Children's Home run by New Focus Child Care LTD in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children's home: 2812245 1 Registered provider: New Focus Child Care LTD

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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 registered in November 2025 and is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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Information about this children's home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children's home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection and were spoken to.

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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 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2812245 2

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Summary of findings

Children are cared for in a warm, nurturing and homely environment by staff who are committed to their care. Planned moves into the home have supported children to settle well. Children benefit from positive relationships with staff and are beginning to engage in education and daily routines. The registered manager demonstrates a commitment to improving children's care through a reflective and trauma-informed approach.

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Summary of findings

Safeguarding systems support children to be safe. However, shortfalls in the timeliness and submission of safeguarding notifications require strengthening.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in the home and are cared for by a committed staff team. Carefully planned moves have supported positive transitions to the home, taking account of children's age, risks and previous experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's emotional wellbeing is supported through a developing trauma-informed approach. Staff support children to engage in activities that are appropriate to their age and developmental stage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are beginning to engage with education. This is supported through effective multi-agency planning. For one child, education is supported through a phased approach, with a plan to be fully integrated in full-time education. For another child, an early years provision has been identified and preparations are underway, including transition planning and introductory sessions to support a positive start.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have experiences of learning in the home through play-based and practical activities. These include counting items during daily routines to develop early numeracy skills, outdoor exploration, such as den building, to encourage curiosity and problem- solving, and practical activities that support the development of fine and gross motor skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some staff practice is not yet consistent in children's day-to-day care routines. At times, this has resulted in children experiencing variation in how their care needs are met, which can impact their sense of predictability and security.

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

Children's needs are generally understood by staff. They recognise children's behaviour as a form of communication and respond with a developing understanding of trauma- informed care. Individual risk strategies are in place and written plans are used to guide practice and manage identified risks, supporting safe care. Inspection report for children's home: 2812245 3 Staff intervene when necessary to keep children safe, taking account of their age and developmental needs. In addition, staff promote positive behaviour using rewards and natural consequences, which help children to understand expectations and the impact of their actions.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that safeguarding procedures are followed when concerns arise. They take appropriate action when staff practice falls below expectations. Continued development of staff knowledge, skills and oversight arrangements is further strengthening consistency in practice and outcomes for children.

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

Staff use a range of strategies, including reassurance, distraction and de-escalation techniques. However, these are not consistently applied across the staff team. This means that children do not always experience consistent care and they receive mixed messages about expectations and boundaries.

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

Safeguarding systems are in place and support children to be safe. Shortfalls have been identified in the timeliness and submission of safeguarding notifications to Ofsted. Consequently, this has the potential to reduce Ofsted's oversight of children's safety in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager provides relational and reflective leadership and is committed to embedding a therapeutic culture in the home. Individualised plans have been developed by the registered manager. These support staff's understanding of children's needs and trauma responses and staff apply this understanding in their day-to-day practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child focused, nurturing and has high aspirations for children. She ensures that children are involved in planning aspects of their daily life, including meals and activities. This supportive approach supports children to feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate a commitment to strengthening staff skills and knowledge. Supervision and team meetings are used to support staff to develop. However, staff have not yet received physical intervention training, which is tailored to support younger children's needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with professionals is effective, with positive communication supporting coordinated planning for children. One professional said that the way the registered manager and staff have 'embraced [Name of Child] warms my heart'. They said that the child 'responds to them well and they support him in a therapeutic way, always remaining child centred'.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, the registered manager has good oversight of children's care and safety. Important safeguarding information is shared with external professionals effectively. However, some systems for overseeing some staff practice and notifications to Ofsted are not yet embedded. Inspection report for children's home: 2812245 4

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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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive physical intervention training that is specific to children's individualised needs, which will promote consistent and continuous care. In addition, the registered person must ensure that they have systems in place to oversee and monitor children's care effectively. 31 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 31 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2812245 5

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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: 2812245 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: New Focus Child Care LTD

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit A4, City Trading Park Dewsbury Road, Stoke-on- Trent ST4 2TE

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Inspector

Reshma Kodampur, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2812245 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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