Children's Home run by Karoo Group Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2846096 1 Registered provider: Karoo Group Limited

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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 owned by a private organisation. It provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2026.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2846096 2

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Summary of findings

Children receive individualised care that reflects their needs, interests and aspirations. children make progress in education and develop positive relationships. The staff work closely with families and professionals to provide children with consistent support.

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Summary of findings

Staff understand children’s risks and use a trauma-informed approach to manage these. The staff focus on praise and positive reinforcement.

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Summary of findings

Children’s views influence their care, activities and routines.

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Summary of findings

The managers oversight is effective and thorough. The manager completes detailed reviews, monitors actions and identifies learning to improve practice. Staff are well supported by the manager and encouraged to be reflective in their practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have lived at the home since registration. One child was supported to move on. The child who has moved made progress in education, working with external support and volunteering. They completed their GCSE exams and secured a college place. Following a significant incident, the child moved immediately. Leaders reflected on the incident with the staff team. The child then returned to the home. Following a further incident, leaders concluded they could no longer keep the child and staff safe and immediate notice was given. Despite the ending, staff took steps to support the child moving on. Information was shared with the new home and staff took care when packing the child’s belongings. Staff provided the child with a memory book and letters to retain positive memories and relationships from her time at the home. Some staff have continued to maintain appropriate contact demonstrating their ongoing care and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The other child’s move into the home was carefully planned. Staff took time to understand the child’s interests and prepare for their arrival. The staff made adaptations to the child’s bedroom and prepared a highly personalised welcome basket. This helped the child to feel valued and supported her to settle into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain relationships with families and friends when this is in their best interests. They support families and friends to visit the home and to spend time with children in the community. This helps children to maintain positive connections to people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with professionals and services involved in supporting children. There is strong evidence of effective multi-agency working. Staff communicate regularly with relevant agencies, share information appropriately and contribute to care planning Inspection report for children's home: 2846096 3 around the children's needs. This partnership working helps to ensure that children receive consistent and well-coordinated support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's meetings provide opportunities for children to share their views about their care, meals and activities. There is a focus on children’s interests with staff supporting meaningful activities. One child has developed their interest in horses. Another child has been supported to pursue an interest in fitness. The child will be supported to work towards a personal training qualification. This helps children to develop their interests, build confidence and follow their aspirations.

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

Staff complete risk assessments and behaviour management plans to understand each child’s needs, their vulnerabilities and potential risks. These assessments provide staff with clear guidance on how to respond to and manage risks. Staff emphasise the home’s model when supporting children. This supports a consistent, trauma-informed approach to care and helps children to feel safe and understood.

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

There is a strong emphasis on positive reinforcement. Staff regularly recognise children’s achievements and positive choices. Staff use praise books to record messages to the child. Staff do not routinely use consequences to manage children’s behaviour. When appropriate, natural and restorative approaches are used to encourage children to reflect. This approach supports children’s self esteem and helps them to develop a positive view of themselves and their achievements.

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

Physical intervention is used when there is a risk of harm. The interventions reviewed were proportionate. Children and staff are offered opportunities to reflect on these incidents afterwards.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff follow the home’s missing-from-care protocol. On some occasions, the records have not been clear and detailed. Leaders have evaluated and identified this and there is an improvement in recording. This provides greater clarity about the actions taken by staff and the responses to individual incidents.

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

Staff respond appropriately when children self-harm and provide them with first-aid support. At times, records lack detail about the nature and size of injuries or the means used to self-harm. Leaders have recognised this shortfall and are improving the recording format to enable staff to provide clearer detailed information. This will support better oversight of incidents.

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

Staff use one-to-one discussions with children following all incidents. These discussions provide children with opportunities to reflect on what has happened, consider the actions and explore safer choices. Staff use these conversations to help children understand risk and develop strategies to manage situations safely. Inspection report for children's home: 2846096 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated and committed to achieving positive outcomes for children. She provides a high level of good-quality care for children. The manager has a detailed understanding of the child's needs from the outset. Leaders and managers have established good relationships with the child and the staff team, ensuring effective oversight and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight is evident across all records and documentation. The manager uses effective monitoring systems to ensure that identified tasks and actions are followed through to completion. Manager’s reviews are detailed and demonstrate on incidents and staff practice. These reviews identify learning and consider what could be done differently in the future. This supports continuous improvements to practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are motivated and happy in their jobs. They are offered reflective sessions from specialist clinicians. These contribute to a supportive and reflective staff team. The staff have worked through a difficult time at the home. The support from managers has been instrumental in staff remaining resilient and focused on the care for children. Staff are clear that they are ‘one team, one voice’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed all their mandatory training. When a child moves in, leaders review staff training and identify if additional training is required to meet the child’s needs. When gaps are identified, appropriate training is arranged. There is a training investment in the staff team, which supports them to progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from children’s professional network regarding the manager and staff is highly complimentary. Overall, professionals said that the staff team do all they can to support children. Inspection report for children's home: 2846096 5

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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: 2846096 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Karoo Group Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Walbrook Wharf, 78 - 83 Upper Thames Street, London EC4R 3TD

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Inspector

Harkerat Lidhar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2846096 7 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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