Children's Home run by Care 4 Good Ltd in Sandwell

Inspection report for children’s home: 2774759 1 Registered provider: Care 4 Good Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company own this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2774759 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2774759 3

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Summary of findings

One child is positive about their experiences and has made exceptional progress. One child has lived in the home for a short period and has not made any sustained measurable progress. Not all children are engaged in education.

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Summary of findings

Children are consulted to inform the decoration of their living environment so they can feel comfortable.

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Summary of findings

Staff understand children’s needs well and complete ongoing training to ensure children receive progressive care.

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Summary of findings

Management oversight is strong and structured. Leaders and managers have an in-depth understanding of the strengths and areas of development for the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

No children have moved out of the home since the last inspection, and one child has moved in. During the inspection, the inspector spoke with one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with professionals to prepare children for their move into the home. Managers carefully consider children’s needs to ensure that staff have the appropriate skills to provide good-quality care. Detailed impact risk assessments are completed, including clear guidance for staff that is informed by children’s wishes. Children are warmly welcomed into the home, and their favourite items are prepared in advance of their arrival.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take a proactive approach to developing trusting relationships with children. Time is invested in understanding each child, and information is shared effectively through regular staff discussions and team meetings. Staff work closely with the in-house clinical professional to further develop their understanding and ensure that children feel valued and understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of education are varied. One child engages in a bespoke timetable, and their attendance and participation have improved. Staff have supported them to attend college open days, which have raised their aspirations to pursue further education. However, another child is not currently in education. While staff have made efforts to implement home learning, this has not yet been successful in securing meaningful engagement. The manager is in regular communication with the local authority and perspective providers in ongoing support of the child’s education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff undertake creative and highly effective direct work with children. For example, they produce interactive presentations and comics tailored to children’s individual interests. As Inspection report for children’s home: 2774759 4 a result, children engage well in discussions about sensitive topics and develop their understanding. Staff regularly recognise children’s progress and celebrate their achievements. For example, one child was awarded a certificate for demonstrating kindness towards staff. This recognition of positive behaviour helps to build self-esteem and enables children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is thoughtfully decorated, creating a bright and welcoming environment. Children are involved in personalising their bedrooms to ensure they feel comfortable and that their views are respected. Staff work hard to maintain the environment to a high standard, including responding promptly to any damage. This supports children to refocus and promotes opportunities for recovery and positive change following incidents.

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

Children’s safety plans are generally well written and detailed, providing staff with clear and practical guidance to keep children safe. However, one identified risk for a child had not been fully considered or documented. This omission has the potential to reduce the effectiveness of safeguarding practice.

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

Physical interventions are rarely used and only when necessary. Records demonstrate that staff use a range of de-escalation strategies to prevent situations from escalating. Staff follow guidance set out in children’s safety plans, contributing to responsive care that is tailored to individual needs.

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

When serious incidents occur, staff respond promptly and inform relevant external agencies. If children leave the home without permission, staff take immediate action to follow them in order to maintain their safety. On one occasion staff failed to follow procedures once the police had been informed. They did not continue efforts to locate the child despite there being concerns about their welfare. This limits opportunities to ensure children’s safe and timely return home.

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

Clinical input is provided by a trauma-informed psychotherapist and is used effectively to strengthen staff practice. The clinician works closely with managers and staff to develop their understanding in line with children’s needs. Therapeutic input remains focused on improving outcomes for children and enhancing the quality of care they receive.

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

Staff are recruited safely. Pre-employment checks are completed consistently, ensuring that suitable individuals are employed to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a strong commitment to providing children with stability. Practice is child focused and reflects a clear ethos that places children at the centre of care. Managers recognise that children’s behaviours are often linked to past trauma and respond with patience, understanding and compassion. They consistently provide meaningful support, even when staff find behaviours challenging. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774759 5 The manager speaks about the children with warmth and genuine care. They are committed to ensuring that children have positive childhood experiences and make meaningful progress. The manager’s calm and approachable style contributes to an inclusive and nurturing home environment. One child referred to the manager affectionately as ‘our [manager’s name]’, reflecting a strong sense of belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are effective and support managers to identify strengths and areas for development. Senior leaders maintain regular oversight and work closely with the manager to ensure effective monitoring and continuous improvement. Children’s progress is tracked systematically using clear and comprehensive tools, promoting a culture of improvement and positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they feel well supported and receive regular, reflective supervision. The manager is described as approachable and consistently available. Staff feel that leaders are knowledgeable and visible within the home. Team morale is high, with initiatives such as a monthly ‘heal hero’ award recognising positive practice. There is no use of agency staff, ensuring children are cared for by familiar adults, which provides stability and consistency. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774759 6

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Recommendation

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2774759 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Hamilton Road, Smethwick B67 5QE

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Inspector

Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2774759 8 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 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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