Children's Home run by SANQ Children Services in Sandwell

Inspection report children's home: 2842413 1 Registered provider: SANQ Children Services

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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 August 2025 and is operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

It offers care for up to 3 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2025 and is suitably experienced and qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were 2 children living in the home, they were present during the inspection and spoke with the inspector.

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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 requires improvement to be 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

Date of last inspection: 24 February 2026

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2842413 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/02/2026 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2842413 3

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Summary of findings

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good. Both children are making good progress in all areas of their lives. Serious shortfalls were identified in safer recruitment processes which has impacted on the help and protection of children judgement area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and homely environment. Children’s artwork and photos of children, their adventures and achievements are displayed throughout the home. Staff clearly value the importance of an environment that is respectful and kept to a high standard, with the children at its heart.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff want the best for the children who live here. Relationships between staff and children are warm and affectionate. Their positive relationships are clear to see. Children like spending time with staff and enjoy living in the home. One child told the inspector, 'I have lived in lots of other children’s homes, and this is the best one by far. If I wanted to run away I could, but I don’t want to, I like it here'.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that staff are skilled and equipped to meet all children's needs. This enables the staff to prepare and support children well so that their moves into the home are smooth and successful. Children receive high-quality care that makes them feel valued and secure. These positive relationships and experiences have resulted in children developing a sense of security and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children living in the home have made progress in education from their starting points. They are actively engaged in education and are making good progress. One child proudly told the inspector that their attendance in school has significantly increased from 40% to 91%. There are clear plans in place to support children with their academic progress and children are encouraged to attend education and to achieve. The staff have built a culture of opportunity in the home where children are encouraged to make plans for their futures and realise these ambitions. One teacher told the inspector, 'This is the best home I have worked with. The child is like a different person since living there, they have really brought them out of their shell. We are now seeing huge improvements in school.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to maintain regular contact with their families when this is safe and appropriate. They provide practical and emotional support to maintain and develop these relationships. This means that children are not isolated from those who are important to them. One family member said, 'They are simply amazing. They have come on leaps and bounds. They are happier than they have ever been. They have made him feel like family and this is his home; he is so invested. I wouldn’t want him to be anywhere else.' Inspection report children's home: 2842413 4

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improvement to be good

Children are safeguarded effectively. The stable, consistent home environment, together with the warmth and confidence of the staff, makes the children feel safe and secure. Proactive steps are taken swiftly to minimise the risks and ensure that children have a positive experience living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to understand boundaries and routines. This is done in a child- friendly way. Staff responses to incidents are innovative. Staff are flexible and always eager to develop their understanding of the children’s emerging needs. Although there has been a short, unsettled period in the home, staff remain committed to the children and have shown great resilience and perseverance. Incidents are well managed by staff and always reviewed by the manager. Challenging situations are discussed in team meetings to review if there are any lessons to be learned to improve future practice.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of restraint are rare. When restraints have been used these are last resort and are necessary and proportionate. Staff physically intervene when children become unsettled and show behaviours that place themselves or others at risk of harm. Staff understand the reasons behind such behaviour and provide good support to children afterwards. This helps children to move on from the incident.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans are detailed and clear. These plans provide the staff with the information and guidance they need to understand and support the specific vulnerabilities and risks for each child. This awareness is embedded in the staff's day-to-day work, which effectively reduces and minimises the risks for children. Staff are directed in how to manage and mitigate the risks identified for each child. Staff are skilled in diversion and de- escalation using the home’s therapeutic approach, which demonstrates that the strategies identified are being used and are effective. Staff work extensively with children to understand their behaviours, risks and triggers. This has supported the children to become safer.

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improvement to be good

Staff have the skills and knowledge to keep children safe. Children do not go missing from the home. Concerns about children who have previously gone missing from care have massively reduced, and there have been no missing incidents while they have lived at the home. There are clear risk assessments in place if a child were to go missing from home, which give the staff clear direction how to respond and manage this risk.

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improvement to be good

There is a huge focus on positive reinforcement for the children around supporting them to understand their behaviours. The manager has been creative in her thinking and is constantly exploring new ways to support staff to sustain good quality of care for the children. Additionally, when consequences have been given the manager monitors, reviews and evaluates these effectively. Consequences given are restorative in nature and in line with the home’s ethos.

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improvement to be good

The manager has not always ensured that recruitment processes are effective and safe. This means that the provider has not assured themselves that all staff are suitable to Inspection report children's home: 2842413 5 care for children and whether additional measure is needed to mitigate any risks identified. This does not fully protect children from unsuitable people working at the home and has potentially placed them at risk of serious harm. The manager has taken learning from this and has implemented new systems to strengthen recruitment practice. However, it has not been possible to fully assess whether these systems are effective in practice as they have not yet been tested.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate about the service and advocating for children's views. She role models a nurturing and therapeutic approach to children's care. She keeps children at the heart of all she does and is fully involved in children's lives. She is clear about the progress children are making and have high aspirations for what they can achieve. She is enthusiastic in her efforts to be a trusted person for children. This makes her an excellent role model for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership, management and staff cohesion are clear strengths of the home and ensure the safety and welfare of children. Strategic reviews of incidents at the home provide constant evaluation of staff practice and highlight children’s changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is good. Staff speak positively about working at the home. There is effective support and challenge, and the manager ensures that all actions are reviewed. This means that poor practice is addressed effectively, and that good practice is promoted. One staff member said, 'The manager is really supportive and approachable, she has a lovely caring way with the children, she is so committed to the role, she really does give it her all.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children's individual and diverse needs. Team meetings and supervision sessions take place monthly and are used as a place for reflection and learning. Important issues are tracked and discussed, and children are at the centre of all practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed effective working relationships with placing social workers and other external professionals. Professionals are overwhelmingly positive about the home, the communication and the quality of care given to the children. One professional said, 'The communication is a strength, they are really passionate about working with us. It has been really positive to see consistent rules and boundaries for [X], they are making good progress as a result'. Inspection report children's home: 2842413 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, 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 person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children's home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that safer recruitment processes are safe and in line with schedule 2. 14 June 2026

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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 children's home: 2842413 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SANQ Children Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Regus, Edmund House, 12-22 Newhall Street, Birmingham B3 3AS

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Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2842413 8 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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