Children's Home run by DIVINE ANGELS CARE LTD in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 1 Registered provider: Divine Angels Care 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

This multi-build children’s home is operated by a private company to provide care for up to 2 children, in 2 properties, who may require support with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The setting and manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025. This is the first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection. The child was spoken to during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded. The care and experiences of children are poor, and they are not making adequate progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 2

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers are operating this multi-build setting outside of its registration conditions. The child who lives here has complex care needs and a diagnosed learning disability. The child has bespoke communication needs and is being deprived of their liberty in line with a court directed order. The child’s needs are not being met to a satisfactory standard, and some areas of regression are evident. The home environment has not been adapted to meet the child’s unique sensory needs. Their bedroom conditions are unacceptable and unsafe. Staff have failed to meet the child’s basic care needs consistently and have not adequately challenged the placing authority within matters of care planning. Safeguarding arrangements are ineffective, with poor risk management processes, weak oversight of physical intervention and a lack of understanding of legal safeguards. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that

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Summary of findings

staff are suitably qualified, trained or experienced to meet the child’s needs. The provider’s registration has been restricted, and Ofsted has issued enforcement action.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child has lived here for 3 months. During that time, staff have failed to ensure a safe and suitable home environment. A sparsely furnished environment displays evidence of damage, which has not been repaired in a timely manner. There are holes in walls and doors. All soft furnishings have been removed. The environment is basic and lacks any personalisation for the child, differing significantly from the environment demonstrated at registration. While providing accommodation, the home does not provide a welcoming or sensory-informed space for this child. Staff adapt and restrict the environment to reduce unwanted behaviours, but this does not improve the child’s experiences or support progress. Staff have failed to consider the safety implications of some restrictions. For example, removing a window handle from a downstairs window now prevents safe exit if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s bedroom is of an unacceptable condition. There is a strong and overpowering smell of urine. The carpet is wet and visibly stained. There are no window dressings for privacy. The child’s personal belongings are stored in plastic bags on the floor. The child sleeps downstairs on a sofa and does not have a clean, comfortable or private space to rest or spend time in. Immediate improvements were started to this space during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have failed to provide the child with care and support that is structured and individualised. Staff do not use essential communication aids and visual timetables consistently. This leaves the child without routine, predictability and reassurance needed. There are no suitable sensory resources in place to support the child’s complex needs. Staff do not have the bespoke skills, knowledge or experience to provide care for this Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 3 child’s complex needs. Staff explained to inspectors that the child loves water and messy play, yet no opportunity for this has been given.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s intimate personal care needs are not consistently met. There is evidence of regression in this area compared to the child’s starting point. Staff are not trained or experienced in this area of care. They have failed to regularly support the child to maintain good personal hygiene, for example to change the child’s clothes. Daily care records demonstrate that the child has gone significant periods without bathing, showering, brushing their teeth or changing their clothes. The child has suffered recurring threadworms due to poor hygiene. This poor level of care has gone unchallenged by leaders or managers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The provider has failed to meet the child’s specialist educational needs. The child has been away from school for a significant period. There has been no progress identifying a suitable specialist provision and nothing offered as an alternative since arriving here. Leaders have failed to challenge effectively or escalate such matters with the placing authority or virtual school. The child has no advocate and, therefore, no voice in this process. The lack of progress in this crucial area has significantly affected the child’s experiences and ability to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s relationship with their mother is important and is a protective factor in their life. However, this relationship is not promoted effectively. A prolonged period without family time, alongside poor communication and weak advocacy, has affected the child’s emotional wellbeing. Just one visit in 3 months has taken place. Telephone calls with family were restricted, which causes further distress to the child. Leaders and managers do not act in the child’s best interests to maintain and support this important relationship.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Safeguarding arrangements are ineffective. The child is not protected from avoidable harm because staff do not understand or consistently follow safeguarding procedures and risk management plans. Shortfalls in the quality of care and management oversight mean that risks to the child’s safety and wellbeing are not identified, reduced or reviewed effectively.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The child has suffered harm due to a lack of supervision. Despite care and safety plans dictating that 2 or 3 adults should care for the child, on occasion this has not been upheld. On one occasion, a member of staff was left alone with the child while the child was unsettled in the bathroom. The child slipped from a toilet and fell into the shower screen, causing injuries to their head and hands. Access to medical attention was delayed. The staff member who was left alone was not trained in physical intervention and was unable to intervene safely. The incident record does not clearly set out what happened. The concerns are only identified through staff supervision records, where staff reflect on their poor practice and failings. There is no debrief discussion, follow-up action or management oversight despite injuries to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 4 Staff do not have clear or current guidance to help them respond safely to the child’s

