Children's Home run by Midlands Care Services in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 1 Registered provider: Midlands Care Services

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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 owned by a private company that registered in May 2025. It provides care for up to 4 children who have experienced childhood instability that has resulted in trauma and associated complex behaviours, and for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. The inspector spent time with both children and observed staff interactions with them.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025. The manager is currently working towards their level 5 leadership and management qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was not present during the inspection. However, the responsible individual and the company’s quality assurance manager supported the inspection.

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 11 November 2025

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

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, Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 2 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: 2836386 3

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Findings from the inspection

We 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

Children enjoy living in a comfortable home environment that has been adapted for their needs. They are at ease in the company of staff and peers and have settled well. Children were observed enjoying positive interactions with staff, which included helping to prepare meals and spending time outdoors having fun.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are strong advocates for children. They have been persistent in their ongoing challenge of professionals and other agencies in trying to secure formal education provision for children. This unwavering approach helps to ensure that children receive the educational support they need.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have access to a range of toys and crafts relevant to their age and understanding. They participate in various activities outside the home. However, in the absence of formal education, the children’s days are not always well structured and lack clear planning. This does not help to prepare children for the routines needed when they do return to formal education.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff lack consistency in the use and understanding of communication methods to ensure children’s voices are always heard. However, action is being taken to improve this. Support from a speech and language professional has been secured, and a bespoke training programme to support staff has been put in place. Leaders and managers have also developed additional communication tools, such as a dictionary of words and what they mean for one child. These additional resources should help to support a more consistent approach in which children’s wishes and feelings are better understood and acted on.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and the importance of timely reporting. Refresher training has been completed by all staff and regular safeguarding discussions take place in team meetings to ensure staff understand the procedures and processes in place. This helps to ensure that staff know what to do to help keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children safe from harm. When used, the manager ensures that staff and children are spoken to and that there is effective management oversight. Children are supported to express their feelings using communication aids, such as the wellbeing bear, to indicate if they have been hurt. This helps to ensure that the use of physical intervention is appropriate, proportionate and that any learning is shared to improve practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Fire safety is taken seriously. Children have personal emergency evacuation plans that are kept under regular review. Staff take time to explain the fire procedure to children using resources suitable for their understanding. Children are also Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 4 supported to engage in fire drills. This support helps to ensure that everyone knows what to do in the event of fire.

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Findings from the inspection

Staffing stability has improved since the last inspection. There have been minimal changes and there are sufficient staff in place to meet the children’s needs. Most staff are either qualified or enrolled to become qualified. To help with staff retention, leaders and managers have reviewed recruitment processes to ensure potential staff fully understand the role they have applied for. These actions have helped to improve the consistency and continuity of care that children receive.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are taking action to address shortfalls in the quality of children’s records and care planning. Staff receive ongoing training and development in reporting and recording. Supervision sessions are also being used to reinforce expectations on staff, which has led to some improvements. However, further improvement work is still needed to ensure that written records provide clear guidance to staff. This is important in ensuring children receive consistent care.

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Findings from the inspection

Three of the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. One requirement and one recommendation have been reissued and a new requirement raised. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 6

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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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff consistently use communication aids in line with children’s plans to support children to express their views, wishes and feelings. The registered person must ensure that records of discussions clearly identify how communication aids have been used to support clear and effective communication. 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 7 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with a clear structure which supports children’s ongoing learning, development and general wellbeing. 30 April 2026

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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. 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) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Midlands Care Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 1, Izabella House, 24-26 Regent Place, Birmingham B1 3NJ

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Inspector

Louise Naylor, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2836386 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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Inspector

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