, where children feel safe and well supported. One professional described communication as, ‘Brilliant I receive weekly reports on time, I am kept informed with constant updates, I am always in the loop.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a clear understanding of the team’s strengths and areas for development. They have set out a purposeful and realistic plan for improving practice and embedding consistent standards across the home. The acting manager is successfully establishing a new staff team, supported by a structured induction and a clear training matrix.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Admissions into the home are well considered, with risks appropriately assessed and balanced against the needs of children already living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions that provide meaningful opportunities for reflection, wellbeing discussions and professional development. Staff reported feeling well supported and valued, saying. ‘They support us really well… we get to have our say, and they listen to us.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose has not been updated and shared with Ofsted to reflect the current workforce and their experience and qualifications. Inspection report for children’s home: 2845281 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the following elements of the workforce plan should be included in the Statement of Purpose, the staffing structure and the experience and qualifications of staff (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should ensure that children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’, supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58 paragraph 11.19)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2845281 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Athena Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Spring Road, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8LT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Tanisha Boughton

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Inspector

Sallie Bloomfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2845281 7 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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