Children's Home run by 5ab Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 1 Registered provider: 5ab Care 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 is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to 3 children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since December 2025. A manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 28 October 2025

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: 2740650 2

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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

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child said that they are happy, like living in the home and feel safe. Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and 2 children have moved out.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager completes thorough assessments before children move into the home, even when admissions take place in an emergency. Children are shown a video of the home and are introduced to staff. This helps to reduce their anxieties and supports them to settle quickly. However, staff did not plan one child’s move out of the home well. The child was told about the move with only one day’s notice, and staff did not support them or accompany them to their new home. This resulted in a transition that was neither well planned nor supportive for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been 2 incidents of physical intervention. These were necessary, used only as a last resort and managed appropriately. After each incident, staff speak with the child involved and support them to reflect on what happened. This gives the child the opportunity to talk about their feelings and consider other ways to manage difficult emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

Although children’s care plans and risk assessments clearly set out their current risks, staff do not consistently follow the guidance in them. For example, staff do not always follow procedures or seek medical advice promptly when a child returns to the home appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. This failure to follow safeguarding procedures does not protect children effectively and places their health, safety and wellbeing at risk. This remains a concern from the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are not always cared for in line with the staffing levels identified to meet their needs. For example, during this inspection, one child attended family time with only one member of staff, despite risk management arrangements requiring 2 staff. This shortfall compromises the quality of care and support the child receives and has the potential to place their safety at risk.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not maintain effective monitoring systems, and this has contributed directly to shortfalls in children’s care. Poor oversight and weak management practices have allowed inaccuracies and lack of detail in records to continue. As a result, serious incidents and key conversations with children are not always recorded accurately or consistently, and staff have not always responded appropriately.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risks are not consistently identified or highlighted at the appropriate level. This has contributed to delays in submitting notifications of serious events to Ofsted, Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 3 limiting the timeliness of regulatory oversight. Despite some slight improvements, shortfalls in monitoring and oversight by leaders remain.

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Findings from the inspection

Independent visitor reports are not sent to Ofsted, which further limits external oversight of the home. The manager’s six-monthly review report also lacks feedback from children and external professionals. These shortfalls prevent the regulator from gaining a clear and accurate understanding of what is happening in the home and restrict the timeliness and effectiveness of regulatory oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

External professionals complimented the staff and manager on their good communication.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/01/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 4

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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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff fully understand and consistently follow the guidance set out in each child’s plans, so that children are kept safe at all 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 5 times. In addition, the registered person must ensure that the environment, including children’s bedrooms, is maintained to provide a nurturing and safe space.

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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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

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

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)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must have effective monitoring and review systems in place to ensure that staff consistently provide individualised care to children and that there are enough staff available to meet children’s needs and keep them safe. 30 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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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

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if— 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 6 the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(b)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children who move out of the home are supported and experience a positive and well-planned transition.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

Case records must be kept— (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s records are updated within required timescales and that they are accurate and factual. 30 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the independent person visits the home each month and that a copy of their report is submitted to Ofsted within the required timescales. 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 7 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed;

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (4) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that quality of care reports are submitted to Ofsted and that they include feedback from children, external professionals and families. 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Devonshire Business Centre, Unit 27 Works Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 1GJ

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Inspectors

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Nus Bibi, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2740650 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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