Children's Home run by Harmony Childcare Residential Homes Ltd in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2495967 1 Registered provider: Harmony Childcare Residential Homes 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 by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to 3 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently left. A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 17 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 these inspections, the inspector(s) 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: 2495967 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 previous inspection 2 children were living in the home. The same children remain living there, and no other children have moved in or out. The children are very settled and are making good progress. They were both present during the inspection and were happy and comfortable with the staff who care for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reflected and learned from the previous inspection judgement. They accepted that weaknesses in placement planning had led to unplanned endings for some children. Although no new children have moved in, managers have considered referrals and were able to demonstrate thorough information gathering and decision making. This improved focus on robust planning helps to ensure that children’s needs are thoroughly understood before new children move into the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from a high level of staff support. Staff are good advocates for them and respectfully challenge when services are not meeting children’s needs. For example, 1 child’s needs are not being fully met at school, and the manager has advocated for an additional assessment to enable a move to a new, specialist school that can better meet their needs. An advocate has also been requested to ensure that the child’s views are considered when decisions are made.

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Findings from the inspection

Relationships in the home are warm and friendly. Children get along well and enjoy spending time playing games and doing activities together. When children occasionally bicker, staff respond well to encourage children to reflect on their behaviour and consider the other person’s feelings. Relationships between staff and children are also very positive. Staff genuinely care about the children, and their wellbeing is at the heart of everything that happens in the home. Children enjoy spending time with staff and show this through lots of humour and cuddles.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have strengthened their processes to ensure that children are supervised effectively. Shift patterns have been changed so that there are now senior staff present on all shifts and team meetings have been used to discuss expectations with staff. There have been no further incidents relating to poor supervision of children.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have taken action to improve recruitment checks. A previously missing document has been obtained and confirms that the person is suitable to work in the home. 1 new member of staff has joined the home and the recruitment checks completed meet the requirements. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2495967 3 Behaviour is well managed. There have been no incidents of any kind since the previous inspection which demonstrates how settled the children are. Staff understand children’s needs and triggers, and their caring and nurturing approach helps children to manage their feelings which means that situations do not escalate.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a change of manager since the previous inspection. The changes were well planned, and the previous deputy manager has been promoted which has provided consistency for the staff and children. The new manager knows the home and the children very well, and she is passionate about providing children with the best care possible. She is respected by the staff team who feel well supported.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring of the home is effective. The new manager has introduced improved systems and there is now increased monitoring and support from the responsible individual. A new deputy manager is being appointed, and senior care workers now have dedicated administration time to ensure that they have time to complete monitoring tasks. These changes have resulted in a team approach to managing the home which helps to ensure that there are no gaps in oversight of the care children are receiving.

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Findings from the inspection

Previously, managers did not take robust action when staff practice fell below the expected standard. Managers have been assertive in addressing practice concerns and have used the probation process effectively to ensure that staff are able to deliver the high standard of care expected.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have worked hard to improve following the previous inspection. An action plan was created which has helped them to meet all of the previous requirements and recommendations. No requirements or recommendations have been raised during this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2495967 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/12/2024 Full Good 12/12/2023 Full Good 13/12/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2495967 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Harmony Childcare Residential Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Easyflow Ltd, 38e Vanguard Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury SY1 3TG

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Inspector

Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2495967 6 regulates and inspects 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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