Children's Home run by 4d Care Ltd in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 1

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 5 May 2026, a full inspection was undertaken. Significant concerns were raised during the inspection resulting in an inadequate judgement. This led to 3 compliance notices being served in safeguarding children and the leadership and management of the home and managing children’s behaviour were identified. In addition, a notice restricting accommodation was issued.

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This monitoring visit

On the 23 June 2026 a monitoring visit was undertaken. The restriction of accommodation had been complied with however the steps in the compliance notices had not been met. Further compliance notices were issues in relation to Regulations 12, 13 and 35 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015. The notice restricting accommodation remained.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was to assess the actions taken by the provider in response to the steps set out in the compliance notices and to assess whether the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation. Although leaders and managers have not addressed all the concerns raised at the previous inspection, there have been improvements made. Therefore, no further compliance notices have been served, and the shortfalls have been raised as requirements. These will be monitored through ongoing inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 2 Since the last inspection, no children have moved out or into the of the home. Therefore, the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation. The restriction of accommodation has been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

An interim manager is in post. They are supported by the responsible individual. The interim managers willingness to step up to the role and their reflective approach has helped provide some stability during a period of significant uncertainty. They are realistic about the challenges of the role.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no physical interventions since the last monitoring visit. Leaders have put in place a new recording form to capture any incidents of physical interventions. This includes prompts for staff to try to ensure that the correct and necessary information is recorded when staff use this intervention. There is also space for a management overview with helpful prompts.

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This monitoring visit

The language in risk assessments has improved. Previous visits identified stigmatising language. The records now describe what staff may see in a behaviour rather than using emotive or value-based language.

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This monitoring visit

Incident reports contain a good level of information. The language is appropriate and no longer inflammatory. These reports are monitored by leaders and managers. Management oversight has improved overall, although some gaps remain. There has been critical, constructive evaluation that has identified instances when records could improve. Leaders have sought additional external scrutiny from a new independent visitor.

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This monitoring visit

One child’s risk assessment lacks sufficient clarity in some areas. It does not guide staff on nuances to consider regarding risk. It also lacks information about potential risks linked to a relationship the child has.

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This monitoring visit

In one incident, staff remained on the phone to non-emergency police for 34 minutes after receiving a text from a child missing from the home. The text raised concerns about the child’s immediate safety. Staff did not escalate their concern to the police to seek a more urgent response. This issue was not identified by the internal monitoring systems. The child’s risk assessment makes clear that any comment like this must be treated as a ‘genuine sign of distress’ and that ‘staff will respond immediately’ to ensure the child’s safety. This did not happen on this occasion. Although this did not result in the child being harmed, if repeated it has the potential to do so. During the visit leaders took action to ensure staff call 999 in these circumstances.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have made appropriate referrals seeking input to support a child with their mental health.

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This monitoring visit

Following a concern about a member of staff smoking, a memo was sent to all staff reminding them of their responsibilities. The information was shared with the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 3 relevant safeguarding agencies and the internal investigation resulted in appropriate actions being taken. When leaders became aware of a concern being raised by a family member, they took appropriate action to investigate.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback from family and professionals is generally positive. However, written communication about an incident sent to a social worker did not sufficiently represent the significance of the incident. Although the full incident report was attached which did include all the details, the summary would not have prompted the recipient to review the incident with the necessary urgency.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, leaders and managers have provided staff with reflective supervision sessions. These include discussion and reflection on the children’s needs and experiences as well as any safeguarding concerns. When manager’s monitoring has identified areas for improvement these have been shared with the staff concerned.

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This monitoring visit

Some requirements were not monitored at this inspection and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/05/2026 Full Inadequate 21/10/2025 Full Good 19/03/2025 Full Good 16/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 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 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—

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 16 August 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

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 16 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 6 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

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)(h))

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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 16 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 7 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. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 16 August 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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 16 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 8

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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: 1271979 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8a New Road, Mepal, ELY, Cambridgeshire CB6 2AP

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Inspectors

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Ashley Hinson, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271979 10 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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