Children's Home run by Affinity Childrens Care Ltd in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821080 1 Registered provider: Affinity Children’s 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 private company operates this home. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience emotional and/or social difficulties. At the time of the visit 2 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025, and they are working towards the required qualification.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the full inspection in November 2025. The scheduled assurance inspection was brought forward to 13 January 2026 to review the provider’s response to serious incidents that had been notified to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The assurance inspection identified serious concerns relating to how staff were responding to incidents in the home. This led to requirements under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). Two recommendations were also made relating to availability of records and the compatibility of children.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the progress made in addressing the shortfalls identified at the assurance inspection. This visit established that the provider has made sufficient improvements to meet the requirements. They have also implemented changes in response to the 2 recommendations.

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This monitoring visit

Since the assurance inspection, staff have carried out additional safeguarding training that has enhanced and refreshed their practice knowledge. Lessons have been learned and staff have reflected on their practice to help them to strengthen their responses to risk, including situations when children are missing from the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821080 2 Leaders and managers have reviewed the children’s individual care plans and wider organisational processes to make them more effective. These changes have been made in collaboration with social care and education professionals and involved discussions with the children about their care and safety.

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This monitoring visit

Direct work with children is more focused, helping them gain an awareness of community risks, and learn and explore ways to keep themselves safer. However, some records use stigmatising language and blaming terminology.

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This monitoring visit

The manager’s role in overseeing incidents and directing staff practice has been reviewed. Managers are more accessible and available to staff and provide guidance and support, specifically outside of core hours. There have been no missing-from- home incidents since the assurance inspection. On one occasion, a child has needed to be physically restrained to keep them safe. Managers reviewed this incident in a timely way and held appropriate discussions with staff and children. Staff are confident in the updated plans and processes and feel supported by managers.

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This monitoring visit

The dynamics and relationships between children in the home are regularly reviewed by staff and managers. There are clear discussions about the children’s needs and risks, and staff’s ability to keep children safe. There has also been effective liaison with the children’s placing local authority to acquire documentation previously missing from the children’s files.

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This monitoring visit

Children are developing positive relationships with staff and feel more settled in the home. Children are now making progress in education, and there has been a reduction in incidents. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821080 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821080 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2821080 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Affinity Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Azzurri House, Walsall Road, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 0RB

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2821080 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted .

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Inspector

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

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