Children's Home run by Affinity Childrens Services Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 1 Registered provider: Affinity Children's Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 3 children who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. There were 2 children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children's home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 21 and 22 April 2026. Following that inspection, a compliance notice was issued requiring the provider to address breaches of regulation 13. A restriction of accommodation notice was also imposed, preventing any children from moving into the home. This restriction remains in place until 16 July 2026.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the actions taken by leaders and managers to address the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection and detailed in the compliance notice. It also considered whether the restriction of accommodation needed to be extended.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, leaders and managers have continued to take a proactive approach to improving staff knowledge and skills in relation to safeguarding children by providing relevant training opportunities.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Monitoring and oversight of the home have strengthened as recent changes to the leadership team have become established, resulting in greater stability and consistency in management arrangements.

p.1

This monitoring visit

When serious incidents involving children have occurred, there have been delays in informing children's social workers and notifying Ofsted. This has placed children at risk of harm and prevented relevant professionals from taking timely action to assess Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 2 and respond to concerns. In response to these shortfalls, a requirement under regulation 5 has been raised.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Requirements in relation to the relevant regulations remain in place and will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/04/2026 Full Inadequate 09/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vii)) 2 August 2026

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 2 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 5 ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.4

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met;

p.5

Requirement Due date

and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

p.5

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)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child's relevant plans are followed;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(i)(iii)(c)(f)) 2 August 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 2 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 6 seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(c))

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: Affinity Childrens Services Limited

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Horse Fair, Rugeley WS15 2EL

p.7

Inspector

Becky Rutter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746965 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.

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