Children's Home run by SureCare Residential Ltd in Hertfordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711401 1 Registered provider: SureCare Residential Limited

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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 run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 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 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: 2711401 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

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home, and one child has moved out. At the time of the inspection, five children were living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s moves into the home are carefully planned. The manager evaluates the information provided by the local authority. This helps to understand the child’s needs along with the impact of the children living together. Children living at the home are told when there are changes of who they will be living with. Staff complete bespoke training to ensure that they have the skills to meet children’s complex needs before children move into the home. One child left the home in an unplanned move as staff could no longer meet their changing needs. Staff visited the child after they had moved out to help them settle into their new home.

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Findings from the inspection

Careful and detailed management of allegations and complaints takes place. When allegations about staff conduct are raised, leaders and managers respond quickly. They share allegations with both the local authority designated officer and Ofsted in a timely way. Allegations and complaints are investigated, and any learning is shared with the team. This helps staff practice to be improved and support children to feel listened to.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff have on occasion had to hold children to keep them and others safe. Leaders and managers ensure that reports detailing the use of physical intervention are written in detail and include a clear rationale for the intervention. Staff and children involved are offered reflective conversations afterwards and ongoing wellbeing support. This helps both the staff and the child to think about what happened, and what could be done differently in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, children have not gone missing from the home. Local authority return home interviews are also up to date.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate safe medication administration. Staff have completed additional training in this area. A higher level of management oversight has also meant no medication errors have occurred.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager. Leaders and managers are enthusiastic and committed to providing children with good-quality care and experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager receives regular, good-quality supervision sessions to help him to explore important topics and reflect on areas for development in line with the home’s progress plans. This helps the manager’s ongoing development and helps him to feel valued. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711401 3 Day-to-day oversight by leaders and managers is now effective. Leaders and managers review all information relating to the children and add detailed evaluation to reports. This helps to quickly identify if the child or staff member would benefit from ongoing support.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers understand the importance of staff’s continued development. The manager has been a driving force behind all permanent staff gaining their relevant qualification since the last inspection. This means staff have the skills and knowledge to support children with complex needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Family members and professionals gave unanimously positive feedback about how well children are cared for. They are confident that the manager listens and acts on feedback to help improve the delivery of care.

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Findings from the inspection

The company’s compliance and leadership team completes monthly internal audits. These audits monitor and record children’s behaviour, progress and overall experiences. Leaders and managers regularly review the strengths and weaknesses in the home to identify areas for continuous development for sustained high-quality care. However, the manager had not completed an assessment of need in line with the home’s procedures for one child before they moved to the home. This gap had not been recognised within the audit. Despite this gap, the child’s needs were understood, and staff were well prepared to support the child.

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Findings from the inspection

All requirements made at the last inspection have been met and one recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711401 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2024 Full Good 27/11/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711401 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that internal scrutiny of the home includes the review of regulatory documents relating to the assessed needs of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711401 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SureCare Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Snap Factory, Twyford Road, Bishops Stortford CM23 3LJ

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Inspectors

Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Abby Lynch, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711401 7 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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