Children's home run by Ashwood Children’s Care Home Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2841480 1 Registered provider: Ashwood Children’s Care Home 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 August 2025 and is privately owned. It provides care for one child who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced to oversee the home.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 2841480 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved into the home during this period, and no children have moved out since registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was provided with child ‑ friendly information ahead of their move, helping them prepare for meeting new adults and settling into a new home. A personalised welcome pack, reflecting the child’s interests, was also provided to help them feel valued and supported during the transition. The home is spacious, homely and well maintained. Minor repairs are addressed weekly, when necessary, to ensure that the environment remains of a high quality and makes the child feel safe and comfortable. Photos displayed in communal areas show the child having fun and enjoying their time in the home. Resources tailored to the child’s individual needs are available, including a sensory room equipped with a range of play activities and materials. This supports the child in regulating their emotions and helps staff understand and respond to their needs effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was admitted to the home within four days of the referral being received. Although this was a compressed time frame, leaders stated that the decision to admit the child was informed by an assessment of their immediate needs. While pre ‑ admission meetings took place, key information in the child’s plans was not fully considered. As a result, the child’s needs were not fully understood. Consequently, managers did not ensure that staff were adequately prepared to meet the child’s needs in the community, nor did they provide sufficient oversight to ensure that risks were fully recognised and managed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the child has only been in the home for a relatively short period, they have begun to make progress in forming positive connections with staff and leaders. Staff are making effective inroads in developing trusting relationships and providing stability and consistency, which helps the child feel safe and cared for. The child can express their worries and confide in staff, helping them feel heard and supported. This also allows the home to make appropriate specialist referrals when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has an education, health and care plan, which was reviewed recently to ensure that it reflects their individual needs and agreed outcomes. However, the specialist school provision the child had attended for over a year has now ended. As a result, managers and staff are delivering an interim learning package until a new school is identified. Leaders continue to advocate with all relevant agencies and will escalate concerns when necessary to secure a suitable long ‑ term school placement. This demonstrates their commitment to ensuring that the child has access to education and continues to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are well met. All required specialist referrals and ongoing assessments are in place. When barriers arise, the manager actively pursues progress Inspection report for children’s home: 2841480 3 with external agencies and advocates strongly to ensure that the child receives the support they need. Medication is securely stored and well managed. When an error occurs, there is a swift and well ‑ coordinated response from managers. Regular medication reviews with clinicians are now firmly established, supporting effective monitoring of the child’s health and wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to a range of activities, and there are established methods for them to express their preferences and interests. This helps the child to feel heard and provides opportunities for them to try new experiences and have fun. Recent activities have included tobogganing, basketball and swimming.

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improvement to be good

A significant safeguarding incident occurred in the community during which the child was harmed. Before this incident, managers did not provide staff with the necessary guidance, clarity or oversight to ensure that the child’s risks in the community were fully understood or safely managed. This shortfall in leadership meant that staff were not adequately equipped to monitor or support the child, and this directly contributed to the incident. In response, managers have carried out an urgent review of all protocols relating to community ‑ based activities, implemented disciplinary action where appropriate, and reinforced expectations around supervision to ensure that the child and others are better protected from harm.

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improvement to be good

To keep the child and others safe, necessary and lawful restrictions are in place. These restrictions are proportionate, applied under agreed conditions and clearly reflected in the child’s care and risk management plans. All restrictions are reviewed through a robust multi ‑ agency decision ‑ making process to ensure that they remain appropriate. Managers and staff maintain accurate records and use a clear evaluative process to identify learning and opportunities for improvement.

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improvement to be good

Staff and managers use well-planned and considered strategies to encourage positive behaviour. The reward system is aligned with the child’s developmental needs and personal interests, offering meaningful incentives. A daily praise book captures positive moments, which are shared with the child. This nurturing approach supports the child’s emotional and social development.

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improvement to be good

There has been a considerable number of physical interventions during the inspection period. These interventions have been used only as a last resort and were deemed necessary and proportionate by staff and managers. Following each incident, the child and staff are spoken with, and all required procedures are adhered to. The child knows how to make a complaint, and their concerns are responded to quickly and appropriately. This reinforces that the child’s views are valued and contributes to a safe environment.

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improvement to be good

When allegations are raised against a member of staff, they are taken seriously, and referrals are made to the local authority designated officer without delay, with all Inspection report for children’s home: 2841480 4 required procedures followed. Leaders handle all allegations effectively, maintaining and reviewing a detailed chronology to support oversight and analysis. This information is shared weekly with the placing authority’s social worker, who also monitors it for care ‑ planning purposes. The home adopts a restorative approach to repairing relationships between staff and the child following any allegation or incident, using a therapeutic lens that helps the child feel heard and understood and provides them with a safe space to explore any powerful feelings or memories.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and suitably qualified manager who has high aspirations for the child and the service. An experienced part ‑ time deputy manager works closely with the manager, forming a strong and supportive leadership partnership. Both leaders share a clear commitment to achieving the best outcomes for the child and to valuing and developing their team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment and retention have presented challenges for leaders; however, the home now has a committed and motivated team of staff who have received a thorough induction and training programme, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care. Staff speak positively about their roles, feel well supported by leaders and demonstrate ambition to continue learning and progressing. Although managers have received specific training to understand the complexities of the child’s needs, it has not yet been delivered to the wider staff team. As a result, not all staff are currently able to support the child appropriately. While managers have identified this important shortfall, it must be addressed immediately to ensure that the entire team is equipped to meet the child’s needs consistently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders understand the emotional effects on staff working in challenging environments and provide access to the in ‑ house therapist for support and therapeutic input. This helps staff understand the child’s behaviours through a trauma ‑ informed lens and apply the PACE model of care principles in their practice, helping the child feel safe and understood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and review systems provide strong managerial oversight. Leaders carry out regular quality assurance audits to identify strategic responsibilities, strengths and areas for development. They acknowledge recent shortfalls in this area and are prioritising improvements to strengthen internal procedures for future admissions. This includes ensuring that all relevant documentation is reviewed and managed appropriately before any child moves into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals report positively on the home’s work. A local authority social work manager commented that the team has ensured support is well matched to the child’s needs and that staff and leaders have advocated effectively in relation to the child’s education and health needs. They also reported that, despite significant incidents, staff have continued to show up and provide consistent, nurturing care for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2841480 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all plans, including those relating to activities in the community, clearly detail all known risks and behaviours, along with the strategies staff should use to reduce those risks. In addition, the registered person must ensure that all staff fully understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children. 30 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

promotes their welfare. 30 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2841480 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive specialist training and acquire the necessary knowledge relating to each child living in the home so that support is provided consistently and is informed by a clear understanding of the child’s needs.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all known information and plans regarding the child are thoroughly discussed before admission. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.6)

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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: 2841480 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ashwood Children’s CareHome Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: G43a Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire DE15 0YZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jonathan Cammiss

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Inspector

Gill Rudkin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2841480 8 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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