Children's Home run by Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Ltd in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 1 Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions 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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for 4 children who may have emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection. Their views were sought during the inspection.

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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 inadequate

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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: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was judged to be inadequate on 1 April 2026. A restriction of accommodation order and 2 compliance notices in relation to Regulation 12, ‘The help and protection of Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 2 children standard’, and Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’, were issued.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Two monitoring visits took place on 21 May 2026 and 22 May 2026, when inspectors found ongoing serious concerns about the care of children. The steps outlined in the compliance notices had not been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/04/2026 Full Inadequate 29/07/2025 Full Good 14/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 4

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Summary of findings

Two children have moved out since the last full inspection. The level of risk has reduced considerably. The home is calm and welcoming. Staff respond to the child with empathy and understanding, providing them with stability and security.

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Summary of findings

The management arrangements have changed and are not yet well established. The new manager is not fully aware of who works in the home. Leaders and managers have started to make improvements, but these are yet to be embedded. Shortfalls remain in management of allegations, providing sufficient staffing ratios and providing adequate risk management plans for all situations. Some requirements from last inspection are still not met.

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improvement to be good

One child is living at the home. They are settled, have strong relationships with staff and a good daily routine. The child has opportunities to follow their interests and hobbies. They have recently taken up a specialist activity, which is being supported by the managers and staff. The child is enthusiastic and motivated to achieve a qualification. The staff are proud of the child’s achievements, which is reflected back to them. This is helping to build self-esteem and confidence.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that the child attends school regularly. The child is currently finding it difficult to attend every day. Managers and staff are working effectively to help them overcome barriers and re-establish a full timetable.

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improvement to be good

The child is in good health and takes pride in their appearance. They enjoy a range of foods. Staff support the child to cook and eat meals with them. The child is protective of their personal space. They struggle to accept support with cleaning their room. Staff are yet to find effective ways to reduce the child’s anxiety and accept help.

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improvement to be good

The in-house psychologist provides the team with ‘skills sessions’ to develop therapeutic care. These sessions are not well attended. Consequently, the child does not receive the consistency of care from all staff. The managers have started to address this shortfall. However, improvements are yet to be embedded in practice.

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improvement to be good

Two children have left the home. This was because their risks and vulnerabilities could not be managed safely. The endings for these children are not well documented. It is not clear if children experienced well-planned transitions to their new homes.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not welcomed any children into the home since the last full inspection. This is due to a restriction of accommodation notice issued by Ofsted. Consequently, it has not been possible to provide evidence of whether the requirement Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 5 under regulation 14 has been met. This requirement is restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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improvement to be good

The child said that they feel safe and has trusted adults to talk with. They feel comfortable to approach the responsible individual and other established staff when they feel low in mood. On these occasions, the team provides sensitive responses, which help the child to relax and regulate their feelings. There are some occasions when the child becomes overwhelmed. Staff are trained to support the child with their behaviours in these situations.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not been required to hold the child to keep them safe until very recently. Inspectors were not able to review the incident. The requirements under regulations 11 and 35 will therefore be restated and reviewed at the next full inspection.

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improvement to be good

The managers and staff understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities well. This is because of the longevity of their relationships. There are risk management plans in place, which address most needs. However, staff regularly care for the child on their own without a specific risk assessment. This has not impacted on the safety of the child. However, lone working does pose a risk because the child experiences emotional distress, which requires an immediate response. Following the inspection, managers are working to address this shortfall.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not followed procedures for the safe administration of medication. Managers identified this and made plans to address practice issues. However, it is unclear whether managers fully investigated the errors, and direct work with staff has taken place to prevent repetition.

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improvement to be good

Children have made allegations of harm against several members of staff. The majority have not been substantiated. Overall, allegations are reported to the relevant agencies and managers complete internal investigations. However, managers are not clearly documenting their rationale for staff returning to work following periods of suspension. Action plans are made in response to areas for development but have not yet been fully implemented. This is because staff have only recently returned to work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is in a period of transition. There is a new director, who has restructured the organisation. A new manager has been appointed. They are still settling in and have just formally started their operational activities. The staff are not yet reporting to the manager and line management arrangements are not yet in place. The manager is not registered with Ofsted. Effectively, the responsible individual is managing the home with support from 2 deputy managers. The new management arrangements are yet to be established and working relationships embedded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 6 Leaders and managers are responding to the concerns raised at the last inspection visits. They are introducing new systems to improve oversight of the home. Many of these systems are in the early stages and have not yet been tested out in terms of improving children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff team is not yet stable. There is a small number of core staff caring for children. However, some staff are new to the home and are getting to know the child. Other staff are returning to work following periods of suspension. Development plans are in place to support those staff back into their roles. However, these are in early stages of implementation. Consequently, there are areas of practice which need further attention to ensure that children receive consistent, safe care. More positively, there is a commitment to reducing temporary staff, which the child says they appreciate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual has updated their ‘on call’ support for the staff team at nighttime. This involves providing managerial guidance and decision-making for staff. Support is accessible. However, this is not always provided by staff who are senior to the care staff. The senior care workers placed in this role are new to the home. This could present problems in accountability for decision-making. Managers recognise that clearer processes are required to ensure that the on-call system meets the needs of children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers recognise that further changes are required to address the current shortfalls. They are currently showing commitment to working with Ofsted to meet the identified requirements and recommendations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 7

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

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

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

staff are equipped to manage and challenge children’s behaviour to ensure the safety of children and staff;

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Requirement Due date

staffing is arranged to meet children’s needs in line with current assessed risks and is responsive when children are at increased risk of harm. This includes lone working risk assessments;

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Requirement Due date

risk management plans are individualised to reflect children’s current needs and risks, including clear strategies to help mitigate those risks; and 15 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 8 clear outcomes and actions are identified, recorded and implemented following investigations into concerns raised about staff by children.

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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

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’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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

staff receive timely training and development that equips them to understand and respond effectively to children’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

plans are developed to establish a stable staff team, ensuring that children’s needs are consistently met;

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Requirement Due date

children are cared for by staff who they are familiar with and that feedback is regularly sought from children and professionals and acted on where necessary; 15 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 9 children receive regular therapeutic care, as detailed in the home’s statement of purpose; and

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Requirement Due date

staff ratios are in place to safely meet children’s needs and support with behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

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

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are confident in using safe physical intervention to prevent harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 15 September 2026

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 15 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 10 In particular, ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

sufficient information is gathered to make well-informed decisions about children moving into the home, so that placement stability is not disrupted;

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Requirement Due date

clear measures are in place to manage any risks identified when children move in to live with those already residing in the home;

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Requirement Due date

children have individualised care plans that clearly set out how their day-to-day care needs will be met;

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Requirement Due date

when children leave the home, this is a planned, supportive process; and

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Requirement Due date

records of children’s moving-on arrangements must be maintained.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff use proportionate and approved physical interventions when restraining children. 15 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 15 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 11 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. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that records relating to incidents of restraint contain accurate and comprehensive information about the circumstances of the restraint and the support provided to the child following the incident.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff follow procedures for the administration of medicines, such as signing a child’s record when they have given that child medications. 15 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 12

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive, and which provides appropriate boundaries in relation to their behaviour. Homes must also meet children’s basic day to day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. This includes helping children to value their own space by keeping their bedrooms comfortable, clean and in good repair. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7).

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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: 2625585 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barratt House Office G3a, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton NN2 6EZ

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Inspectors

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 14 regulates and inspects 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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