Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 1 Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post who is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children lived at the home. Both children were present and chose to speak with the inspectors.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/12/2024 Full Good 03/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 3

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Summary of findings

Managers and staff provide personalised, child-centred care that meets children’s individual needs and has enabled positive progress for most children. Two children have achieved significant outcomes, although one child’s progress has been limited by ongoing safeguarding concerns. Staff offer warm, nurturing support and promote education, health, independence and participation. However, serious concerns remain regarding one child’s vulnerability and safety, with some interventions not yet effective and opportunities for earlier action missed. Overall, leadership is strong, care quality is well monitored and children benefit from stable relationships, consistent support and a positive home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s individual needs and provide personalised care and support. Children’s plans are implemented in line with local authority expectations, ensuring that care is responsive to their identified needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have made good progress from their starting points. One child has produced an album of songs that tells their life story in the form of a rap. Another child has successfully moved to live with a foster carer. Safeguarding concerns for one child have affected their experiences and have limited their progress since moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide warm, nurturing care, which helps children develop positive and trusting relationships. Managers recognise the importance of placement stability and security. They work collaboratively with professionals to balance these needs alongside any safeguarding concerns. This supports children to develop a sense of belonging and emotional security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote positive routines that provide children with structure, predictability and consistency. As a result, children feel safe and secure within the home environment. Staff promote learning effectively. Managers work well with education professionals to overcome barriers to children accessing education. This has resulted in children now having access to school and college. A child enjoys attending events organised by the virtual school, which provides enrichment opportunities that support educational achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are understood by managers and staff. Staff consider these when supporting children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. One child represents children in care at the children’s voice project. These experiences contribute to the child’s increase in confidence and provide them with the opportunity to meet friends. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 4 Staff support children to develop practical and independent living skills that prepare them for adulthood. These plans are regularly reviewed and adapted to reflect children’s changing needs and their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote and support children’s health and wellbeing. However, further escalation is required to ensure one child can access routine oral health checks. Despite staff making concerted efforts to encourage one child to access health services, these interventions have not yet been effective. Staff continue to undertake direct work with one child about sexual health and healthy relationships. Continuing multi-agency support and intervention remain important to reduce risks and promote their wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

While most children benefit from effective risk management and have experienced increased safety, the judgement in this area has been affected by significant safeguarding concerns relating to one child. Despite efforts by managers, staff and partner agencies, risks have escalated and concerns remain regarding the child’s vulnerability to exploitation, criminality and harm.

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improvement to be good

Staff interventions to help one child to recognise their vulnerabilities are not yet effective, which increases their susceptibility to exploitation. For example, they have reported feeling pressure from peers to engage in activities they do not wish to take part in, and they do not always recognise when they may have experienced exploitation. Nonetheless, it is positive that children feel able to share their experiences with staff. This openness enables professionals to assess concerns and implement measures to try to manage these risks effectively.

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improvement to be good

One child’s involvement in criminal and anti-social behaviour has escalated. Managers are now considering new interventions in response to a recent escalation in risk from substance misuse. However, there were opportunities to use additional strategies and earlier intervention sooner when warning signs and risk were increasing.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing, staff take appropriate action to support their safe return. For one child, staff work with partner agencies to coordinate an effective response when they go missing from the home. They search for the child and ensure they are welcomed home. Staff speak with the child about their experiences while missing and ensure concerns are shared with relevant professionals. There has been one occasion when a child has left the home during the night without staff’s knowledge. This incident demonstrates that arrangements to monitor and safeguard the child were not fully effective, resulting in a period during which the child’s safety and wellbeing could not be assured.

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improvement to be good

Children receive support to understand the risks associated with online activity, including bullying, exploitation and unhealthy relationships. This work is undertaken through direct discussions. However, the effectiveness of these interventions is not yet consistently Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 5 evident as checks of internet use are not in place. For example, there are concerns that one child was able to arrange to meet an individual using an online platform who subsequently delivered substances in the local area that were suspected to be illegal.

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improvement to be good

Staff manage peer conflicts well and relationships between children have improved. Physical intervention is rarely used and only as a last resort. When it is used, measures are proportionate, with children and staff supported to reflect on incidents and identify key learning so incidences are reduced.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment processes are robust and help to ensure that adults working with children are suitable to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a clear, child-focused vision that is understood and lived out by all staff. They are motivated and committed to improving children’s lives and ensuring that children benefit from consistent care from staff they know well. Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended by staff. These meetings provide opportunities to reflect on children’s progress, celebrate achievements and consider challenges. As a result, staff are encouraged to identify areas for development and work collectively towards improving the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘Nitta Natta’ sessions with children demonstrate the home’s commitment to supporting children to develop a positive sense of identity and, importantly, to have their views, wishes and feelings heard. These sessions provide meaningful opportunities for children to influence the care and support they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has received several compliments from professionals and others who are involved in children’s lives. These compliments acknowledge the dedication of managers and staff in supporting children. They highlight the positive relationships that have been developed, as well as the home’s welcoming atmosphere and effective collaboration with the wider professional and family network.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers use a range of monitoring systems, which provide oversight of children’s experiences and the quality of care delivered. These processes enable managers to identify trends and patterns, and they use this information to inform care planning and service development. Monitoring activities also helps to ensure that practice remains aligned with relevant care standards and supports the continued development of the staff team. Weekly reports effectively capture children’s experiences and provide a valuable record of their individual journeys and achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that is tailored to the specific needs of the children in their care. Staff speak positively about the support available to them and describe managers as approachable and supportive. Observations during the inspection confirm that staff have warm, nurturing relationships with children. As a result, children feel safe, valued and supported. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 6

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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— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff provide effective support to children, helping them to understand how to keep themselves safe, and that early intervention strategies are implemented promptly to reduce and manage emerging contextual risks. 2 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to effectively help children to understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours, in key areas of health and wellbeing such as, but not limited to, sexual relationships, sexual health, contraception and use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. In particular, when measures are not successful in managing risk that impacts children’s health, they should seek support from alternative services. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18) Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 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: 2736466 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Staffordshire County Council, 1 Staffordshire Place, Stafford ST16 2LP

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Inspectors

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Salma Ahmed, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2736466 9 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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