Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 1 SC370703

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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 children’s home is run by the local authority. It provides care for up to 12 children with learning or neurodevelopmental disabilities. There are 4 apartments that are suitable for providing long-term care. There were 12 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2026.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2025 Full Good 22/10/2024 Full Outstanding 22/02/2024 Full Good 01/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive good-quality care and make progress in various areas of their lives. Their developmental, health, and emotional needs are well met. Changes in the management team were well planned and had no negative impact on children and staff. However, one previous recommendation was not met because an allegation about staff conduct was not responded to without delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality, individualised care. Staff are committed to children and their progress, and they promote a sense of belonging and stability for children. Staff ensure that children are appropriately supervised with daily routines. This allows children to make progress in various areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children live in each apartment. The environment is child-friendly, well maintained and equipped to meet children’s specific needs. Shared spaces include a sensory room, a library and a garden. These spaces are comforting and familiar to children and promote interaction between them. However, there are only 2 vehicles for 12 children, and neither of the vehicles is adapted for wheelchair users. This presents difficulties for staff to transport children to off-site activities and medical appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress that positively affects their physical and emotional wellbeing. One child has made significant progress with feeding and weight gain. Children benefit from spending time together, and this has led to 2 children going on planned activities almost daily. Some children develop age-appropriate independent living skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children attend full-time education and are encouraged to engage and achieve. When children are not in school, staff provide structured learning at the home. This includes educational activities and development of self-help skills. The staff and managers tenaciously advocate for children’s needs to be understood and met by professionals in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s rights are respected through consistent care and attention to children’s needs. Children’s views and wishes are gathered in various forms, for example through consultations and key-work sessions. Children’s interests and hobbies are reflected in their activities and bedrooms. Children use their preferred communication tools to express themselves. However, children are not consistently supported to use their communication tools by staff, and communication tools are not kept under regular review to ensure that they meet children’s changing needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The managers and staff ensure that children are prepared well before they come to live at the home. Staff visit children at their current home and spend time with them. Children also visit the home several times so that they become familiar with the Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 4 environment and staff. Managers ensure that every child’s needs are understood by staff and that they have the required training to support new children. Parents say that they are impressed with the level of care and commitment from staff.

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

The support and care provided by staff allows children to become increasingly safe. This is because staff understand children’s individual needs. Children’s plans and risk assessments clearly describe children’s vulnerabilities, medical needs and how children should be supported to ensure that they are helped to be safe. Staff consistently adhere to set routines and take appropriate action to prevent harm to children. This contributes to a feeling of security for children.

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

All children have thorough health care plans and are supported to attend required medical appointments. The registered manager ensures that additional training and guidance is accepted from medical professionals when children’s medical conditions require certain expertise. For instance, staff receive training from medical professionals about how to support a child after spinal surgery. Staff have also completed additional training to avoid potential issues with a child’s gastrostomy button.

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

Medication errors are infrequent, and when they do occur, they are identified quickly and medical advice is sought. There is a clear procedure for staff development and learning following medication errors. This includes additional assessments of competency and training for staff. The registered manager has invited a pharmacist to audit medication procedures. This provides an additional layer of safety for children.

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

Physical restraint is used only on rare occasions. The staff ensure that restraints are only applied as the last resort and for the minimum length of time necessary. The registered manager ensures that children are consulted after such incidents. Furthermore, the registered manager carries out debriefs with staff that are reflective and aim to reduce the need for further physical restraints.

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

On one occasion, a staff member delayed reporting a child's allegation to the registered manager. As a result, no immediate action was taken to assess staff working arrangements and report the allegation to relevant professionals. When the registered manager was informed about the allegation, they ensured that the organisations’ safeguarding policy was followed.

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

Children’s social workers and other professionals state that children are supported safely and their needs are met. They also say that children enjoy living at this home and make good progress from their starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Changes in the leadership team have occurred since the last inspection. The registered manager was previously a deputy manager at the home. The new responsible individual is experienced in having held various leadership roles in children’s social care. Therefore, Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 5 the changes have had minimal impact on children and providing good-quality care remains a priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have an ambitious vision about what children can achieve and have high expectations of staff. This is reflected in the staff team’s dedication to children and their understanding of children’s needs. The registered manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They ensure that development of the service is ongoing. Leaders advocate for children and escalate any concerns appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders provide a supportive environment for staff. Supervision is regular and covers wellbeing, training and practice. Appraisals include clear targets. The induction programme for new staff is structured and includes extensive shadowing and training. Staff feel confident and supported. When staff raise concerns and grievances, these are followed up in line with the organisation’s procedure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that their oversight meets regulatory requirements but is also reflective and thoughtful. They promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the home and demonstrate that they value children and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 6

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that allegations are shared with relevant professionals and followed up without delays to ensure safety for children and staff. 27 July 2026

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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

ensure that staff— provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (2) (b)(vii)) In particular, the registered person should ensure that children have access to appropriate transport that meets their mobility needs. 27 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and 27 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 7 well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; and understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that staff promote and review children’s preferred communication tools.

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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: SC370703 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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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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Inspectors

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Kerry Meller-Rayment, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC370703 9 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 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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