Children's home run by Excel Residential Care Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 1 Registered provider: Excel Residential Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A small private company operates this children’s home. It registered with Ofsted in May 2023. It provides care for one child who has been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. They were present and spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager commenced in post in June 2025. They are suitably experienced and qualified. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 2 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: 2727237 3

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was completed to monitor children’s welfare and the effectiveness of partnership working, in response to complaints and notifications received by Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted 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

The child’s experiences of living in the home have been mixed. Until recently, their experiences had been positive. However, lately, managers’ relationships have become fractured with the child’s family and the local authority. This has caused the child to withdraw and had an impact on their progress. The child was preparing to leave the home at the time of the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the challenges, the child has made considerable progress from their original starting point. Feedback from the child’s parent and the professionals involved the child’s care was very positive about the child’s progress. The child said that they have trusted relationships with staff, and people that they can talk to if they have concerns. They also said that they feel safe in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have supported the child to make progress in their education. The child is now enrolled in suitable education and their attendance has increased. This will support them to improve their educational attainment and improve their future life chances.

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Findings from the inspection

An in-house clinical team support the staff team. They provide staff with monthly consultation and training to help the staff team to gain a better understanding of the child, their history, risk and how to effectively support the child. In addition, staff have been supporting the child to work with external agencies, to understand and manage their own risks. Their risks and restrictions to their liberty have dramatically reduced. As a result, the child is safer.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work with the child and health professionals to promote the child’s health and emotional wellbeing. They encourage and support the child to attend all routine appointments and seek specialist mental health support when required. However, staff have not sought medical guidance when the child has repeatedly refused prescribed medication. While this does not appear to have adversely affected the child’s health and wellbeing, it does have potential to do so.

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Findings from the inspection

Overall, safeguarding practices in the home are effective. Managers and staff know the child well. They ensure that firm routines and boundaries are in place. However, there have been times when the manager, staff, family, and social worker have not worked together to provide the child with well-coordinated care. This has led to disjointed care and a lack of clarity around roles and responsibilities, which has left the child feeling confused and contributed to the breakdown in relationships. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 4 Furthermore, there have been occasions where staff responses appear disproportionate to the child’s risks. For example, police have visited the home when the child was spending time in their room and was not sufficiently responding to staff. These responses have the potential to escalate risk and do not support the child to build trusting relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

While managers oversight of incidents is effective in identifying and rectifying shortfalls in staff practice, they have not always considered the impact on the child and their views. This omission limits the quality of their review and their ability to fully understand how the care provided is impacting on the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a change in the management of the home. A new manager and responsible individual are in post. They have worked hard to strengthen management oversight and have developed a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas of development.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and responsible individual acknowledge the recent challenges and shortfalls in their own practice, which may have negatively contributed to the child’s experiences. Senior managers are planning a full review of recent events. This demonstrates their commitment to learning and the continuous development of the care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have responded to the requirements raised at the previous inspection, which have all been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2025 Full Good 12/11/2024 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 6

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Statutory requirements

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

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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

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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(e)(f)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that the child’s feedback and views are always considered to inform the development of the quality of care. In addition, that managers and staff work as a team to provide the child with predictable and consistent care. 17 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 17 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 7 seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children's home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

 they work collaboratively with the child’s local authority, family, and other partner agencies to ensure that the child receives well-coordinated care;  roles and responsibilities relating to delegated authority are clearly defined; and  when there are challenges or differences of opinion, they work together to minimise the impact on the child.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; and 17 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 8 that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(viii)(ix))(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

 they work together with staff to provide children with consistent care;  when there are challenges in relationships, managers and staff work with children to repair and maintain positive relationships.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that where staff have questions or concerns about a child’s medication, they should approach an expert such as a General Medical Practitioner, community pharmacist or designated nurse for looked-after children. Particularly, when a child continually refuses prescribed medication, they should ensure that medical guidance is sought. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Excel Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Rockside, Mow Cop, Stoke-On-Trent ST7 4PG

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Inspectors

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Hayley Booth, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2727237 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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