Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home: SC040642 1 SC040642

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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

The home is owned and operated by a local authority and provides care for up to 5 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were 5 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 9 September 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC040642 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/09/2025 Full Good 21/08/2024 Full Good 06/09/2023 Full Good 15/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC040642 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care that is tailored for their individual needs and most are making steady progress. Children say that they like living at the home, that staff care for them well and that they have lots of positive experiences. Some children’s progress has not been sustained despite consistent and tenacious efforts by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

No new children have joined or left the home since the last inspection. This is because staff are dedicated and committed to ensuring placement stability for children. One professional said that staff know the children well, and they do not use the same approach with all children because they know what is going on individually for each child. They also said that this contributes to their ability to keep children safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s contributions to the home are evident. For example, they participate in taking care of the garden and growing vegetables. Children’s rooms are personalised in line with their interests and hobbies. Photos of children participating in various activities and having fun times are displayed around the home. Staff say that children feel that the home belongs to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One child is living in the flat that is located on the same site. This is due to their positive progress in developing the independent living skills. Another child uses public transport to get to school and back. All children have made progress in the development of their social skills. Children have fun during group holidays and when attending activities of their choice, such as football matches and concerts.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children are enrolled in education. Staff proactively support children to participate in learning. Staff understand that every child has a different style of learning and this helps them to advocate for education placements that give children the best chance of success. When children decline to engage in education, staff work closely with relevant professionals and are persistent in helping children to continue to learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are consulted regularly and their views are respected by staff. Children say that they know how to make a complaint, but they do not have to because staff listen to them.

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

Staff identify and understand children’s vulnerabilities extremely well. This is because staff are curious about each child’s social surroundings, personal relationships and potential risks. Strong relationships between children are staff allow them to have open and honest conversations about how to continue to become increasingly safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040642 4 There has been a drastic reduction in the frequency and intensity of incidents for most children. Physical restraint is not used because staff are proactive at preventing such incidents escalating. Staff continue educating children about their vulnerabilities and simultaneously allow children to learn from their mistakes. This helps children to feel trusted and respected.

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

Staff are persistent in bringing children back to safety when they are missing from home. Staff understand the individual risks to children and follow their personalised safety plans. Staff follow children and encourage them to be safe when they leave the home without permission and search known areas for children when they are out of sight. Staff escalate their concerns about exploitation to the registered manager without delay. This relentless approach led to a significant decrease in missing-from-care episodes for some children.

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

The registered manager ensures that they follow up any safeguarding concerns in an effective and thorough manner. Excellent communication with external professionals encourages a multi-disciplinary approach that is continuously reviewed. The professionals are complimentary about the safeguarding culture at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious about children’s welfare, safety and progress. The registered manager has high expectations of how staff can help children to progress that is exceptionally professional in manner. Staff trust the registered manager and respect them for their dedication to children and the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff retention at the home is good. Only one staff member has left since the last inspection. Agency staff are not being used at this home. The registered manager understands the need for healthy staff morale, and therefore, they use a creative approach to keep the staff team’s spirits high. This is done via team-building exercises and weekly emails, where staff achievements are recognised and acknowledged.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses. When specific learning is required, the registered manager ensures that appropriate training is identified and delivered to staff. All staff are up to date with the training that is deemed to be mandatory by the organisation. Furthermore, a variety of training that is specific to individual children’s needs is also delivered to staff. This equips staff to meet the individual needs of children in a child-centred way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision is thorough and staff value and enjoy time with their supervisors. Staff have been set developmental goals and know the areas that they are expected to focus on. Staff are appraised at least once a year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager uses a variety of monitoring tools that are effective and keeps children’s progress and welfare at a core. The manager’s oversight of any incidents is extremely thorough and contains meaningful reflections. Various research findings are Inspection report for children’s home: SC040642 5 incorporated into staff practice. The registered manager leads a culture at the home that allows children and staff to flourish. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040642 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: SC040642 7

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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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Inspector

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC040642 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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