Children's Home run by Rootz.Care Ltd in Walsall

Inspection report for children's home: 2852709 1 Registered provider: Rootz.Care Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 2 children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home opened in January 2026.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2852709 2

p.1

Summary of findings

The child living in the home is supported by leaders and staff to have positive experiences. The child has formed positive relationships with the staff, who understand their needs well. Shortfalls in leaders’ assessment of the suitability of the home for a child who previously lived at the home impacted their experience, leading to them moving on.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff have developed positive relationships with the child living in the home. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and provide effective support. They use their knowledge of the child to build trusting relationships. The child said they like the staff and feel safe in the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a range of activities. Leaders and staff understand the child’s preferences and use this knowledge to arrange activities that reflect their interests. Staff have focused on the child’s interest in motors and have planned activities around this. These include attending go-karting sessions and watching programmes relating to mechanics together at home. This has encouraged the child to think positively about their future aspirations.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff support the child to achieve positive educational outcomes. Staff are encouraging and have regular discussions with the child about reaching their full potential. The staff team is proactive in identifying education and employment opportunities. As a result, the child has developed a clear understanding of the career path they would like to pursue.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are central to the care they receive. Staff regularly seek the child’s feedback about their experiences in the home. This helps leaders and staff to ensure that they consistently meet the child’s needs.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff promote children’s health and wellbeing. Staff encourage the child to attend routine appointments and additional health appointments when required. Leaders and staff ensure that specialist support is available when additional needs arise, including support relating to self-harming behaviours and substance misuse. This contributes positively to the child’s physical health and emotional wellbeing.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated and provides a homely environment. Despite a significant amount of damage occurring in recent months, leaders have ensured that the staff remain child focused. At the time of the inspection, the home had been decorated to mark the World Cup. This helps the child to feel comfortable and valued in their home environment. Inspection report for children's home: 2852709 3 Leaders and staff work effectively with external professionals involved in the child’s care. One professional described communication from the home as ‘really good’. Positive partnership working helps to ensure that the child’s needs are understood and met.

p.2

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

Leaders and staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. They regularly consult with external professionals to ensure that risk management plans remain appropriate. Leaders have sought additional support from safeguarding professionals to help them meet the child’s needs. This demonstrates a strong multi- agency approach to promoting the child’s safety.

p.3

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

Physical interventions are generally used safely, and only when necessary. After areas for development were identified, leaders provided staff with additional training. Leaders carry out debriefs with children and staff following incidents. This supports reflective practice and helps leaders identify and address any learning arising from incidents.

p.3

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

When allegations are made by children, leaders respond appropriately. The manager ensures that relevant professionals are notified without delay. This enables appropriate oversight and scrutiny of the management of allegations. Children are regularly encouraged to share any concerns they may have. This promotes an open culture in which children feel able to speak freely.

p.3

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

Consequences are used fairly and proportionately. Leaders and staff encourage children to reflect on their behaviour and learn from incidents. This approach has contributed to a reduction in the number of incidents in the home.

p.3

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

Staff respond appropriately when children go missing from home. Leaders provide clear guidance to staff about the action they should take during missing-from-home incidents. Relevant professionals and family members are informed and kept updated. This coordinated approach helps to promote the child’s safe and timely return.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders showed poor decision-making in relation to the admission of one child to the home. They did not fully consider whether the child’s needs could be met by the staff team. In addition, leaders did not ensure that staffing arrangements were consistent with the requirements set out in the child’s risk management plan. As a result, less experienced staff were used to work one-to-one with the child.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Although the placement was intended to be long term, leaders concluded that the child’s needs could not be met by the home. This led to the child experiencing another move within a relatively short period. This shortfall demonstrates weaknesses in leaders’ assessment and matching processes.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager and responsible individual are working together to address identified areas for development. This includes strengthening oversight of incidents, staff Inspection report for children's home: 2852709 4 training and the manager’s monitoring activities. The responsible individual regularly visits the home to review progress against the development plan. This ensures that actions are monitored and progressed effectively.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff said they feel supported by the manager and responsible individual. They receive regular supervision, which encourages reflection and professional development. They feel able to raise concerns and seek support outside formal supervision sessions. This contributes to an open and supportive culture in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Recruitment processes are carried out safely. Leaders ensure that all necessary checks are completed before staff begin working in the home. This provides assurance that suitable adults are employed to work with children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders provide staff with relevant learning and development opportunities. They have identified areas for improvement and implemented additional training, including training relating to physical intervention and recording and reporting practices. As a result, staff continue to develop their skills and knowledge, which supports improvements in practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2852709 5

p.4

Statutory requirement

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.

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they only accept children into the home when they know staff have the skills and knowledge to meet their needs.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that there are suitable numbers of staff in place to work with children. This should be consistent with risk management plans. 12 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2852709 6

p.5

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: 2852709 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 19-21 Hatchett Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B19 3NX

p.7

Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2852709 8 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