Children's Home run by Coven Care Homes Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2775397 1 Registered provider: Coven Care Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. They provide care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 1 child was living at the home. They were present and spoke with the inspector.

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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: 17 December 2025

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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: 2775397 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2025 Full Good 03/09/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2775397 3

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Summary of findings

The home has a consistent good inspection history. Since the last inspection, 1 child has remained living in the home.

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Summary of findings

The child is very settled in the home and has demonstrated progress since living in the home. Staff provide stability and positive experiences for the child.

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Summary of findings

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks and needs and promote a culture where the child feels consistently safe and well supported. The manager has high aspirations and expectations for the child and for the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has built trusting relationships with staff. They said, ‘I absolutely love it here. The staff are lovely. They help me keep calm.’ Staff help the child to develop their skills in regulating their emotions more effectively. This has led to a decrease in behavioural incidents in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress with their education. Staff speak to the child when resistance occurs to help understand the barriers. The child raised concerns regarding their tutor. A new tutor was identified in good time, which led to increased engagement and participation. This resulted in greater than expected outcomes being achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to participate in a range of activities, including having pamper evenings, movie nights and a recent holiday. With ongoing support, the child has been able to continue to be a part of a gymnastics competition squad. A dedicated area of the garage has also been adapted for this activity. This is supporting the child to maintain an important part of their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to see their loved ones even though family visits involve long- distance travel. This helps the child to remain connected to family and maintain a sense of emotional security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated to a high standard, with areas where the child can socialise. There are pictures of the child around the home, and their medals and trophies are on display and some of the meals are named after the staff. This creates a warm, homely and welcoming environment.

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

Staff have good knowledge and insight into the complex needs and vulnerabilities of the child. The child has also been supported to write their own plans, which inform staff how they can best react when the child is showing different emotions and behaviours. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2775397 4 plans are displayed on the office wall for all staff to easily access. This helps the child reflect, identify and understand their own emotional needs.

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

When children harm themselves, staff offer the child emotional warmth and reassurance. They ensure that the child is provided with first aid and seek further medical advice and support when necessary. Protective measures, such as the removal of items, are regularly reviewed and safely phased out. This helps to achieve a balanced approach to keeping the child safe, while promoting their liberties and independence.

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

Staff are skilled at de-escalation techniques and supporting the child to promote positive behaviours. Physical intervention is used only when needed to keep the child safe. Following incidents, the manager ensures that both the child and staff have opportunities to reflect. This helps the manager to evaluate the safety and appropriateness of practice. However, the quality of recording of some incidents for the child is inconsistent. The manager is aware of this development need in staff practice and is addressing it through further training.

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

Staff know how to respond when the child goes missing from home. They actively search for the child and follow their missing-from-home plan. The child is sensitively welcomed back into the home, and conversations take place to explore the reasons for the missing from home incident. This helps to keep the child safe.

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

Staff respond appropriately when a child raises concerns of historical harm. Relevant professionals are notified to ensure a thorough investigation of the concerns takes place. However, the child is not always kept informed during the investigation or about the outcome. This lack of communication can leave the child uncertain because they are not assured that their concerns are acknowledged or properly addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate and has high ambitions for the child. She is supported by an equally committed responsible individual. Both have developed a meaningful relationship with the child and are focused on helping them to reach their full potential. There are ongoing plans to develop the home and build on the positive outcomes that the child is experiencing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working at the home and there is a good team morale. They describe leaders as approachable and supportive. Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. They are reflective and provide an opportunity for staff to explore and review the child’s progress. This helps the child to receive consistency in the care and support they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities. All staff have completed the mandatory training. Bespoke training relevant to the child’s emerging and individual needs is also provided. This ensures the child receives care from staff who have the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775397 5 Staff and managers receive regular supervision. The emotional wellbeing of staff alongside the child’s needs and safeguarding issues are discussed. Staff are able to discuss incidents in an open and supportive environment. Opportunities for staff to reflect, learn and develop improve the standard of care being provided to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have developed positive working relationships with partner agencies. Feedback from professionals is extremely positive. They highlight the positive relationships staff have with the child, the progress the child has made, and the advocacy offered to them. One social worker said that the child is much more settled due to the consistent care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775397 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—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when children make disclosures, they are kept informed during the investigation and of the outcome. 30 October 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a clear way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2775397 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Coven Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 9 Cairns Drive, Stafford ST16 3PW

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Inspector

Emma Hutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2775397 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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