Information about this children’s home

Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 1 Registered provider: KD Residential Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2025 and provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not currently have a registered manager.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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: 13 January 2026

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: In January 2026, the home received a judgement of inadequate due to shortfalls in the leadership and management and how well children are helped and protected. Compliance notices were issued under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). A monitoring visit was carried out in February 2026, during which some of the steps set out in the compliance notices were deemed unmet. Two requirements were raised for the remaining steps. Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/01/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 3

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have taken clear steps to address the serious shortfalls identified at previous inspections. They have strengthened their safeguarding systems, improved staff training, and introduced clearer monitoring and oversight. The home environment has improved, and plans are in place to provide structured care, education and individualised support. Staff demonstrate improved knowledge, confidence and understanding of risk. However, these improvements have not been tested in practice, which has contributed to the overall judgement.

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improvement to be good

No children have lived at the home since the last inspection. Staff have reviewed and strengthened the home’s admission and transition processes. Shortfalls were identified in their previous processes, and they have sought to address them. Managers plan to ensure that staff consider children’s needs, vulnerabilities and how they can live with other children before they move in. This approach is currently untested, as no children have moved into or out of the home.

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improvement to be good

The environment has improved. Staff have redecorated and created a more welcoming and homely space. Staff have prepared photo frames so that children can personalise the environment. Staff have developed a dedicated education room. This space is well equipped and will support learning.

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improvement to be good

Staff have developed a clear understanding of routines and boundaries. Managers have used training and practical scenarios to help staff understand how to provide structure and consistency. They also have a thorough understanding of how to support children’s emotional and physical wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

Staff are building relationships with external professionals. This includes links with other homes and the police. This helps staff understand local risks and share information.

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improvement to be good

Leaders have strengthened safeguarding systems since the previous inspections. They have introduced more detailed risk assessments and clear procedures. Staff demonstrate an improved understanding of safeguarding risks and can describe how they would respond to concerns. This includes reporting concerns, sharing information and taking actions to protect children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 4 Managers have improved staff training in key safeguarding areas. When given scenarios, staff can explain appropriate actions. They demonstrate increased confidence and awareness. This suggests that staff are better prepared to identify and respond to harm.

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improvement to be good

Leaders have introduced clearer strategies to manage online risks. These include plans to monitor device usage, carry out key-work sessions and link expectations with a reward system. This is aimed at helping children understand online risks and develop safer behaviours.

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improvement to be good

Recording systems and oversight have improved. Leaders demonstrate an improved understanding of the importance of recording and using systems more effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has left. A new manager and responsible individual are in post. The manager will apply to register. The manager holds relevant qualifications. The manager has taken action to review practice and introduce changes to improve the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has reflected on previous failings. They have used this knowledge to strengthen systems, staff training, and oversight. This demonstrates a more thoughtful and reflective approach to leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has introduced clearer monitoring systems. These include regular audits, supervision sessions and team meetings. These systems provide structure and improve oversight of practice. Staff say they now receive more guidance and support. They feel more confident in their roles and understand expectations clearly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has also focused on staff development. Due to the absence of children, managers have used scenarios to test staff knowledge and decision-making. This approach helps staff apply learning and prepare for children moving in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The requirements from the last inspection were not considered during this inspection and have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 5

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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

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)(ii)(iii)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 5 June 2026

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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— 5 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 6 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered manager holds the relevant level 3 qualification and provides evidence of this to Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 5 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 5 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 7 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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: 2858767 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: KD Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3 e/f Suffolk House Business Park, Ashwells Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9SG

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Inspector

Thembie Mzila, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2858767 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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