Children's Home run by Diamond Care Group Limited in Walsall

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 1 Registered provider: Diamond Care Group Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2025 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 3 children with a learning disability or who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

p.1

Information about this children's home

At the time of the monitoring visit, no children were living in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 18 and 19 May 2026, Ofsted carried out an inspection of the home. An inspector returned on 21 May 2026 to gather additional evidence in line with 'Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence' policy. Serious and widespread concerns were identified and the judgement of the inspection was inadequate. As a result, a notice preventing managers moving children into the home and a compliance notice under regulation 12 were issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor compliance with the restriction notice and to assess the progress made to meet the compliance notice issued under regulation 12. The provider has complied with the restriction notice, and no children have moved into the home. The compliance notice has been met and the notice restricting children moving into the home has been removed.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Both children who were living at the home during the last inspection moved out shortly after it took place. Managers devised a clear action plan to address the concerns identified at the inspection. Actions have been taken, and continue to be implemented, to address shortfalls and develop staff skills and understanding to improve the quality of care that children receive. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 2 Managers have devised a training plan for staff, which is tailored to gaps in staff's understanding and shortfalls in practice. For example, staff received training on how to use professional curiosity to explore information that indicates children may be at risk of harm. This session used scenarios and role play to evaluate staff's understanding and support reflection on practice. Staff said that this has improved their understanding of their roles and responsibilities and reflected on how they will

p.1

This monitoring visit

Managers have introduced competency testing at the start of training sessions to evaluate staff's retention of information and to identify any gaps in knowledge that remain. Plans to address gaps in knowledge through individual supervision sessions are appropriate.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A review of risk management processes has taken place. Staff are now provided with clear guidance to ensure they understand how to keep children safe when they spend time independently in the community or go missing from home. As a result, staff are better equipped with the information they need to increase children's safety.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have improved the systems for recording information in the home and staff have received training on how to record information effectively. Prompts within the electronic system support more consistent practice by helping to ensure that changes to children's plans are shared promptly. In addition, managers also have stronger oversight of key information, allowing them to guide staff practice more effectively.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have strengthened systems for sharing information with external professionals. Staff have received scenario-based training on communication. Clear and succinct written guides inform staff of the processes for information-sharing, and templates for electronic communications are on hand for staff to use. These improvements will promote more effective information-sharing and help to ensure that risks to children are understood and assessed at the earliest opportunity.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Requirements made at the last inspection are outside of the scope of this monitoring visit. These will be reviewed at the next inspection.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2026 Full Inadequate 02/03/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 3

p.2

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 with the given timescales.

p.3

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—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

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;

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

p.3

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home is effectively managed and there are robust systems in place to monitor and review the care provided to children.

p.3

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders must maintain effective oversight of safeguarding practice and recording systems to ensure that children receive safe, nurturing individualised care that protects their welfare, safety and progress. 2 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 4 In addition, leaders must ensure that staff understand know to support children's emotional needs to help them manage behaviours that challenge them.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose.

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to 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)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children move into the home following sufficient assessment, information-sharing, planning and consideration of whether staff and managers can safely meet the child's needs alongside the other children living at the home. 25 June 2026

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that staff— 25 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 5 help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

support each child's learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.5

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.5

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child's education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child's education and training and to maximise the child's achievement;

p.5

Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child's education or training provider and the child's placing authority;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible.

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment.

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child's learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that leaders maintain effective oversight of children's progress and experiences in learning and, where necessary, explore Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 6 strategies and support for increasing participation and engagement for the children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children's home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is effective communication with children's authorities when changes are made to children's plans. 25 June 2026

p.6

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: Diamond Care Group Limited

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 20 Holmbridge Grove, Shelfield, WALSALL, WS4 1RA

p.7

Inspector

Laura Norcop, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2818160 8 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.

p.7

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 . 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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8