Children's Home run by Shropshire Council in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC382730 1 SC382730 Registered provider: Shropshire Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a local authority. It offers short breaks for up to 5 children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Planned and immediate short breaks are used as targeted interventions to support and stabilise family life and to help children transition to their next home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were staying in the home. The inspector spoke with the children and observed their interactions with staff.

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Information about this children’s home

The term ‘carers’ has been used throughout this report to reflect the home’s preferred term for describing staff.

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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

Date of last inspection: 2 February 2026

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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: SC382730 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/02/2026 Full Good 28/01/2025 Full Good 03/05/2023 Full Good 22/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC382730 3

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Summary of findings

The service is well managed and child centred. Managers and carers are professional, knowledgeable and responsive to children’s and families’ individual needs. As a result, children experience positive opportunities that build their confidence, social skills and independence in a safe and supportive environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, 33 children have received planned short breaks, and 6 children have received immediate short breaks. One child has stayed beyond the maximum 17 days allowed for short-break stays. However, this delay was based on an informed decision to ensure that the child experienced a single positive move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into and out of the home are carefully planned and managed. Managers and carers work closely with parents, social workers and other important individuals in the children’s lives before any moves are agreed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care that is tailored to their specific needs and those of their families. Each child has a detailed plan with aspirational targets, which are regularly reviewed by the care team, the wider multidisciplinary team, and parents and carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers document children’s progress, experiences, challenges and achievements through reports and photos. These are shared with parents, carers and social workers after each short-break stay. This promotes transparency and demonstrates strong communication and partnership working.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children thrive as they develop new skills and experience new opportunities. Carers support children to participate in work experience, engage in new activities, make new friends, establish healthy sleep routines and try new foods. These experiences help to build confidence, enhance social skills, support relationships and family life and prepare children for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

‘The children I work with speak very highly of the service and genuinely enjoy attending. They often ask for additional short-break days and are always keen to return, which I feel demonstrates how comfortable, happy and secure they feel within the service.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s targets are renewed, monitored and reviewed through planned activities and key-work sessions. Children have individualised ‘My Journey’ books with photos and comments charting their time at the home. These books are given to children when they Inspection report for children’s home: SC382730 4 leave the short-break service. This enables them and their families to remember, reflect on and celebrate positive memories and achievements.

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

Managers and carers build positive and meaningful relationships with children and their families, which are central to promoting children’s safety and emotional wellbeing. They support children to manage their emotions and behaviours through consistent strategies, effective communication and sensitive reassurance. As a result, the number of incidents, physical interventions and missing-from-home episodes is low.

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

Managers and carers carefully consider the compatibility of children who stay together during each visit. Wherever possible, they arrange for children to frequently stay with the same friends. This process clearly identifies risks and focuses on increasing children’s opportunities to share, socialise with others and join in activities alongside their peers.

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

Managers communicate clearly with professionals, parents and carers when planned short breaks are cancelled. This enables carers to meet the needs of children who require immediate short breaks. The cancellation of short breaks does not result in a reduction in the overall number of stays provided to children throughout the year.

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

Recruitment procedures are thorough. This helps to ensure that individuals employed to work at the home are suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and deputy manager are committed practitioners who are skilled in delivering this specialist short-break service. They promote a reflective and nurturing environment that is firmly focused on families remaining together. Other local authorities have visited the service because of the success of this model.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team makes effective use of internal and external quality assurance processes. Leaders have a clear understanding of the service’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Development plans are focused and informed by effective management oversight and consultation with carers, placing authorities and children and their families. For example, the plans include clear objectives for improving risk assessments, developing key workers and shift leaders through additional support and training, refurbishing the home and improving the property’s Wi-Fi connectivity. These plans are driving continuous improvement and contributing to positive outcomes for children, families and carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an established and skilled team of carers, most of whom are qualified. Carers are well supported by managers through effective induction, probation, supervision and team meetings. Ongoing training is underpinned by therapeutic models and is tailored to children’s specific needs. The training programme is regularly reviewed and enhanced. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382730 5 Partnership work is an area of strength. A social worker stated:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘Children’s targets are clearly identified in their short-break plans and align with their local authority plans of care. Carers and leaders work effectively with a range of professionals involved in children’s lives to support children, their families and wider support networks to achieve identified outcomes. As a result, children experience consistent and coordinated care.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382730 6

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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: SC382730 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND

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Inspector

Dawn Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC382730 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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