Children's Home run by New Focus Child Care LTD in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2838761 1 Registered provider: New Focus Child Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this children’s home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in July 2025 and has not previously been inspected.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a permanent registered manager in post, who is suitably qualified. The registered manager is dual registered with another children’s home also operated by this provider.

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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: 2838761 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home, and they were present and spoken to. They said that they liked living in the home and that they get on with everyone. In a short space of time, the children have made progress. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] was very unsettled before moving in, and we were so concerned about their outcomes. It has been a massive turnaround for them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to ensure that children have positive moves into the home. Staff take the time to ensure that children and the relevant people in children’s lives are spoken to. This ensures that staff are aware of the children’s needs, likes and dislikes so that they can best prepare for them moving in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is prioritised. Both children have had periods in which they have missed school. However, staff have facilitated their quick return to formal education that meets their individual needs. While awaiting school placements, staff ensured that learning resources and support were available in the home to minimise the disruption to the children’s education and give them the best chance to achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s health and well-being needs are promoted effectively. Children are registered with local health services and supported to attend routine and other health appointments. The manager has successfully advocated for the children to receive therapeutic support. This holistic approach helps children to focus positively on their emotional and physical health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are actively sought and considered in the delivery of care. One child requested time with friends from their hometown. Staff worked with other professionals to plan and facilitate this, which has enabled the child to have a friend to stay overnight. This has helped the child to settle well in the home and maintain important relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s home environment is warm and welcoming. It is decorated and furnished to a high standard and kept clean and tidy. The addition of a pet also provides a homely feel. Children say they like their rooms, which are personalised to their tastes. As a result, this creates a sense of belonging, and children feel valued.

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

Staff are working hard to build positive and trusting relationships with children. They recognise that children may struggle to express their emotions and how this can have an impact on their behaviour. Staff have successfully advocated for additional support to help children to understand their feelings and help them to move forward. Inspection report for children’s home: 2838761 3 Staff implement clear routines and boundaries to provide structure to children’s lives. Children have individual goals that help them to understand what is expected of them. They are rewarded for achieving those goals with items of their choosing. This helps the children to feel safe and secure.

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

Children are supported to raise concerns and complaints. When incidents occur, staff ensure that children are spoken to and offered the opportunity to raise any concerns. This provides children with the assurance that their concerns will be listened to.

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

Staff help children to understand how to stay safe. Meaningful conversations take place to discuss incidents and support children to reflect on their actions. Consequences, when used, are reparative in nature. This support helps children to learn and make positive choices that will help to keep them safe in the future.

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

Safer recruitment processes are in place. Appropriate checks are carried out on new staff before they work at the home. This ensures that children are cared for by suitably vetted staff.

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

Some staff do not always have the confidence to manage significant incidents with children. On one occasion, staff struggled to prevent an incident with both children from escalating. Additional staff were brought in to assist, which prolonged the incident and contributed to the children’s continued distress. In her review, the manager has identified important learning and has worked with external professionals to implement a safety plan to help keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. They have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and are working hard to develop a new team of staff. They have a child-focused approach to leadership and are aspirational for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager maintains good oversight of the staff and of the quality of care that children receive. For example, the manager maintains effective oversight of incidents and responds swiftly to address any poor practice. Team meetings are well prepared and used to support staff learning and development. This provides staff with clarity as to the expectations of their role and promotes consistent practice in helping to keep children safe and protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about working in the home and the support they receive from leaders and managers. They receive regular supervision and training opportunities, which help to support their ongoing development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager promotes equality and inclusion in the home. Language that is unkind and disrespectful to others is challenged. External support has also been brought in to help promote tolerance and understanding. Inspection report for children’s home: 2838761 4 The registered manager works collaboratively within children’s professional networks. The manager is competent in sharing information, communicating and advocating for children. Feedback from professionals is positive about the care provided. One professional said, ‘I have no concerns. I am really pleased.’ Another said, ‘Things have been hard, but they have been managed the best way they can.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2838761 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; and

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to manage incidents with children effectively and reduce the risk of incidents escalating. 31 January 2026

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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: 2838761 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Focus Child Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit A4 City Trade Park Dewsbury Road, Fenton, Stoke- on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2TE

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Inspector

Louise Naylor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2838761 7 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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