Children's Home run by Gracebridge Care in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 1 Registered provider: Gracebridge Care 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2025. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection. The child spoke to 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 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 2

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Summary of findings

Children receive a good level of care and make progress from their starting points. They build trusting relationships with staff. This helps children to settle into their home and make them feel safe. One child has written a letter about their experience living at the home. They thanked the staff for how well supported they were and for advocating to get them the support needed.

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Summary of findings

Staff share a good understanding of the children’s needs and mainly provide an appropriate response to any significant incidents that occur in the home. Multi-agency working is a real strength, and professionals and family members speak positively about the care provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child shared that they feel safe living in the home. They like some staff members and have been able to take part in social activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered, 2 children have moved in. One child has moved out sooner than planned. This decision was made in the child’s best interest following a muti-agency meeting that, despite staff efforts, the risk to the child could not be managed. The child’s family member said, ‘It did not work out, but I will say it again and again, this was the best place [child’s name] was ever placed in.’ The manager kept in touch with the child and their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming home that is well maintained. Children’s bedrooms are highly personalised, reflecting their individual interests and important relationships. These factors contribute to a homely and welcoming environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills. One child has their own budget and goes shopping for their own food and cooks their evening meal. This is in line with the child’s wishes and feelings. This is promoting children’s confidence and also developing lifelong skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is a clear priority. On moving into the home, children had no school place. Children were provided with a number of learning opportunities that reflected their interests and abilities. The manager also strongly advocates to secure a suitable education provision. As a result, children are developing a positive attitude towards learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to take part in different activities. Children have joined a local football club, a local gym and have had fun days out. This helps children to develop their identity, social skills and positive routines. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 3 Staff consistently celebrate children’s progress and achievements, regardless of scale, and ensure this is communicated clearly to children on a daily basis. This positive reinforcement helps children to recognise their own successes and contributes significantly to their growing confidence, self-esteem and sense of pride.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. One child was able to spend a special occasion with family members, which had not been possible for years. This helps maintain meaningful social connections and creates special memories.

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

Staff know the children well and have a good understanding of their individual needs and behaviours. There have been a high number of incidents. Staff use de-escalation strategies. Some of these incidents led to the need for physical intervention. Children have conversations with staff. They have shared how they would like staff to help them when they struggle with their emotions in the future. Staff have used these strategies. This has contributed to a reduction in the use of physical intervention.

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

Staff do not demonstrate a good understanding of a permissible deprivation of liberty order when they prevented a child from entering a communal area. This created tension and led to a physical intervention. This led to confusion and frustration for the child, affecting their sense of trust towards staff.

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

Managers respond well when children raise concerns. Thorough investigations take place and information is shared with the appropriate agencies. Children are kept informed of the progress and outcome of any enquiries. This helps children to feel confident in sharing concerns knowing they will be listened to.

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

Children have gone missing on 2 occasions. Staff made continuous attempts to locate them and ensure their safe return in line with written protocols. Staff ensure that relevant professionals and family members are kept informed and updated. When children return home, staff are welcoming and children are provided with someone independent to talk to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is working towards their relevant level 5 diploma in residential childcare. She is dedicated to children receiving a high quality of care. The team is also aspirational for the children and staff speak affectionately and warmly about them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff work effectively with external agencies. Feedback from the wider professional network is consistently positive. They report that the team communicates clearly and provides a good level of care. A social worker said, ‘The team are very nurturing, respond well to [name of child] and show they are there for [name of Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 4 child].’ A nurse consultant said, ‘The home demonstrates high levels of warmth, has caring and invested staff and strong leadership oversight. I would feel comfortable placing my own children within this environment.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager advocates strongly for children and consistently maintains a child-focused approach. When significant concerns were identified for one child, the manager took prompt action to escalate the concerns and requested a coordinated multi-agency response. This demonstrates that the manager is confident in professionally challenging other agencies to ensure that children’s safety and needs remain central to decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings are used for discussion, reflection and shared learning. The organisation’s therapeutic team also attends team meetings, provides guidance, and supports practice development. Staff have shared this has helped them gain a better understanding of children’s behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff have completed their mandatory training. Staff also receive specialist training for the children’s individualised needs. This level of support and training provided to staff has led to high staff morale. One member of staff said, ‘I love it here, we all have different personalities, and all bring something different, which is good.’ Children are receiving care from staff who are knowledgeable about the support children need. There is a high use of agency staff due to staff-to-child ratios. This high ratio was known when plans were being made for the child to move into the home. This has led to one child receiving care from a number of staff they are unfamiliar with. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(b)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are only prevented from entering or removed from areas when there is a clear risk of harm to the child, staff or property. 31 July 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. 31 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and support, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with his or her placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home is sufficiently staffed to be able to meet the needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 7

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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: 2837060 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracebridge Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Arden Lodge, 946 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 6QG

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Inspector

Emma Hutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2837060 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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Inspector

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