Children's home run by YCPG Services Ltd in Walsall

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 1 SC392492 Registered provider: YCPG Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience childhood instability, which may lead to trauma and associated risks.

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Information about this children's home

The manager is registered with Ofsted. At the time of this inspection, the manager was absent from work and an interim manager was overseeing the day-to-day care.

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Information about this children's home

The responsible individual left in October 2025. The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 1 child was living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 11 and 12 November 2025, Ofsted carried out a full inspection of the children's home. Serious and widespread concerns were identified in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home. The home was judged inadequate. A compliance notice in relation to regulation 12 of 'The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015' was issued along with a restriction of accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

On 27 November 2025, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit of the home to review the compliance notice and to ensure that the restriction notice had been adhered to. No other requirements or recommendations were reviewed at this inspection. Ofsted found that managers and staff had continued to fail to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the safety and wellbeing of children and ensure that the restriction notice had been adhered to. No other requirements or recommendations were reviewed at this inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 2 There is one child living in the home. The child is subject to a deprivation of liberty order due to risks of exploitation. Due to the progress the child was making, and in line with care planning, a multi agency decision was reached for the child to spend time away from the home independently. At the time of this visit, the child had been missing from their home for several days.

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This monitoring visit

The child did not receive sufficient preparation and support from staff to understand risks of exploitation before having independent time away from the home for the first time. The child was given independence time without the necessary guidance to promote their safety or build their confidence in managing risk appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

Insufficient consideration of risk at certain locations did not take full account of the known risks of exploitation. While the decision was made with other agencies, the provider did not act when this meant the child was able to spend time in areas they were potentially more vulnerable and without the necessary safeguards to reduce risk. The provider did not appropriately explore the rationale and potential risks associated with this decision.

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This monitoring visit

When the child went missing from home, there was insufficient exploration of information gathered that may have assisted in locating the child. For example, staff were not aware of significant addresses, limiting informed exploration of locations. In addition, safeguarding practice lacked the necessary professional curiosity. Although information was shared with safeguarding agencies, a lack of internal action was taken to increase opportunities to locate the child.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been improvements in sharing information with safeguarding agencies. Ofsted has been kept updated of safeguarding concerns, and managers have maintained regular communication with the local authority and the police to support effective information-sharing and coordinated decision-making.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor the home and has issued a notice of proposal to cancel the home's registration. The restriction of accommodation remains in place.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2025 Full Inadequate 29/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 3

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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 with 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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that effective action is taken following any safeguarding concerns, and that children's plans are kept up to date and give clear direction to staff to support children. 31 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 4 They must also ensure that any allegation made against members of staff are fully investigated to ensure the safety of children.

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Requirement Due date

They must ensure that staff have a clear understanding of the risks associated with children and have the correct training to meet children's needs and keep them safe.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that effective risk assessments are completed when supporting a child's independence and free time in the community. These assessments should thoroughly consider environmental factors to mitigate any potential risks. In addition, clear plans must be in place to guide staff responses should a child go missing, and staff must consistently act on these plans.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and was subject to a compliance notice. This requirement was not met at this inspection.

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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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;

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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; and 12 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(e)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they have effective oversight of all incidents and take action to address any concerns.

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Requirement Due date

They must also ensure that there is a consistent staff team to provide care to children, who they can form relationships with.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, they must ensure that the staff have the relevant skills and abilities to meet the needs of the children living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and was not reviewed as part of this inspection.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that there is an effective process in place to asses children’s identified risks and their suitability to live in the home alongside other children, before they move into the home. Also, they should ensure that staff are suitably qualified, experienced and trained to meet the children's needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and was not reviewed as part of this inspection. 12 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must— 12 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 6 have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that the responsible individual has effective and consistent supervision of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and was not reviewed as part of this inspection.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: YCPG Services Limited, Unit 1, Fairground Way, Walsall, West Midlands WS1 4NU

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Inspectors

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Hayley Booth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC392492 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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