Children's Home run by Habicare Ltd in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2856925 1 Registered provider: Habicare 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

The home is owned and operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection of the home since it was registered in November 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. They were present and spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2025.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2856925 2

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Summary of findings

Since the home was registered, two children have moved in. One child is making good progress. The other is not yet attending an education provision that meets their needs. Some experienced staff are excellent role models for promoting positive interactions with children, and these interactions enhance children’s experiences of living in the home. Staff understand potential risks to children’s safety and welfare. The registered manager is new to the role and is embedding processes and procedures with a new staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to develop new skills to support their independence. This includes shopping and cooking meals. As a result, one child is highly competent in this area. They are learning to become increasingly independent and are being prepared to live independently when the time comes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has made significant progress in education since they moved into the home, but another child is not currently accessing education. The members of the management team are taking steps to ensure that the child can return to education as soon as possible. However, in the interim, routines have not been established to support the child to engage consistently in enriching and positive activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before children move into the home, staff carefully assess their needs and consider how they can support them to succeed. However, one child’s plans are unclear, and the child has not received clear messages about what they are working towards or what to expect. Managers and leaders have not advocated rigorously enough to ensure that the child has sufficient clarity to feel more settled and make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is immaculate, warm and homely, with a high standard of maintenance throughout. It is suitably furnished throughout, and children are supported to personalise their bedrooms. Children’s photos are proudly displayed in communal areas of the home, and the rear garden of the property provides space for children to relax and socialise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel able to speak openly to staff about their views and feelings. Staff have focused conversations with children about the things that matter to them. However, staff sometimes use institutional language in conversation with children. This approach is not in keeping with the otherwise homely atmosphere and has, on occasion, created confusion for children about the intended message. Inspection report children’s home: 2856925 3

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

Children say that they feel safe and can identify trusted adults from whom they seek support and advice. The manager and staff have developed a culture in which children do not expect to be restrained, and there have been no incidents of physical restraint since the home has opened. Instead, children are responsive to conversations with staff when they are feeling frustrated. As a result, children have good relationships with staff and positive experiences.

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

The leadership team responds proactively to complaints and allegations. This provides a positive experience for children and ensures that they feel heard and listened to.

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

There have been some occasions when children have been missing from home. When this occurs, staff follow agreed plans and speak to children when they return to find out more about children’s experiences during that time. Staff share pertinent information with the wider professional network to ensure that children receive well-coordinated responses that promote their safety and wellbeing.

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

Staff take effective action to address concerns about children’s safety. Risk assessments are thorough and detailed and ensure that staff are familiar with all risks associated with the children in their care.

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

Recruitment is managed safely, in line with statutory guidance. This minimises the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable adults.

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

Health and safety arrangements are effective; however, not all staff have completed mandatory fire safety training as identified in the home’s fire risk assessment. While this has not adversely affected the safety of children during this period, staff do not have a consistent understanding of how to respond to fire risk. The members of the leadership team have implemented a plan to address this swiftly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a registered manager, who strives to provide a safe and positive environment where children can develop and flourish. He is supported by an experienced and knowledgeable responsible individual, who maintains good oversight, including regular visits and spending time with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the manager, and supervision prioritises both children’s needs and staff wellbeing. One member of staff said, ‘The management team is supportive, approachable and always willing to listen to staff concerns and suggestions. They encourage open communication and create a professional and respectful working environment for everyone.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s recording systems are being developed. Therefore, improvements to record- keeping are being regularly reviewed. The leadership team has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Inspection report children’s home: 2856925 4 The leadership team is focused on providing good outcomes for the children and ensuring that children have positive experiences and support while in their care. Managers maintain good working relationships with professional partners and children’s loved ones. Inspection report children’s home: 2856925 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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to fire marshal and fire extinguisher training for all staff. 20 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) 2(c) 31 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all serious incidents are reported to the regulator. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.11) Inspection report children’s home: 2856925 6  The registered person should ensure that when children are not in full-time education, they are supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression of children’s care. This includes minimising the use of institutional language, including when having conversations with children. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.9) Inspection report children’s home: 2856925 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Jose Ferreira Pereira

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Inspectors

Maria Calway-Kennedy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2856925 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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