Children's Home run by Diamond Care Group Limited in Walsall

Inspection report children's home: 2818160 1 Registered provider: Diamond Care Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who have a learning disability or may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection 2 children were living in the home and both spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the home was registered 3 children have moved into the home and 1 child has moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2818160 2 Inspection report children's home: 2818160 3

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improvement to be good

Incident reports are not always completed and often lack key details, including antecedents. This limits an understanding of children’s experiences and prevents effective oversight. In addition, some reports also use language and word that may be perceived as unkind or based on opinions, and this could upset children if they read their own records.

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improvement to be good

Children’s safety plans are generic and do not reflect their individual needs or risks. Without clear guidance, staff lack direction on how to respond appropriately to children’s vulnerabilities. Staff responses are sometimes ineffective and can escalate situations rather than resolve them.de ‑ escalate. When children go missing from home, staff do not always follow agreed protocols and external agencies are not always informed promptly, this delays a coordinated response that increases risks to children.

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improvement to be good

When children experience self-injurious behaviours, the manager implements a six ‑ step safety plan. This is child ‑ centred and provides clear strategies for children to use at difficult moments. One strategy gives children a safe word to indicate that they need support. This reduces feelings of embarrassment and helps children seek help without having to explain.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff show professional curiosity when responding to concerns about exploitation. However, they demonstrate limited understanding of the impact of exploitation and have used victim ‑ blaming terminology. This reduces the quality and effectiveness of support for children who are vulnerable to exploitation.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management systems are not always proportionate and can encourage punitive care. For example, televisions in bedrooms are subject to a reward system that requires children to earn viewing time. Children described this as unfair, which can negatively affect their emotional well ‑ being. Consequences are used but not recorded, which limits managerial oversight and review to ensure they are applied consistently and appropriately.

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improvement to be good

Online safety is poor. There are no monitoring systems or internet restrictions in place, exposing children to significant online risks.

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improvement to be good

Reports of incidents are not always recorded and lack important details. Often without record of antecedents leading up to events. Which inhibits cohesive understanding and oversight of children’s experiences. In addition, staff use stigmatising language that is Inspection report children's home: 2818160 4 opinionated and not child friendly. This could cause distress for children who access their personal files.

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improvement to be good

Children’s safety plans are generic and not tailored to consider individualised care or risks. Without details of children’s specific vulnerabilities staff do not have guidance in how to respond or keep them safe. Staff responses are sometimes ineffective and worsen heightened situations. When children go missing from home, staff do not always follow protocol. External agencies are not informed promptly, delaying a collaborative response and increasing children’s risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

When children experience self-injurious behaviours, the manager implements a six-step safety plan. This is child centred and offers clear and concise strategies for children to apply during difficult moments. One step gives children a safe word that tells staff they need support. This removes feelings of embarrassment and allows children to seek help without having to explain.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff use professional curiosity in response to exploitation concerns. However, they demonstrate poor knowledge of the impact upon children and use victim- blaming terminology. This lack of insight limits the effectiveness and quality of support for children vulnerable to exploitation.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour systems are not always proportionate and encourage punitive care. For example, televisions in children’s bedrooms are subject to a reward system that requires them to earn viewing time. Children recognise this approach is unfair which can negatively affect their emotional well-being. Consequences are implemented but not recorded which impacts oversight and review to ensure they are used fairly.

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improvement to be good

Online safety is poor and there are no monitoring systems or internet restrictions in place. Exposing children to online risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers are committed to ensuring children have positive experiences. They demonstrate awareness of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement and have begun implementing action plans. However, there are shortfalls in oversight of children’s plans and records. Incident reports do not consistently show evidence of management review, leading to missed opportunities to address weaknesses in practice and improve children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Serious incidents have not always been identified or reported to Ofsted in a timely manner. On one occasion, a notifiable incident was submitted three weeks late. There has also been misuse of the notification process, with information submitted that did not meet the criteria. This affects the timing and effectiveness of external scrutiny of safeguarding practice. Inspection report children's home: 2818160 5 Despite these shortfalls, children report that they are happy living in the home. They feel safe and can identify ways that staff show they care. Families are positive about the care their children receive. They value the staff team’s support and the efforts made to promote positive family time. One parent described the registered manager as “amazing” and appreciated the way they share information and keep them involved in their child’s

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Records do not demonstrate that supervision is facilitated consistently. The registered manager holds monthly staff meetings that address practice concerns and development needs. Staff engage in reflective discussions about children’s experiences and emerging needs, demonstrating some elements of child ‑ centred practice. Inspection report children's home: 2818160 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, 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 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— that staff—

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) and (vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring staff consistently follow safeguarding protocol to keep children safe. In addition, the registered person must take effective action should any safeguarding concerns arise. 27 March 2026

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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— 24 April 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2818160 7 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered person having consistent monitoring and review systems to identify any shortfalls in a timely manner. This also relates to managers having sufficient input and oversight of incidents and children's experiences.

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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

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(i)(ii) and (iii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered person ensuring adequate planning and consideration of children's needs prior to children moving in or out of the home. 27 March 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2818160 8 No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child— any form of corporal punishment; any punishment involving the consumption or deprivation of food or drink; any restriction, other than one imposed by a court or in accordance with regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), on— a child's contact with parents, relatives or friends; visits to the child by the child's parents, relatives or friends; a child's communications with any persons listed in regulation 22(1) (contact and access to communications); or a child's access to any internet-based or telephone helpline providing counselling for children;

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Requirement Due date

the use or withholding of medication, or medical or dental treatment; the intentional deprivation of sleep;

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Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation;

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Requirement Due date

withholding any aids or equipment needed by a disabled child;

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Requirement Due date

any measure involving a child imposing any measure against another child; or

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Requirement Due date

any measure involving punishing a group of children for the behaviour of an individual child. (Regulation 19 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i) and (j))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff using consequences and behaviour systems that are proportionate and not excessive. 27 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, 27 March 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2818160 9 sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) and (e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person notifying the regulator of any serious events without delay.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the 'Social care common inspection framework'. This 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'. Inspection report children's home: 2818160 10

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Inspector

Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2818160 11 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

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