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

self-injurious behaviour. Risk management plans are inconsistent, out of date and lack the detail staff need to understand how to respond. On occasions, the child has headbutted walls and a dining table leaving injury marks to their head. Staff failed to seek medical attention for potential head injuries and managers failed to address this as a safeguarding shortfall.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The child has been deprived of their liberty since February 2026. Leaders failed to acquire a copy of this order until the inspection started 10 weeks later. This has resulted in the child being subject to unlawful restrictions. The workforce made a presumption about the content of the legal order and proceeded to care for the child in that manner. Leaders failed to escalate and challenge the absence of the order and, therefore, their understanding of the child’s care.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Medication arrangements are unsafe. The deprivation of liberty order identifies 2 specific medications that can be given covertly in food. However, staff give the child medication to aid sleep covertly in an energy drink late at night, despite this not being authorised in the order. Staff failed to seek medical advice about the safety of mixing a prescribed sleep aid with an energy drink.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The recording of physical intervention does not meet regulation. The lack of necessary detail prevents leaders evaluating if practice is safe or lawful. Records do not clearly identify which holds are used, who applies them, how long they last or whether they are permitted within the child’s care plan or deprivation of liberty order. Managers do not consistently discuss incidents with staff. There have been no efforts made to discuss the use of physical intervention with the child and the impact of such. Managers have failed to establish if the child understands why physical intervention is used, or what their previous experiences of being restrained are. The manager does not review incidents promptly or identify learning for staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers have failed to establish a system whereby the child can complain or make an allegation. This is crucial to their safety, given the presenting risks associated with the child’s complex care needs. The child’s communication needs are not understood effectively, which adds to the level of risk. The child has complex communication needs and does not have an advocate. The child is placed far from home and does not have access to a support network, which also increases risk.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Police attended the home following a neighbour reporting a concern for the child. The child sounded distressed and was repeatedly shouting for help, which worried a neighbour. This incident is not recorded anywhere, investigated by managers or reported to the child’s social worker or mother. Managers did not attempt to understand why the child was distressed or if they understood why the police had visited their home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders welcomed a child with complex care needs despite not having sufficient qualified, skilled or experienced staff to meet their needs. This child’s care needs fall outside of the registration conditions. The statement of purpose is not an accurate reflection of the care afforded to this child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not provided staff with the bespoke and specialist training they would need to safely care for this child. A series of basic online self-taught sessions are offered to staff within induction. Managers do not assure themselves that staff have understood this learning or implemented it into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight is weak. There is a distinct lack of challenge to others within important care planning matters. The child’s care plans and risk management plans are outdated and are not reflective of the directions in the deprivation of liberty order.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff report a challenging period when the manager was absent from work for 6 weeks. They describe feeling isolated and unsupported by senior leaders. Interim managers appear to have created confusion amongst the workforce and left staff feeling low. Staff spoke of working excessive hours and many considered resigning. One example showed a new and inexperienced staff member working a shift of 36 hours, which included the waking night shift. Practice such as this leaves staff and children vulnerable. Positively, staff report that, since the manager’s return from absence, morale has improved and working patterns are safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual. Ofsted has questioned the provider’s assessment of their suitability to carry out this role. During periods of challenge, the responsible individual has failed to provide effective leadership, particularly during the absence of the manager. Practice shortfalls identified by the visiting responsible individual have not been followed up robustly, therefore failing to keep the child safe and preventing progress. Audits completed by the responsible individual were found to be factually incorrect at the time of inspection and showed a lack of understanding about the child’s complex care needs. The responsible individual repeatedly refers to the child in records as ‘non-verbal’, which is factually incorrect, potentially offensive and not child friendly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent person has not provided an effective service. They failed to identify a wealth of shortfalls in practice. There is no feedback considered from the child, the child’s mother, professionals or staff, which severely limits the person’s ability to provide independent and effective scrutiny.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Following this inspection, Ofsted has issued 3 compliance notices in regulation 12, 13 and 35 and restricted the setting preventing any new admissions to the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 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—

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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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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that clear safeguarding protocols are in place for staff to consistently follow and to ensure that children are kept safe. Risk 14 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 7 management plans to be updated in line with children’s needs and kept up to date and understood by staff.

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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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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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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ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child:

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understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that there is clear and consistent working between leaders so that this can be embedded within the staff team. Staff should be experienced and skilled to meet children’s needs and ensure that children are provided with good care. Systems for ensuring monitoring and reflection should be used by leaders and managers to support improvement in practice. 14 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 8 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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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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in particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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

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enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(vii)(ix)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should be aware of how to support and meet children’s individual needs. The home environment should allow children to be safe. Staff should ensure that children have consistent care and their welfare is promoted at all times. 14 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 9 *The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, keep records of any physical restraint in line with regulation capturing all relevant detail. 14 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 14 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 10 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

Nothing in paragraph (5) or regulation 46 (review of premises) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with—

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Requirement Due date

any other provision of these Regulations; or

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any conditions in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that the statement of purpose written, is suitable and accurate for children being cared for that live at the home.

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satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(a)(b))

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In particular, that there is a responsible individual in place to support the registered manager and children in line with regulation. 14 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. 14 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 11 The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

the placing authorities of children. (Regulation 44 (2)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the independent visitor who visits the home is ensuring that children are being safeguarded and further supported by speaking to children and their families.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2865722 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Divine Angels Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Brindleys Ltd, 2 Wheeleys Road, Birmingham B15 2LD

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Inspectors

Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Rachael Sprigg, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2865722 13 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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