Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 1 Registered provider: Reflexion 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 registered to provide care for up to 3 children who have suffered adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours and with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and forms part of a large social care organisation that also provides education and therapeutic services. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home. All 3 children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

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

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2025 Full Good 06/02/2024 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 22/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have lived in the home for more than 2 years, and one child has moved in since the last inspection. All children are making progress from their individual starting points. However, the response to a safeguarding allegation made by one child was not sufficiently robust. This shortfall in safeguarding oversight has affected the child's experience and reduces the overall effectiveness of the care provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's moves into and out of the home are carefully considered and child centred. When children move into the home, including in emergency situations, managers ensure that relevant information is gathered and that children already living in the home are prepared appropriately. One child who moved on from the home did so in line with their care plan. Managers and staff provided individualised planning and thoughtful preparation, which supported a well-coordinated move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff advocate for children's education. Communication with schools is effective, and any concerns are addressed promptly. When issues arise, leaders work collaboratively with education providers to identify solutions and put support in place to improve outcomes for children. As a result, children benefit from consistent engagement in education and tailored support that meets their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to universal health services, and those who require additional specialist support are referred to the appropriate professionals. Managers and staff are committed to promoting children's emotional health and wellbeing. Managers ensure that children receive input from the home's clinical lead, enabling them to benefit from interventions that are tailored to their individual needs. As a result, children make progress in their emotional development and overall wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience a wide range of meaningful activities and opportunities that reflect their interests and talents. One child competes in gymnastics at a national level and receives consistent support from staff to pursue her ambitions. All children benefit from individualised support and regular participation in activities they enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's relationships with the people who are important to them are actively promoted by staff. This includes facilitating a range of family time arrangements. This support contributes positively to children's sense of identity and emotional development.

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improvement to be good

Following a significant concern, leaders did not refer an allegation to the local authority designated officer when it was reported. The internal review that was undertaken was limited in scope and did not consider all relevant records or contextual risk factors. There was insufficient professional curiosity about the inconsistencies, particularly in light of Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 4 recent history of substantiated abuse. As a result, the response to the allegation did not provide full assurance that the child's voice was explored robustly or that risks were comprehensively assessed. Leaders did not demonstrate sufficient safeguarding challenge or escalation in response to delays in multi-agency actions. This shortfall compromises the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements.

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improvement to be good

Children have trusting relationships with staff. They say that they feel safe and can identify staff members and managers who support and protect them. One child said that they have changed their behaviour because of the help they have received from staff.

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improvement to be good

For most children, incidents are rare. When children become dysregulated, staff use agreed escalation strategies to help manage behaviour. When physical intervention is necessary, it is proportionate and used only to prevent harm. Records of physical interventions are clear and show that managers review each incident and provide opportunities for children and staff to reflect.

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improvement to be good

Staff and managers place an emphasis on promoting positive behaviour through praise and rewards. Consequences are used infrequently and are generally proportionate. Staff also engage children in regular discussions about risk and safety, helping them to develop a better understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a child-focused manager who has high aspirations for children and a clear vision for developing the staff team and the home environment. She promotes a nurturing, child-centred culture, and the staff team is invested in children's progress and outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers use a range of reviewing and monitoring systems that generally provide effective oversight of the home. These systems help the manager to understand strengths and areas for development. However, oversight relating to the management of a recent safeguarding allegation was not sufficiently robust. The manager's internal review lacked analytical depth and did not demonstrate a comprehensive evaluation of all available evidence. This was a missed opportunity to ensure that safeguarding practice was rigorously scrutinised and improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual has broad oversight of the homes management, however in a small number of discrete areas there is insufficient evidence of independent evaluative scrutiny or challenge to ensure that safeguarding arrangements are consistently effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well supported by leaders and describe morale as positive. They receive regular supervision that provides space for reflection and professional development. Team meetings are used effectively to promote learning, share information and consider children's needs. Involvement from the clinical team strengthens staff understanding of children's behaviour and supports a therapeutic approach. Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 5 Professionals and family members speak positively about the support provided to children and how this contributes to children feeling settled and making progress. Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 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 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all allegations or concerns raised by children about harm caused by staff are managed in line with the home's child protection policies and relevant statutory guidance. This must include, but is not limited to, ensuring the following:

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Requirement Due date

 Information is shared promptly with the local authority designated officer.  Appropriate risk management measures are implemented while investigations are ongoing.  Safeguarding investigations are thorough and demonstrate professional curiosity, taking into account all available information and relevant records.  Children are spoken to independently and their views are fully explored and recorded. 29 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 7 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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that monitoring and review systems are sufficiently robust to identify, analyse and address shortfalls in practice. This must include ensuring that:  Managers' oversight of safeguarding incidents is analytical and demonstrates clear identification of learning, required actions and improvements needed to reduce risk.  The responsible individual provides effective and independent oversight, including appropriate challenge when concerns are identified in safeguarding practice. 29 March 2026

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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 for children's home: 1256638 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Fitzroy Academy, Cruckton, Shrewsbury SY5 8PR

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Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1256638 9 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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