Children's Home run by KDB Care Ltd in Sandwell

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 1

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of inspection, there were no children living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered with Ofsted in January 2024. A newly appointed manager is in post and has applied to Ofsted to be registered.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on the 28 and 29 April 2026. Following that inspection, compliance notices were issued requiring the provider to address breaches of regulations 12 and 13. A restriction of accommodation notice was also issued, preventing the provider from moving children into the home. This restriction remains in place until 23 July 2026.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor what actions leaders and managers had taken to comply with the steps outlined in the compliance notices under regulation 12 and 13. The inspector found that the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 have been met.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have undertaken a comprehensive review of all incidents since the homes registration and have used learning to strengthen practice. Staff have received training to improve recording and reporting and the timely review of risk, ensuring concerns are shared appropriately and escalated when required to help keep children safe. In addition, risk management arrangements have been enhanced across the home through the introduction of children’s profiles, alongside individualised risk assessments.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed all children moving into and out of the home. They have strengthened compatibility assessments and set out clear expectations Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 2 about the information required from placing local authorities, to inform care planning, risk assessments, and staff training. This ensures children's needs can be safely met.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed additional training such as safeguarding and exploitation training. This has been reinforced through workshops, reflective supervisions, and individual discussions. Leaders and managers have promoted an open and reflective learning culture with clear expectations. This shared accountability strengthen practice and improve the consistency of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed lone working arrangements. A revised risk assessment provides clear and proportionate guidance. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of working arrangements and are aware they are able to rise concern about unsafe practice or if they are not in children’s interest.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment is suitable for children moving into the home. Childrens bedrooms are decorated in neutral colours, and once children move in bedrooms will be personalised in line with each child's wishes. Leaders and managers assess the environment against each child's identified risk and implement proportionate measures to reduce environmental risks where necessary.

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This monitoring visit

Despite being in post for a short time the responsible individual and manager have established clear monitoring and auditing processes to provide effective oversight of practice. For example, the manager has reviewed the potential use of agency staff to ensure this remains minimal. Where agency staff is required, only staff who are familiar with the home and have in-depth knowledge of children's needs will provide continuity of care.

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This monitoring visit

Not all staff have acquired the relevant residential care qualification. However, a strong training programme has been implemented to develop staff experience, knowledge, and skills, and staff who do not hold the relevant qualifications are working towards this within expected time scales.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/04/2026 Full Inadequate 08/04/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 3

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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 with 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— that staff—

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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

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

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii) and (d)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand risks for children and know how to support them so that they are kept safe. Risk should be assessed and 05 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 4 reviewed. This includes ensuring the physical environment meets the child’s individual needs. *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

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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

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;

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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.

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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

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h)) 05 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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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 05 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 5 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.

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 5 (c)(d)) 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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those 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

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to 05 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 6 the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(viii)(ix)(x) and (b)) The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. 05 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 7 (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii) and (c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan, which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20) The plan should detail the necessary management and staffing structure. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision, and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that all children's case records must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: 2813382 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Avon House, 435 Stratford Road, Solihull B90 4AA

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Inspector

Mandy Wake, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2813382 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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