Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 1 Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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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 local authority home provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were 3 children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in October 2025, and the registered manager has been in post since that date. This is the first inspection of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was not present for the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since registration: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 2

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Summary of findings

This is a newly established home that is still developing its practice and routines. Oversight and progress have been affected by absence within the management team. Children are generally kept safe, but care is not consistently effective. Children have made some progress and benefit from positive relationships with staff, with examples of thoughtful, individualised support. However, routines and expectations are not always clear, and children do not consistently receive enough individual support or opportunities to share their views. Although staff respond appropriately to safety concerns, there is a lack of consistent preventative work to reduce risks. Staff work well with partner agencies but progress in education is limited, and children’s health needs are not all addressed promptly.

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improvement to be good

Staff talk to and about children with care and respect. They demonstrate an awareness of children’s individual needs and preferences. The approach of staff helps children to build trusting relationships and make progress in some areas, such as managing their emotions.

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improvement to be good

There are challenges in accessing education for all 3 children. Staff consult actively with education professionals to try and negotiate obstacles, arrange interim learning and provide daily structure. However, this has not yet led to a sustained progress in engagement in learning for children. Inconsistent approaches to routines and boundaries mean that children do not always receive clear expectations.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are mostly understood and met. Staff support children to attend routine and ad-hoc appointments. However, for one child who experiences difficulty with sleep there is a delay in accessing specialist support in line with the child’s health plan.

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improvement to be good

Children’s moves into the home are well planned. Managers considered the needs of children alongside those already living in the home before deciding children should move in. Staff work flexibly with children and their networks to help children understand what to expect and to have a positive experience of arriving at the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff spend individual time with children to provide them with guidance about issues relevant to them, such as difficulties in school or worries about court proceedings. While children benefit from sensitive support, they do not all receive this frequently enough, which means they sometimes do not get the support they need at the pace that is right for them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 3 Systems for consulting and involving children in how the service is run are not yet fully established. While staff show interest in children and their views, children’s meetings do not happen regularly. Furthermore, gaps in the provision and recording of one-to-one time mean there are missed opportunities to ensure that children’s wishes and feelings are heard. Since the home opened, one shared space has been converted into a staff office and there is no evidence that children were consulted about this.

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improvement to be good

The home is clean, safe and comfortably furnished and children benefit from well-tended outdoor space. However, a lighting system issue affects children’s ability to settle at night, which is particularly relevant for 2 children. Managers in the home have done all they can to reduce the impact and escalated the concern to senior leaders. However, there continues to be a negative impact on children.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and the individual vulnerabilities of children. Daily communication systems work well so that staff are aware of incidents or changes to plans. As a result, staff usually respond effectively when there are concerns about children’s safety, such as worries about their online activity or peer conflict. However, educative work with children is not consistently undertaken to help them develop protective strategies and manage the impact of experiences.

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improvement to be good

If children go missing from the home, or leave the home unexpectedly, staff generally take appropriate action. This includes remaining with children, notifying police and requesting return home interviews. Management oversight of incidents and follow up actions is inconsistent. This means there are missed opportunities for scrutiny of practice and helping children and staff to reflect and learn.

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improvement to be good

There are concerns about risks between children. Staff understand these risks and safety plans well. However, children’s written risk assessments are not always updated to reflect current concerns and safety measures. This has not impacted on children but has the potential to create confusion for staff. Additionally, there is limited preventative work with 2 children to support safer relationships.

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improvement to be good

Managers share concerns and risks promptly and thoroughly with partner agencies. They seek to engage the placing authority and other professionals in joint working to manage risks. This includes providing challenge if they feel the response to concerns is not sufficient.

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improvement to be good

If children present behaviour that challenges, staff try to deescalate situations and help them manage feelings safely. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort to keep children or others safe. However, oversight and follow up of incidents are not consistently timely or thorough.

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improvement to be good

When there are allegations or concerns about staff practice, managers take prompt action to investigate and manage concerns. They consult appropriately with other Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 4 professionals, such as the local authority designated officer to inform actions. One significant concern about staff practice, which impacted on children, remains under investigation.

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

The quality and consistency of management oversight and support for staff have been impacted by absence within the management team. Although senior managers have provided additional support and deputy managers have worked very hard to cover, this has had a negative impact across the service.

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

Staff are positive about the team and the culture of the home but give mixed feedback about support from leaders. They say that individual managers are helpful, approachable and try their best to make themselves available. However, some noted inconsistent expectations about behaviour management, and concerns about the workload of senior staff in the home, which compromises the support available.

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

Staff say they find supervision and regular team meetings helpful. They also welcome opportunities to work alongside more experienced staff when they start. However, no staff have received individual supervision at a frequency in line with the organisation’s policy. Furthermore, there is not a reliable system in place to ensure that the bank staff working in the home have regular supervision. This is particularly important given the number of new staff.

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

Staff complete a suitable range of training for their roles. Management systems for oversight and monitoring of training are working well to make sure staff are up to date and making progress with required qualifications.

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

Leaders and managers are experienced, committed and show a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development. They recognise that the home is new and the staff team is still forming. They are open to learning and are aspirational for children, which underpins a child-centred culture.

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

Managers understand the importance of effective working relationships with children’s networks. They have a particularly positive relationship with a mentoring agency that is benefitting children. Social care professionals and one parent provided positive feedback about care, safeguarding and communication. One professional gave constructive feedback about aspects of communication, and this was shared with managers. Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 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, 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 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—

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Requirement Due date

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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

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)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that there is effective oversight of incidents in the home, including those involving physical interventions, and of follow up actions to support children and staff involved. 22 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 6 In particular ensure that all staff, including bank staff, receive supervision of their practice in line with company policy.

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that staff are supported to provide consistent daily routines and boundaries for children.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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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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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(v)(vi)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the lighting system in the home is addressed without further delay, so it does not impact negatively on children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are provided with regular one- to-one support at a pace that meets their needs and educative work in relation to identified risks. 22 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— 22 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 7 the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that specialist health support identified in children’s health plans is made available to children when they need it.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are consulted about changes to their home and are provided with opportunities to share views and participate as set out in the statement of purpose and children’s guide. 22 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Surrey County Council, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate RH2 8EF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Heighes

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Inspector

Jacob Robson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2848776 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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