Children's Home run by Collaborative Care Services Limited in Swindon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 1 Registered provider: Collaborative Care Services Limited

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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 home is owned by a private provider and is registered to provide care for up to 2 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child was seen and spoken to.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/02/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 3

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Summary of findings

Children living at this home have had varied experiences. One child made positive progress and benefited from the care provided. However, staff have not consistently demonstrated the ability to transfer learning into practice effectively. After a new child moved to the home, staff have not consistently shown the knowledge and skills required to meet their needs.

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Summary of findings

Staff do not always demonstrate a clear and consistent understanding of risk. Behaviour management strategies are not applied consistently, and there have been occasions where known risks have not been effectively managed. While there has been no actual harm to the child, these shortfalls have increased the potential for harm.

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Summary of findings

The manager has taken steps to strengthen practice, including introducing a greater emphasis on reflection and a child-focused, multi-agency approach to care. However, these improvements are not yet fully embedded.

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improvement to be good

Since the last visit, 2 children have lived at the home. One child has moved to adult services, and a new child has moved in.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not consistently demonstrated a good understanding of children’s needs. As a result, they have not always been able to keep one child safe or respond effectively to emerging risks and behaviours. In addition, staff have not sought advice from other professionals to understand the causes of children’s behaviours or to implement a structured approach to promote positive sleep routines.

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improvement to be good

Despite these shortfalls, children have made progress in several areas of their lives. Staff have supported children to develop independence, engage in learning and take part in voluntary work.

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improvement to be good

Staff promote children’s education effectively. They have helped children, who previously struggled with attendance, to achieve an excellent level of attendance.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise the importance of helping children to be independent with their personal hygiene. For example, being creative when children struggle to bathe or shower. Staff have introduced fun water activities to help reduce children’s anxieties. In addition, the manager researched and introduced suitable toothbrushes to support children with sensory sensitivities to improve their oral hygiene. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 4 Children’s health needs are prioritised. When concerns have arisen, staff have followed medical advice, supported prescribed medication changes, monitored side effects and appropriately given feedback to health professionals.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to maintain relationships with those who are important to them. Children are helped to spend time with friends and family, promoting positive experiences and helping them to have a sense of belonging.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to express their views and feelings. For one child, they were fully involved in decisions being made when it came time for them to move from the home to the next stages of their life. The child attended meetings and delivered a presentation about their preferences for where they wanted to live and why.

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improvement to be good

Some areas of the home and garden are not well maintained, which detracts from the overall homely environment. For example, the garden is overgrown, weeds are present in patio areas and sections of fencing are broken.

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improvement to be good

Children are cared for by high staffing levels. However, despite this, staff practice is not consistently effective in keeping children safe. Staff do not always demonstrate a sufficient understanding of children’s needs, which has resulted in incidents where a child has been able to leave staff without their knowledge and access the garage roof on several occasions.

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improvement to be good

Risk management arrangements are not robust. Staff do not consistently follow or implement effective behaviour support strategies. Although managers have provided verbal guidance in response to known risks this has not translated into a clear, consistent and embedded approach in practice.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently adhere to agreed safety measures. For example, known risks relating to access to mobile phones, keys and liquid soap have not been effectively managed. While no harm has occurred, these shortfalls indicate a lack of vigilance and increase the potential for harm.

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improvement to be good

Staff support for children’s learning and development in relation to their risk-taking behaviours is inconsistent. Opportunities to help children understand and manage their behaviours, emotions and anxieties are not always routinely or effectively undertaken. This limits children’s ability to develop safer coping strategies.

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improvement to be good

Staff have helped children to become safe online. Staff provide guidance, monitoring and opportunities for learning. As a result, children have been able to safely increase their independence when using technology, compared to previously higher levels of restriction and supervision. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 5

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

The home has a new manager, who has begun to establish a child-centred approach to care. Since taking up post, the manager has introduced positive changes. However, the manager has not yet been able to consistently and proactively monitor staff practice or address identified shortfalls.

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

When concerns about staff practice are identified, managers take appropriate action and ensure that relevant professionals are informed. However, this practice is not yet consistently robust. On one occasion, leaders did not complete sufficient follow-up enquiries to assure themselves that staff conduct met the expected standards of behaviour. For example, there was insufficient oversight to determine whether staff had used inappropriate language or gestures towards children. This shortfall does not fully demonstrate a proactive and thorough approach to safeguarding and oversight of staff practice.

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

Staff speak positively about the children and report that they enjoy working in the home. They describe feeling well supported by leaders and benefit from a range of training opportunities to develop their skills in caring for children.

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

Staff receive regular supervision sessions, which now include clinical supervision from the home’s therapist. The manager also mentors staff, which supports staff development. While this is a positive step, it is not yet fully embedded. Staff continue, at times, to rely heavily on the manager for guidance, particularly when supporting children during periods of emotional distress, rather than staff demonstrating confidence and initiative in applying strategies independently.

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

The manager demonstrates a strong commitment to multi-agency working and actively seeks advice and support from external professionals. This has strengthened reflective practice within the team and contributes to a more consistent approach to understanding and responding to children’s behaviours. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 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, 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This is with regards to staff understanding of risks for children and how to manage those risks effectively and consistently. That staff take proactive action to prevent incidents, such as climbing on the roof. That staff help children to understand the risks associated with their actions and how to help the children to reduce risk-taking behaviours.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, that when concerns are raised about staff practice those concerns are investigated fully to ensure children are not being exposed to inappropriate actions or language. 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This is with regards to leaders’ and managers’ monitoring of the home. That they ensure staff understand the plans relating to the child and implement those plans consistently. 21 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This is with regards to new behaviours, which may impact on children’s progress. That staff understand the function of the behaviour and put in place strategies to help children progress. 21 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. Specifically, that the home and garden is kept tidy and well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2786775 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Collaborative Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 40 Pure Offices, Kembrey Park, Swindon SN2 8BW

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Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2786775 10 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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Inspector

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