Children's Home run by Country Homes For Children Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2828500 1 Registered provider: Country Homes For Children Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a small private company. The home provides 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 is suitably experienced and qualified. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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 outstanding

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2828500 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/06/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2828500 3

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Summary of findings

All children have made positive progress and continue to flourish in a nurturing and supportive environment. The home’s model of care is fully embedded in daily routines and practice, ensuring that children receive consistent, therapeutic and nurturing care. Through this approach, children have developed trusting and meaningful relationships with the staff, enabling them to feel safe, valued and supported. Effective management, leadership and oversight, combined with a strong safeguarding culture, ensure high standards of care and positive outcomes for children. Continuous learning, reflection and professional development further strengthen practice, help staff meet children’s individual needs and contribute to children’s ongoing progress and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and one child has moved out. The inspectors spoke with both children who were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, the manager undertakes a thorough assessment of each child’s needs and potential risks to ensure these can be met effectively. Staff and children already living in the home warmly welcome new children, helping them to feel safe, valued and included from the outset. This supportive approach helps children settle into the home, build positive relationships and reduce anxieties about moving into a new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move out, they receive exceptionally strong support. The manager advocates tirelessly for children and works closely with other professionals to ensure children’s needs are met when they move to a new home. Children are supported to say goodbye in a meaningful way. Farewell celebrations are held, where children receive cards and gifts. These actions reflect a sensitive approach to children’s changing needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop strong, positive relationships with staff who understand and meet their individual needs. Staff invest in children’s progress through responsive interactions that promote trust. Staff work closely with external professionals to ensure children receive coordinated and effective support in a timely manner. The manager also spends dedicated time with the children. Children laugh and enjoy warm interactions with staff, which demonstrates the secure emotional bonds they share.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend school and make educational progress. Progress is particularly significant for one child who, before moving into the home, was not attending school. The manager and staff work effectively with external professionals to create well-coordinated plans that meet each child’s educational needs. One child’s education provider reported that the child ‘is doing remarkably well’. Because of the Inspection report for children’s home: 2828500 4 support they receive, children feel motivated to do their best and are supported to achieve positive educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in a variety of activities that enrich their social experiences, such as swimming and camping days at the beach. Additionally, one child enjoyed the experience of a trip abroad. These experiences help children build confidence, develop social skills and create positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with the people who are important to them, including family members. Staff build positive relationships with families and work in partnership with them to plan and facilitate family time arrangements. This helps ensure that visits are safe and take place in environments that promote meaningful interaction and quality time between children and their families. This approach helps children maintain connections with significant people in their lives.

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

Children trust staff. They say that they like living in the home and know they can go to staff at any time. One child said, ‘I feel safe here.’

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

Staff receive clear and consistent guidance to understand each child’s individual needs and identify effective ways to support children in achieving their goals and aspirations. The manager ensures that staff are equipped with a therapeutic, child-centred approach that reflects the home’s model of care, which is informed by research from the in-house therapist. Children are kept safe and their wellbeing is promoted.

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

Safeguarding incidents in the home have been minimal. When incidents occur, staff respond promptly and follow established safeguarding procedures to ensure the children’s safety. Missing-from-home incidents are rare. Staff know what action to take when children go missing from home. As a result, children return quickly and safely. Staff talk to children about staying safe and help them understand the risks and potential dangers associated with going missing.

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

Staff know the children well and provide clear routines, expectations and boundaries. They promote positive behaviours through praise and encouragement and support children calmly through challenging situations. As a result, children develop skills to manage their own emotions and there have been no incidents requiring physical intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an experienced and child-centred practitioner, who has high aspirations for children and the staff team. She creates a positive culture and holds staff to strong professional standards, inspiring them to improve the lives of the children they are responsible for. The manager has created an ethos of continuous learning and development so that children receive the best quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828500 5 The manager inspires her team, and the children are her top priority. Staff are extremely positive about the support they receive from the manager. She remains closely in tune with daily life in the home, maintaining a clear awareness of what is happening with the children and how they are being supported. This ensures that support is consistent, responsive and well coordinated, ensuring children’s needs are understood and met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are supported by a qualified, motivated and skilled staff team. Staff access a range of training and research that informs their practice and meets children’s diverse individual needs. Staff work collaboratively to implement this training in their practice. As a result of the dedication of the staff team and the quality of care provided, children make good progress and have positive experiences of living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported through regular supervision. The manager places a strong emphasis on staff welfare. Staff say that reflective discussions provide valuable opportunities to consider their roles and development and to focus on improving the quality of care and outcomes for children. This approach ensures that staff are well prepared and supported to deliver the highest standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Reflective and research-informed practice is at the centre of the children’s care. The manager holds reflective team meetings, creating additional learning opportunities to enhance staff practice. For example, the home’s clinical lead supports staff in adopting a therapeutic approach to better understand and support children with their emotions. These meetings also include discussions about what works well and areas for improvement. A member of the clinical team said, ‘This home definitely has the best staff team, led well by the manager.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working with external agencies is excellent. All external professionals commended the manager and staff on effective communication and the excellent quality of care provided to children. A common thread in the feedback from external professionals is that children are thriving and happy. They have made exceptional progress since coming to live in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses robust monitoring systems to evaluate the children’s care and the home’s overall performance. The therapeutic framework is fully embedded in all aspects of care and in written documentation. No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828500 6

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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: 2828500 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Country Homes For Children Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Manor House Farm, Hall Lane, Hilderstone, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8SQ

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Inspectors

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Reshma Kodampur, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2828500 8 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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