Children's Home run by A and R Guardian Services Limited in Coventry

Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 1 Registered provider: A and R Guardian Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home is registered to accommodate up to 2 children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

This was the home's first inspection since its registration on 27 March 2026. The registered manager has left, and a new manager has been appointed. She has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

One child moved into the home but moved out after a brief period. There were no children living at the home at the time of 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 requires improvement to be good

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection : not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 2

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Summary of findings

This was the home's first inspection since registration. One child lived at the home for a short period. During their stay, the child developed warm, trusting relationships with some staff, took part in activities that reflected their interests and was supported to express their views and influence decisions about their care. However, weaknesses in professional relationships, safeguarding practice, care planning and leaders' oversight meant that the child's needs and vulnerabilities were not consistently understood. Leaders have reflected on the weaknesses identified and have begun to take action to strengthen practice.

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improvement to be good

The child moved into the home quickly, leaving limited time to plan the move. Leaders gathered the information available before the child arrived, but some key details about the child's history and known vulnerabilities were not available. Managers continued to seek the missing information after the child moved in. However, they did not consistently take further action when gaps remained. This meant staff did not have an understanding of all the child's needs, which reduced the effectiveness of early care planning.

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improvement to be good

Staff met the child's day-to-day health needs and supported them to attend health appointments and make referrals to specialist agencies for emotional support. However, not all actions arising from a health assessment had been completed. As a result, it was not clear how all aspects of the child's health care were met. Staff recognised and valued the child's identity and individuality. They explored the child's cultural and religious beliefs with sensitivity and supported them to decide how they should be reflected in daily life at the home. The child was involved in decisions about the home and was invited to take part in staff recruitment This approach helped the child to feel listened to and gave them confidence that their views matter.

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improvement to be good

Staff provided the child with a wide range of enjoyable experiences that reflected their interests and preferences. They supported the child to resume horse riding, take part in community activities and enjoy regular outings, including trips to the beach. The child was involved in planning weekly activities reflecting the child's views and helping to ensure that activities remained meaningful and individual to them. A memory book captured those experiences and celebrated the child's achievements and important milestones, providing a lasting record of the positive relationships they developed during their time at the home.

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improvement to be good

A suitable college place had been identified for the new academic term, and staff had explored opportunities for equine-related volunteering to support the child's confidence and develop new skills and community engagement. Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 3

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improvement to be good

A significant safeguarding incident arose when a child went missing from home. This exposed weaknesses in staff practice as safeguarding procedures were not followed consistently. As a result, the child was placed at increased risk of significant harm. Leaders have reviewed the incident and identified learning to strengthen future practice. Nevertheless, safeguarding practice was not consistently effective in keeping the child safe.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff understood the child's known vulnerabilities, including wider contextual safeguarding concerns. They shared safeguarding information appropriately when concerns arose. However, leaders did not consistently take further action when progress was not made to review current risks in multi-agency meetings. As a result, opportunities to strengthen safeguarding arrangements were missed.

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improvement to be good

Staff responses to missing-from-home episodes were generally appropriate. They shared relevant information with the police and key agencies. However, missing-from-home and risk management plans were not always updated to reflect emerging risks. In addition, plans were not informed by information shared by the child following missing-from-home incidents. This reduced opportunities to inform future safety planning and strengthen risk management to keep the child safe.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to raise any worries or complaints. Leaders respond promptly by recording, investigating and acting on the issues raised. Managers provide children with written feedback, so they understand what action has been taken and the outcome. This helps children to see that their views are valued and that their concerns lead to action.

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improvement to be good

When a child needed to spend time in hospital, leaders did not escalate concerns about information-sharing. Consequently, care and risk management plans did not reflect all relevant medical advice, leaving staff without the guidance needed to meet the child's needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since registration, there has been a change in leadership. The registered manager has left, and a new experienced manager now leads the home alongside the responsible individual. Together, they have established a child-centred ethos with high aspirations and a clear commitment to nurturing, therapeutic care. Staff described leaders as approachable and supportive. They feel valued, listened to and encouraged to develop their skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

While leaders took appropriate action when a significant safeguarding incident occurred, management oversight has not been effective in identifying weaknesses in staff practice, Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 4 and internal monitoring systems are not used effectively. As a result, opportunities to address concerns about practice at an earlier stage were missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Multi-agency working presented challenges to effective safety planning for the child. While leaders shared safeguarding concerns and relevant information promptly, they did not consistently escalate concerns when information was delayed, responses were incomplete or coordinated action did not follow. As a result, opportunities to update safety plans and ensure that decisions were informed by the most accurate information were missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders have now recruited a team of staff who share the home's values and are motivated to improve children's lives. Regular team meetings and supervision provide opportunities to reflect on practice, share learning and consider children's experiences. Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 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 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff consistently follow the home's safeguarding procedures. In addition, the registered person must ensure that they review risk management plans without delay when children's risks change and evolve.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home's safeguarding policies and procedures include clear guidance on the safe use of mobile phones, digital devices and online activity. 30 October 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 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 6 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they use monitoring and review systems effectively to identity and address shortfalls in staff practice. Where staff do not meet the home's expected standards of care, managers must provide appropriate professional challenge, record clear expectations for improvement and monitor progress to ensure that children receive consistently safe and effective care and support.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that effective arrangements are in place to coordinate children's care planning when children move into and out of the home. Relevant information must be shared promptly with all appropriate professionals to ensure that children's care plans reflect their current needs. 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 7 In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs;

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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 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; and

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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. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must appropriately challenge and escalate concerns about children's care when they remain unresolved, or where insufficient progress has been made to safeguard children effectively. 30 October 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all recommendations and actions identified in the children's annual medical reports and all other relevant health assessments are clearly recorded, monitored and reviewed. Consequently, that any outstanding health needs are then followed up promptly and children receive all recommended healthcare services and support that promotes their health and wellbeing. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 33 paragraph 7.4)

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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 Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 8 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: 2863963 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: A and R Guardian Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Pegasus House Office 14, 4thfloor, 17 Burleys Way, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 3BE

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Quinn

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Inspector

Gill Rudkin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children's home: 2863963 11

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