Children's Home run by Alfa Care and Protection Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 1 Registered provider: Alfa Care and Protection Limited 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. It provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager has been vacant since 7 July 2025.

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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 inadequate

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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

Date of last inspection: 20 January 2026

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/01/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/09/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 3

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Summary of findings

The child has made some progress since living at the home. However, there are still many areas that require improvement. There has not been a registered manager in post since July 2025. Changes in management have negatively impacted the support that staff receive. Home maintenance has not been promptly attended to. Some of the weaknesses identified at the last inspection remain unaddressed. As a result, the child’s care and protection are not yet at a satisfactory level.

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improvement to be good

The child’s placement plan has improved. There is now more detail to help staff understand how to provide care for the child. This includes the child’s health needs and support for their education. The child’s wishes and feelings are recorded. The child’s cultural and identity needs are also acknowledged throughout their relevant plans.

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improvement to be good

The home is clean and tidy. However, most of the highlighted maintenance issues from the previous inspection remain unresolved. A lot of work is required to create a positive living environment for the child. The child’s bedroom window needs repairing or replacing.

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improvement to be good

The child states they do not like living at the home. They would prefer to have other children living there. They do feel that they receive everything they need, including food and toiletries. However, there are positive relationships between the child and staff. The child can identify staff they have positive rapport and relationships with.

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improvement to be good

The staff and child have one-to-one time that helps develop these relationships further. These key-work sessions cover issues that are important to the child, including her wishes and feelings. For example, one topic discussed was the safe use of mobile phones. This has led to the child receiving a new mobile phone.

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improvement to be good

The child’s engagement in education is minimal. This has not progressed for many years. The education provision and continuity in education for the child have been affected due to numerous placement moves. The manager works closely with education professionals. He values education and aspires to improve the child’s learning outcomes while ensuring that they can access education consistently, as he understands its importance for them.

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improvement to be good

The child is subject to a court order that restricts their liberty. The number of staff to support the child is sufficient and in line with the court order. The requirements of the order are being met. The recording of night times and when staff are awake or asleep is Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 4 unclear. This issue has been highlighted at 2 previous inspections and has not yet been rectified.

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improvement to be good

An important issue regarding a senior leader in the organisation has not been shared with the responsible individual. This meant the required action could not be taken in line with her role. Once aware, the responsible individual has taken swift and appropriate action. This includes a clearly written risk assessment.

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improvement to be good

The child’s risk assessment identifies known and potential risks to the child. The actions staff should take to mitigate risks are identified. An additional assessment of risks in the local area is in place.

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improvement to be good

The child has occasionally gone missing from the home. Staff respond appropriately when such incidents occur. The record includes events before, during and after the incident. Reflective management oversight is added. The child’s risk assessment identifies the risks of the child going missing. However, the risk assessment has not been updated since the last time the child went missing.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep the child safe. Staff are trained in de-escalation and safe handling techniques. Records of incidents involving a physical intervention are clear and detailed. The manager provides debriefs to staff and the child and records his oversight.

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improvement to be good

Formal complaints and allegations are responded to appropriately. However, records are inconsistent. Instances where the child later retracts complaints or allegations are not always captured. This creates a gap in safeguarding records of concerns, responses and outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager knows the child very well. He speaks positively about them and the progress they have made while living at the home. He has established a good relationship with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has not been a registered manager in post for almost 9 months. There have been home managers, but none have registered with Ofsted. The current manager is leaving the home soon, meaning this situation will persist.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff supervision sessions with the manager have improved. There is not a deputy manager or team leader, and therefore the manager carries out all these one-to-one sessions. However, the sessions remain inconsistent in terms of the quality and frequency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has not ensured that staff are qualified in line with regulation. None of the staff currently have a relevant diploma. Most staff are not enrolled in the course. Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 5 The manager’s record of staff training is not up to date. It shows that many staff completed aspects of training in the year before the home registered. Other dates indicate that all staff have completed a course. The manager is aware that not everyone has done so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Some documents relating to the home are currently difficult to access, including policies and procedures. This is following a transfer to a new electronic system. This limits staff’s access to important documents. The manager and responsible individual must find a way of transferring all records from the previous system to the current one.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is an experienced responsible individual in post. The manager feels well supported by her. This includes regular formal supervision and in-depth chats. She is also available by telephone whenever required. Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to there being no registered manager in post since July 2025. 31 May 2026

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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

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)(b)) 21 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 7 This specifically relates to ensuring that any information regarding senior leaders that may be relevant to children is shared with the responsible individual for assessment.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff are working towards achieving the necessary diploma within the necessary timescales. 30 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 31 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 8 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to maintaining the home to a standard that provides a welcoming and safe environment for children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff receive regular supervision and that the sessions offer effective support and development. 31 May 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegations of abuse immediately to a senior manager in the home. Any allegations of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)  The registered person should ensure that children’s case records are kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Regulations 35 to 39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. Case records must be kept up to date and be signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children’s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of their death. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: 2835073 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Alfa Care and Protection Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Flat 60, Newall Court, Bronze Walk, London W12 7HX

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Inspectors

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Susie Vere, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2835073 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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