Children's Home run by Action for Children in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 1 Registered provider: Action for Children

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The property is leased by a local authority and the care is delivered by a charity. The charity registered the home with Ofsted in May 2025 to provide care to one child who may have learning disabilities and social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

One child is living in the home and they spoke with the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The registered manager has been in post since May 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: 30 September 2025

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 3

p.2

Summary of findings

The young person’s living conditions are inadequate and at times, they are unsafe. Leaders and managers have failed to agree a physical intervention plan with external professionals and this places the young person, staff and visitors at risk of harm. Leaders’ and managers’ challenge towards external professionals is weak, even when they perceive professionals to fall short of their duties towards the young person. There are avoidable vulnerabilities in the home’s workforce that could impact continuity of care, but leaders and managers have not taken action to address these. Leaders and managers have not acted promptly enough to register the home with the Care Quality Commission.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The young person moved into their ‘forever home’ in June 2025. The property is owned by the placing authority and the provider has been commissioned to deliver care to the young person. The young person has an ‘apartment’ within the property. During this inspection, serious and widespread shortfalls were found in relation to the young person’s environment and care planning, including ineffective challenge towards the local authority.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The young person’s home conditions are unpleasant, are in disrepair and at times, unsafe. This is due to significant property damage that has become normalised. Leaders and managers have allowed some rooms to be blocked from the young person’s access to minimise the risk of damage. This has reduced the space available to the young person. Leaders, managers and the multi-agency team around the young person have failed to rectify the damage to the property. Consequently, the young person has continued to live in inadequate conditions.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers were too optimistic during placement planning, which meant they overlooked important details. Insufficient attention was given to the young person’s needs and behaviours, and how these have been successfully responded to previously. Leaders and managers did not work with professionals to establish a realistic contingency plan before the young person moved into the home. Consequently, the arrangements for the young person’s care and accommodation failed to account for known risks and provide suitable, safe and viable long-term provision.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The young person’s day-to-day experiences consist of them spending lengthy periods in their apartment with limited engagement or interaction with staff. The young person has a routine they like to follow. However, staff do not take account of the young person’s needs and do not support them to initiate their routine at appropriate times of the day. This means that the young person has their medication and meals at irregular times. The young person’s engagement in education has regressed since December 2025 and the reason for this is unknown. Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 4 Overall, the placement is failing to help the young person to make meaningful progress from their starting point. However, there have been some positive developments. For example, staff have supported the young person to increase their communication and independence skills. They facilitate family time between the young person and their

p.3

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

Leaders and managers have failed to equip staff with safe restraint and behaviour management strategies to respond to the young person’s needs. Until recently, leaders and managers advised staff not to physically intervene during incidents of property damage because the risk of injury was too high. However, leaders and managers are now concerned that ongoing property damage could make the home entirely inhabitable, so they have changed their stance.

p.4

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

There have been 8 physical interventions since the last full inspection. All interventions have been necessary and proportionate. However, staff are worried about sustaining injuries when the young person presents with extremely distressed behaviours. Leaders and managers have told staff to use arm guards and pod pillows to create barriers between them and the young person. However, this was not discussed and agreed with the professional network beforehand and some professionals have expressed concern with this approach.

p.4

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

Staff speak about the young person with warmth, high regard and respect. They recognise that the young person is exceptionally vulnerable. The staff have a good understanding of the young person’s social cues and take action, when necessary, to reduce risk such as turning off the water supply, switching off the electric and removing furniture from their apartment. They have made efforts to make the young person’s apartment safe when repairs have not been carried out.

p.4

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

The registered manager does not have full oversight of allegations made against staff because they are investigated by other managers in accordance with the provider’s policy. At the time of the inspection, the investigating manager had not shared concerns with the registered manager about staff dynamics. This hinders the manager’s ability to mitigate how these concerns could impact the young person’s experience.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders’ and managers’ escalation of concerns and their challenge to other agencies have been ineffective. They have regular meetings with the placing authority to discuss incidents, risk and significant property damage. However, their challenge to the local authority has not been impactful enough and has not resulted in ensuring refurbishment works are carried out. In the meantime, the young person’s living conditions have deteriorated. Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 5 Leaders and managers have devised staffing plans and risk mitigation strategies that do not entirely align with the young person’s court orders. Some of this decision making has been attributed to confusing messages shared by other professionals. However, leaders and managers have not consistently consulted with external professionals before implementing changes that affect the young person’s care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that they can provide continuity of care for the young person. Staffing arrangements at the home are almost entirely reliant on overseas staff who have been permitted to work in the UK for a limited time. 13 out of 17 staff are due to leave the UK by May 2027, unless they obtain visa extensions. This creates considerable vulnerability in terms of consistency, continuity of care and placement stability. Some staff state they were promised sponsorship, but this has not materialised. The responsible individual has escalated her concerns to senior leaders but there is a lack of urgency to address this.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have a poor understanding of regulatory pathways. They have failed to support the young person’s transition to adult services because they are yet to successfully apply for registration with the Care Quality Commission. Leaders allocated this task to the registered manager. However, she has no experience of registering services and she has not received support to do this.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Safer recruitment checks are not always completed to the required standard. Leaders and managers do not consistently check why employees left roles where they previously worked with children or vulnerable adults. Safer recruitment records are not maintained to a good standard; documents are scanned incorrectly which means they cannot be relied upon at a later date. Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

*In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must challenge the placing authority and other relevant professionals to ensure the young person lives in a safe environment that meets his needs. If challenge is ineffective, the registered persons must escalate their concerns and ensure that they can demonstrate their efforts to challenge external professionals. 15 May 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; 15 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 7 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must take immediate action to ensure the home is made safe, and a robust action plan is completed outlining all the refurbishment works necessary. The plan must outline who is responsible for completing the works and the proposed timeline for completion. Any refurbishment works must take account of the young person's sensory needs and preferences. *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must take immediate action to ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care for the young person. As the staff team are predominantly employees who have been permitted to work in the UK for a limited time, the registered persons must produce an action plan outlining how they will ensure continuity of care and address the vulnerabilities in staffing sufficiency. 15 May 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— 15 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 8 plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must ensure that they work with relevant professionals to agree a plan for restraint that keeps the young person safe and minimises the risk of injury to staff, visitors and the young person. The plan must align with existing court orders and take account of the young person's health and personal history.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must take immediate action to follow agreed plans for the young person's move to adult social care and apply to register with the relevant regulator. The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must ensure they have oversight of allegations and complaints made against staff. They must have a comprehensive understanding of risks and relationship dynamics in order to ensure safe staffing arrangements for the young person. 15 May 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)) 15 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 9 In particular, the registered persons must work with the young person's professional network to explore potential barriers to learning and how they can support the young person to make progress with their targets.

p.8

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.9

Recommendation

 The registered persons should ensure that staff records include their full employment history and the reasons for leaving any prior role where they worked with children or vulnerable adults. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.9

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: 2790895 10

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Action for Children, 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

p.10

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Sandy Cheetham-Bah

p.10

Inspector

Tara Webb, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2790895 11 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

p.11

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11