Children's Home run by Core Children Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 1 Registered provider: Core Children Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may have experienced social and emotional difficulties. Since the last inspection, 3 children have come to live at the home and 2 have moved out. At the time of inspection, one child was living in the home, and they contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home opened in August 2023. There is a suitably qualified manager in post who is also registered for another of the company’s homes.

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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: 2730741 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/07/2025 Full Good 06/01/2025 Full Good 23/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 3

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Summary of findings

Children experience well-considered moves into the home. When children move in an emergency, leaders gather information quickly to ensure staff are able to meet children’s needs. Staff prioritise building relationships with children at their pace, which helps build trust. Children understand decisions that are made about their care. Leaders identify emerging risks quickly and work proactively with the necessary agencies to support children and keep them safe. They are promoting a culture of learning and are committed to continually improving the quality of care for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is large, comfortable and safe. Staff maintain the home to a high standard of cleanliness and repair. They recognise the importance of children being proud of their home. This contributes to children’s sense of ownership and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know children well. They build meaningful and trusting relationships with children at a pace that is comfortable for them. One child said, ‘It’s an amazing home with amazing staff. I love them all. Staff know me really well, they know what was important to me.’ One child referred to staff as their family. When children move out, relationships are maintained where it is appropriate. This helps children to know they are cared about.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand plans for children and their aspirations for their future. When supporting children to move on from the home, staff confidently and transparently share information about children’s risks and preferences with their new carers. This supports consistency of care for children and helps them to make progress towards their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders create trusting relationships with children’s families. They recognise that clear communication and consistency are important to families. This enables staff and families to work in partnership to support children. As a result, one parent spoke of feeling reassured that their child is safe and supported. This helps children to maintain strong relationships with their families.

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

When children are missing from home, staff respond swiftly and confidently. They take all necessary steps to try and keep children in sight and maintain contact with them. They share information appropriately and involve the relevant agencies when necessary. Staff make considered decisions about the impact of police returning children home, ensuring decisions prioritise children’s safety and emotional wellbeing. They balance children’s wishes and feelings against risks, while being mindful of children’s past experiences. This helps children to build trust. Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 4 Staff use physical interventions only when necessary and proportionate to keep children safe. Staff use their strong knowledge of children’s needs to know how and when to intervene when they are upset. Conversations always take place afterwards with children and staff to help them explore what happened. This helps children to better understand

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

Allegations and complaints are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Children receive appropriate feedback about the investigation and outcome. Leaders take decisive action to keep children safe when staff practice falls short of what is expected. When children make complaints similar to previous ones, their previous complaint is revisited with any new information provided by the child. This helps leaders to assure themselves that staff are conducting themselves appropriately and that children are being cared for safely.

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

There have been times when the police have been called to manage difficult situations in the home. This has not always been appropriate. Leaders have responded quickly and appropriately in such instances. While leaders have identified strategies to support children who are upset, staff have not consistently applied these strategies in practice. As a result of staff lacking confidence in safely meeting children’s needs, children have experienced avoidable police involvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have effective oversight of the home. They are clear about the areas for development and are taking active steps to address these. Patterns and trends identified through oversight of incidents and practice are shared with staff in supervisions and meetings. This provides opportunities for reflection, builds knowledge and develops staff skills. Leaders value the contribution of staff in making a difference to the lives of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel well supported. They can approach leaders, who they describe as ‘compassionate’ and ‘nurturing’. Staff feel listened to and trusted. Leaders encourage the team to normalise talking about stress and actively prioritise staff wellbeing. Staff are provided with support after incidents that they find difficult. This creates a culture of support and is building resilience in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In some situations, information has not been shared or known by the local authority at the point a child has moved in. This has resulted in staff and leaders not having a clear picture of children’s risks. When this has happened, the manager has challenged the local authority and shared emerging risks at the earliest opportunity. One local authority commented that this is helping them to better understand one child’s risks and needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff appropriately challenge discriminatory behaviour and comments. Staff are curious and non-judgemental when discussing racism with children. These opportunities are used as a chance for learning. This promotes tolerance and respect for others. Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 5 There have been some challenges in retaining staff since the last inspection. Leaders have reflected on this and understand the reasons why staff have left. They have recognised the impact that this has had on the staff team and children. They continue to take steps to address this to ensure continuity of care. Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 6

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff understand and implement agreed strategies to support children safely when they are upset. 29 October 2026

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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: 2730741 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Core Children Ltd, The Glades, Festival Way, Stoke-on- Trent ST1 5SQ

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Inspector

Kim Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 8 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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