Children's home run by CR Children’s Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2842753 1 Registered provider: CR Children’s Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2025 and is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025 and was present on both days of the inspection.

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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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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2842753 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children at the home have chosen to refer to the staff who care for them as ‘adults’, as they feel this creates a more homely environment. In recognition of the children’s wishes, this report also uses this term.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults support children by demonstrating empathy and understanding towards them. They feel comfortable and relaxed because adults know them well and understand how to best support them and meet their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans capture the children’s needs and how to best support them. The plans help adults learn about the children. Adults actively encourage the children to engage in activities and develop their skills. A particular focus is placed on the emotional wellbeing of the children to support their ability to manage it effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults are aspirational and focused on ensuring that children access education. When children are unable to attend formal education, adults provide a range of alternative learning opportunities that use different approaches and activities. Although neither child is currently enrolled with an education provider, adults have made extensive efforts to secure appropriate provision. This includes working with key agencies and arranging assessments of need where required. Securing the right provision for each child is a priority. As a result, children continue to engage in purposeful educational activities while they wait for suitable education placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The adults ensure that children have a range of opportunities to express their wishes and feelings. Regular meetings and key-work sessions provide safe spaces for children to talk and communicate in ways that suit them best. Children’s views are listened to and responded to meaningfully. Key-work discussions show that children’s ideas on important topics are implemented in practice, helping them feel genuinely heard. For example, children shared their preferences around food and activities, and adults responded with flexibility and creativity to incorporate these views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time and the children’s cultural needs are prioritised. Adults adapt their approach to each child and ensure children’s autonomy when planning time with their family. Adults explore the children’s specific cultural needs. The parent of one child said they were happy about the support their child received, which they felt helped their child to feel happier and be safer.

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

The adults have a strong understanding of children’s complex needs and vulnerabilities. They keep children safe through their skilled and consistent focus on building positive relationships. This enables children to express their worries and seek support. The adults Inspection report for children’s home: 2842753 3 speak with children openly and with empathy, which helps children feel listened to and understood. One child reported feeling safe living in the home.

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

The adults understand the potential risks for children online. They work with children to create plans to mitigate these risks while also encouraging them to discuss their online lives and activities. This has helped build a culture where children feel able to be honest about their online activity.

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

When a child has gone missing, there has been a comprehensive response from adults. This includes liaising with key agencies, such as the police and local authority. Debriefs take place with the children. The registered manager has also carried out reflective lessons-learned exercises after missing-from-home episodes. This shows how practice adapts with the aim of reducing risks.

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

Communication between adults and professionals is consistent and well established. Professionals spoken to said that this is key to how well risks are managed and in keeping children safe. One professional said, ‘The communication is excellent; they will always update me around any concerns.’

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

When a child makes a complaint, managers carry out a thorough investigation, and the outcome is clearly shared with the child.

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

The registered manager has a clear understanding of the potential risks in the local area. However, they have failed to update documentation with additional details about nearby isolated areas that children may access if missing from care or areas that may pose increased risk for self-harm or suicide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The adults working at the home feel well supported by the manager and speak highly of the support they receive. One adult said, ‘I can confidently say this is the best place I have worked at.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing of the home is stable, ensuring that children are cared for by a consistent staff team, which contributes to children’s feelings of safety. Adults work hard to create a warm and welcoming environment, which is in line with the ethos and culture of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults in the home receive comprehensive support. Team meetings are planned and detailed. They include links to practice and learning. Adults receive regular supervision that includes discussions about practice and their wellbeing. Supervision also includes ways to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has detailed workforce development and home development plans that focus on future improvements. They have an established and consistent quality assurance process in place, which ensures that there is a level of consistency in adults’ recording and practice in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2842753 4 When adults start employment, they receive a comprehensive induction that combines training and shadowing experienced colleagues. This preparation equips adults with the confidence and skills they need before working directly with children, and carefully planned introductions help children feel safe and comfortable with new adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment checks are generally safe; however, records do not clearly demonstrate that all references have been fully verified. Inspection report for children’s home: 2842753 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that recruitment of adults safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This specifically relates to evidencing in writing the verbal verification of references. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that the home is suitably located so that children are safeguarded effectively and can access services to meet their identified needs. The review of the home’s location should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented in the area and strategies for managing these. This specifically relates to ensuring that locations where a child may go missing, such as an isolated spot, are included in the assessment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: 2842753 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CR Children’s Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Dairy, Friz Hill Farm Barns, Walton, Warwick CV35 9HH

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Inspector

John McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2842753 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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