Children's Home run by Zencare Children's Services Ltd in Wokingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 1 Registered provider: Zencare Children’s Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in January 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the full inspection on 19 May 2026, 2 children were living at the home. Inspectors identified serious concerns in relation to the safety and wellbeing of one child and the staff team’s ability to provide the care and support this child needed. The home was judged inadequate in all areas. Two compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 35 (behaviour management policies and records).

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to consider the actions taken by the management team in response to these compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the child has moved to a different setting. The registered manager worked closely with the child’s family and placing authority to ensure that the move went smoothly. As a result, the risks regarding this child are no longer present.

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This monitoring visit

Immediate action was taken following the inspection to improve the safety of the child’s environment and reduce the risk of the child leaving the home without permission. The measures were implemented in an appropriate manner, with minimal restrictions. The child responded positively to the changes, and no further incidents occurred before they moved on from the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 2 The registered manager has recently carried out a quality assurance audit of staff practice. As part of this work, they established that several staff did not fully understand their responsibilities or the risk assessments for the child. The outcome is that each staff member now has an individual development plan to support their development and progression.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, the staff team received refresher training in behaviour management approaches, which has been enhanced by the registered manager creating scenarios for staff to consider during team meetings and self-reflections. The registered manager has also spent time with staff reviewing children’s individual plans and creating connections between training and practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff now have additional continuous professional development responsibilities to ensure that they reflect on and understand their responsibilities. Several staff have found this particularly helpful in supporting them to identify areas for improvement in their practice.

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This monitoring visit

Morale in the staff team is beginning to improve, and staff are positive about the changes implemented following the full inspection. The working relationships between staff and managers are also improving, and there is a shared goal to improve communication and transparency.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has further enhanced their oversight of staff training and knowledge by implementing reflective learning logs for staff to complete in relation to the implementation of policies and procedures across the home. The registered manager anticipates this will help to promote an improved culture of learning and self-responsibility across the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and staff have received ongoing support from a consultant therapist, who has taken a lead role in helping the entire team to reflect on the shortfalls identified during the full inspection. This has been highly valued by staff and the registered manager as an important source of support during a difficult period.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, the registered manager has reflected on their own support needs and is now better positioned to seek the support they need from senior managers and other professionals to ensure that they can carry out their responsibilities to the best of their ability.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of several positive changes implemented by the registered manager, both compliance notices have been met. There has not been enough time to fully establish the impact of these changes. The management team now needs to focus on embedding these changes into practice to ensure that staff are consistently able to keep children safe and protect them from possible harm. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 3 All but one of the requirements raised during the previous full inspection that were not subject to compliance notices were not reviewed as part of this visit and have been restated. They will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/05/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 5

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(c)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the care provided to children prioritises their welfare. Where the quality of care falls below the required standard, immediate action must be taken to raise this with the placing local authority, and, when appropriate, the wider family and professional network. 21 May 2026

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 21 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Zencare Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 19 Goodliffe Gardens, Tilehurst, Reading RG31 6FZ

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Inspectors

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Ken Bedwell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2848549 8 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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