Children's Home run by Birch House (Kent) in Kent

Inspection report for children's home: 2815128 1 Registered provider: Birch House (Kent)

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were 3 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025. The manager is also registered with another home.

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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 requires improvement to be 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

Date of last inspection: 20 January 2026

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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: 2815128 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/01/2026 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2815128 3

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Summary of findings

Staff meet the needs of the children who live in the home and develop positive relationships with them. Children are making progress from their individual starting points.

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Summary of findings

None of the children were accessing formal education setting at the time of the inspection. Leaders ensure that they advocate for the children and have arranged education opportunities in the home and worked with the children’s local authorities to make alternative arrangements.

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Summary of findings

Children’s feedback highlighted that they have been able to build meaningful relationships with the staff in the home and there are activities they enjoy. Children’s relationships with each other are managed sensitively by staff.

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Summary of findings

There is effective leadership of the home and leaders have a clear vision for development. Staff feel well supported by managers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made progress in various areas of their lives. One child who struggled to use public transport due to previous worries can now successfully travel on their own, and has developed independence skills as they approach adulthood. Another child has significantly improved their social skills and developed good relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s individual needs and provide personalised care in line with their needs. Children are consulted about their wishes and feelings. Children confidently share their views about the home and feel listened to by staff. Children can express themselves and their identities in a non-judgemental environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is suitable for children. Their bedrooms are personalised in line with their hobbies and interests. Improvements could be made to the home environment to provide a more homely feel for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff advocate for the children to access suitable education provision. In the meantime, staff aim to provide learning at home. One child has started working with the home’s maintenance team to gain skills and experience in an area they are interested in for employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All external professionals consulted gave positive feedback about staff’s commitment and the effectiveness of managers. The professionals stated that the children have complex needs and that staff are doing their best to support them. Inspection report for children's home: 2815128 4 Some children say they would like to have more independence time, however, this is not always in line with current care plans and existing restrictions. For one child, this is due to their wish to live in a different setting. Staff manage this sensitively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s therapeutic needs are understood, and they receive support to explore and address adverse childhood trauma they have experienced . The home has access to specialist resources internally and ensures that appropriate external services are available when needed.

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improvement to be good

Staff identify and understand the children’s vulnerabilities and risk-taking behaviours. They work relentlessly to ensure the children receive consistent and safe care. However, on some occasions, staff could not prevent serious incidents that led to potential harm.

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improvement to be good

Two children have formed a strong relationship with each other. While this has various positive elements, the children are involved in incidents together, in the home and in the community, which places them at risk. Staff follow the correct procedures. Children’s risk assessments and safety plans are followed and updated when serious incidents take place.

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improvement to be good

Incidents have included unauthorised medication being brought into the home, staff being hurt and children going missing together. This means that, at times, staff are not following the deprivation of liberty order in place for one child due to their inability to manage the 2 children’s behaviours when they are together.

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improvement to be good

Restraint and physical intervention are used in the home but only as a last resort and when de-escalation techniques have not been successful. The records following any use of physical interventions are detailed and evidence both staff and children’s actions. The debriefs completed with staff and children about the restraints are comprehensive, with appropriate reflection. Staff and the managers aim to reduce the possibility of such incidents reoccurring and learning opportunities are identified following any incidents.

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improvement to be good

When children are missing from home, staff actively look for them and aim to make them safe. All incidents are recorded in detail and there is clear communication with all relevant agencies and partners. The home has built effective relationships with police in relation to missing episodes.

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improvement to be good

When there have been serious concerns for the children, there is an effective multi- agency response from the managers. Weekly network meetings take place to reduce potential harm and explore steps that can be taken to reduce incidents.

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improvement to be good

On occasions, incidents of bullying have taken place. Although staff completed good work with all the children involved, this had a significant impact on the child who was subject to the bullying. Restorative work with the children has had a positive impact and relationships between them have improved. Inspection report for children's home: 2815128 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for the children and making meaningful change in their lives. She ensures there is ongoing development of the staff team in line with the home’s therapeutic approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

She is supported by the home’s deputy manager and responsible individual, and all hold a shared vision for the children’s care and the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff know children’s plans well and ensure that these are adhered to and updated to reflect any change to need or risk. The staff speak about the manager with respect and say that they see her as a mentor rather than the manager. Staff appreciate her support and guidance and availability to them and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervisions offer a reflective discussion space for staff. These are child focused and have an emphasis on safeguarding the children while also ensuring that staff’s welfare needs are supported. Supervision identifies clear learning needs and opportunities for professional development. Appraisals set clear targets for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings are held regularly and offer a space for the team to reflect on any incidents and identify learning opportunities to improve practice in the home. The home’s therapeutic approach is evident and reflected in these meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s oversight is insightful and consists of various reflections about children’s needs and the best ways to support them. She ensures that learning is applied, with the aim of improving the service for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2815128 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a) (ii)(iv)) 28 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those 28 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2815128 7 expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(xi))

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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: 2815128 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Library, St Faiths Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LH

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Inspectors

Lee Muchmore, Social Care Inspector Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2815128 9 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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