Children's Home run by Formations Care Services Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report for children's home: 2797425 1 Registered provider: Formations Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately operated. It provides care to care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2026.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living in the home, and 2 were spoken with.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2797425 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2025 Full Good 19/11/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2797425 3

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Summary of findings

Children develop positive relationships with staff, and this helps children to feel safe. The manager is committed to providing a nurturing environment for children and ensures that children receive the necessary support to process their past experiences. Staff understand the children's needs well and help children to develop safer coping strategies. When children encounter difficulties in their relationships with one another, staff support them with this and encourage children to understand the effect of their own behaviour.

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Summary of findings

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding practices. Staff use a combination of incentives and positive reinforcement to support children to reduce negative and harmful behaviours. Where concerns have been raised around staff practice, leaders and managers have responded appropriately to ensure that children are kept safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers welcome children to the home when their needs cannot be met at other settings. One child's move has been extremely positive, and they have been supported to maintain strong attachments with staff who previously cared for them. This has reduced the risk of harm for this child and helped them to feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress with education. One child received a high level of support from staff, which has helped them to complete their GCSE exams and secure a place at college. Staff provide children with structured routines and boundaries and complete education at home with children when they are not attending school. One child's social worker commented how the manager and staff really supported and advocated for the child's education, ensuring that the education provision was supportive of the child's needs and mental wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported with age-appropriate independence skills. Staff focus on providing stability and ensuring that children feel emotionally safe before they can progress in this regard. As such, children are not rushed to become independent before they are ready.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are well supported by staff, who are alert when there are any medical issues. Support is sought from specialist health services when needed, and children are helped to attend appointments. Staff monitor children's health and encourage children to eat healthily and lead healthy lifestyles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children do not always feel they are treated fairly by staff. Some incentives used to encourage positive behaviour for one child have led to children feeling there are differences in how they are treated. Staff have listened to this child and reflected on how Inspection report for children's home: 2797425 4 their approach made them feel. They are now completing work with the child to improve relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment. Children's bedrooms are personalised and homely. However, one child experienced a delay replacing damaged bedroom furniture. Additionally, children lack storage in their bedrooms. This makes it difficult for children to easily access items and to keep their bedrooms tidy.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been a significant reduction in missing-from-home episodes for one child. Staff successfully use incentives to motivate children and reduce negative behaviours. When children go missing, staff follow safeguarding procedures to help children to return home safely. Staff demonstrate curiosity and work with children to understand the factors that influence their behaviours and ensure that children receive the necessary support.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Negative behaviours are gently challenged in a way that encourages children to reflect. Children's views are listened to, and staff use positive and encouraging language when speaking with children. This demonstrates to children that their views and opinions matter. Staff have worked hard to help children manage their emotions more safely. One child's independent reviewing officer (IRO) said that the child has improved their ability to manage their emotions with the support of staff, which is significant progress for the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children know how to complain. Their concerns are taken seriously and appropriately managed. Staff make efforts to ensure that children's requests are actioned where this is feasible, and, where it is not, children receive comprehensive responses explaining the reason why in a way they can understand. Staff understand the importance of apologising to children when sometimes they do not get things right. This helps children to understand that it is normal to make mistakes and helps to build trust and respect.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff follow safeguarding procedures appropriately. Risk assessments are updated regularly. They are thorough and relevant to the needs of children, providing clear strategies and guidance for staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Where there are concerns around children's relationships and conflict with each other, staff ensure that children's views are listened to respectfully. Appropriate safety plans help staff to manage behaviours and keep children safe. Staff work effectively to help children rebuild their relationships with each other, and they encourage children to reflect on the effect their behaviour can have on themselves and others. This helps children to maintain positive relationships and take accountability for their own actions. Inspection report for children's home: 2797425 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team benefits from an experienced manager and a dedicated leadership team. Collectively, they have high aspirations for the children and are committed to improving outcomes. Leaders and managers are a visible presence in the home. Staff say that they are approachable and regularly spend time with children. The manager models positive practice and a nurturing approach to caring for children. Staff say they feel well supported and describe the team to be like a 'family'.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a positive learning culture. Staff and managers take part in regular training that is beneficial and relevant to children. Ongoing professional development is encouraged, and this has helped to improve the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are transparent and strive for improvement. Any concern raised about the quality of care children experience is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Swift action is taken to protect children from risk of harm. Leaders and managers continuously look for opportunities to identify learning and areas where practice can be improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and social workers involved in caring for children receive regular updates. Staff attend important meetings for children and provide useful contributions. One child's IRO describes the staff as being 'in tune' with the child's needs. This supports the wider professional network to plan appropriate levels of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are well attended. Staff benefit from discussions that take place about meeting the children's individual needs. Staff contribute to these meetings, and decisions are made together as a team. Clear guidance around good practice and the safeguarding of children is regularly shared with the staff. The manager's leadership of the team helps staff continue to be child focused in line with the nurturing ethos of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions. However, some supervision records are lacking in detail and do not demonstrate how staff are provided adequate opportunities to reflect on their practice. This limits opportunities to explore the reasons for children's behaviour in depth and for staff to understand their own feelings and responses. Inspection report for children's home: 2797425 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with sufficient storage for all their personal items to assist children in keeping their rooms tidy and organised and to easily access their belongings. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards' page 16, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that practice-related supervision sessions enable staff to reflect and act on their own feelings and behaviour and assist them in understanding the behaviour of the children they care for. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards' page 39, paragraphs 8.11, 8.13 and 8.15)

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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: 2797425 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Formations Care Services Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 2 St. Pauls Road, Shipley BD18 3EP

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Children's home details

Registered manager: Victoria Crabtree-Phillips

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Inspector

Sarah Adotey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2797425 8 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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