Children's Home run by Goldfield Care UK Ltd in Lincolnshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 1 Registered provider: Goldfield Care UK Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to 3 children who require support in respect of social, emotional and behavioural needs, including learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

All children were observed and 2 children were spoken to by the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently led by a manager who is not yet registered.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 9 December 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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 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: 2782919 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not created up to date plans to support children with their needs and associated risks. Plans developed to direct staff how to care for children and keep them safe lack detail and are out of date. Therefore, staff are not following the plans in place to keep children safe. This has meant a child has been able to meet up with people they have communicated with on the internet.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers had concerns about a child’s safety when spending time with friends in the community. In response, they developed plans and implemented measures to keep the child safe. However, when arranging for the child to visit a friend, leaders and managers did not follow these plans or create new ones to ensure the child’s safety. Due to a lack of safety planning, the child was able to consume over-the-counter medication more than the recommended dosage.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not provided a robust response to serious safeguarding concerns. A child has been able to obtain a key which provides access to money, medication and another child’s belongings. An unknown person has been able to enter the children’s home without staff being aware. Leaders and managers have not taken action to understand how either of these events have happened. Although they have introduced measures, the effectiveness of these measures cannot be assured without proper investigation. When there have been significant incidents, staff have not always informed safeguarding agencies within expected timescales.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken some action to understand the potential risks the living environment poses to the children. This work has not extended to ensuring that all children’s bedrooms provide a safe and nurturing space that supports their wellbeing. One child’s bedroom has no window covering, adequate storage or maintained decoration.

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Findings from the inspection

The previous inspection identified that not all staff had the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s individual needs. Although leaders and managers have made some progress, not all staff have received training in substance misuse or in safely removing ligatures, despite these being known needs of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

The previous inspection also identified leaders and managers have not adhered to safer recruitment practice when employing new staff. Leaders and managers have not taken sufficient action to improve this. Leaders and managers have not yet reflected on how learning from allegations made about staff can be identified, embedded and used to improve practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have strengthened how staff record searches of children’s belongings. Staff now record these searches. Systems have been introduced to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 3 make sure children’s voices are heard and taken into account when their belongings are searched.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have created a plan to ensure that all staff have access to a regular performance appraisal. Leaders and managers have reflected on how previous complaints from children were responded to and have identified areas for learning. This learning has been shared with managers to strengthen how they respond to children when concerns or complaints are raised.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have increased their presence in the home and implemented systems to monitor and evaluate the care provided to children. The responsible individual visits the home weekly and spends time with children and reviews their care. The responsible individual and the manager complete monthly audits of children’s records. As part of improving the monitoring of care, the responsible individual has worked with the independent person to ensure that reports are submitted to Ofsted following each visit to the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual has improved how the dynamics between children are assessed and supported when children move into the home. Although no children have moved into the home, this improved process has been implemented successfully in another children’s home.

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Findings from the inspection

Two requirements have been met and 3 have been reinstated. One new requirement and one new recommendation has been made. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/12/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/12/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 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 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that: 15 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 6  children’s bedrooms are furnished and maintained to support their health and well-being.

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Requirement Due date

 plans are developed to support children with their needs and associated risks and that staff follow these plans.

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Requirement Due date

 staff are equipped to consider children’s individual needs and associated risks when making decisions about the care provided.

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Requirement Due date

 all events of a safeguarding nature are fully understood by leaders, managers and staff before deciding on action to keep children safe.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff receive training that equips them to meet children’s needs, including substance use and safely removing ligature risks.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff’s practice is considered following allegations made by children. 15 May 2026

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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; and 15 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that each child has individual care plans that reflects and meets their assessed needs as identified by the placing authority.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that, when appropriate, children have plans that support the development and promotion of their independence.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. 15 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 8 (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should seek to involve the local authority and other relevant people whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. They are also required by regulation 40 to notify placing authorities, Ofsted and other relevant persons about serious events. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Goldfield Care UK Ltd

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Inspector

Laura Copus, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2782919 10 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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