Children's Home run by Step-A-Side Company Limited in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 1 SC030650 Registered provider: Step-A-Side Company Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run company provides long-term care and short breaks for up to 5 children who have experienced trauma and have social and emotional difficulties and/or special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home and spoke with the inspector about their experiences. Three children have lived at the home since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since August 2017.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2025 Full Outstanding 17/07/2024 Full Good 07/11/2023 Full Good 04/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 3

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from warm, nurturing relationships with staff who know them well and provide care that helps them feel safe, valued and supported. Children are encouraged to share their views and influence decisions about their lives, and they make progress from their individual starting points. One child has made significant progress in developing independence skills and preparing for adulthood, including securing a college placement in an area of interest. Parents and professionals are positive about the care provided and the manager's advocacy on behalf of children. Staff work proactively to keep children safe and promote their wellbeing. Leaders are committed to improving children's experiences and have identified areas where oversight, reflection and monitoring can be further strengthened.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff provide children with a caring and supportive home where effective relationships support children's experiences. Children speak positively about the care they receive and describe staff as approachable and dependable. One child said that they feel safe, well cared for and able to speak openly with staff when they need support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for children and support them to make progress from their individual starting points. One child has made significant progress in developing independence skills and preparing for adulthood. Staff worked hard to support 2 children with complex needs whose behaviours at times presented significant challenges. Despite this, they remained committed to meeting their needs and, through effective partnership working, helped them achieve small but positive steps forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents speak highly of the care provided. They describe staff as committed to their child's wellbeing and value the regular communication they receive. Parents feel involved in plans for their child and are positive about the collaborative approach taken by staff to support future aspirations and transitions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to contribute to decisions about their lives. Staff provide regular opportunities for children to share their views through key-work sessions and everyday conversations. Children's views influence their plans and the support they receive. For example, when one child expressed a wish to develop greater independence, staff implemented a structured plan to help them gain practical skills and work towards their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to achieve positive educational outcomes. One child successfully completed their secondary education and secured a college placement to study a subject they are passionate about. The manager demonstrated strong advocacy for another child Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 4 who moved into the home without an education placement, escalating concerns about delays in securing suitable provision and highlighting the impact this was having on the child's progress and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious and welcoming home with access to a range of indoor and outdoor facilities. Although some areas require refurbishment following a challenging period, the manager has identified these shortfalls and has plans in place to improve the environment.

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

Leaders and staff have a good understanding of children's needs and vulnerabilities. Children benefit from a therapeutic approach that is supported by individualised plans and specialist guidance. Staff receive training and support to help them respond to children in a nurturing and child-centred way. Staff work hard to support children with complex needs and generally follow agreed strategies. However, their responses are not always consistent during periods of heightened behavioural challenge. The needs of some children living together have, at times, affected other children's day-to-day experiences and presented additional challenges for staff.

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

Staff take appropriate action to safeguard children. Incidents are managed promptly, and physical intervention is only used when necessary to protect children and others from harm. Managers maintain oversight of records and use reflection to identify learning and strengthen practice. Staff use restorative approaches well, helping children to rebuild relationships, reflect on their experiences and move forward positively.

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

Staff support children to make healthier choices. Smoking and vaping cessation plans are in place, and staff work alongside specialist substance misuse services to support children. Staff provide guidance and intervention when concerns arise, helping children to understand the risks associated with smoking and vaping and encouraging positive changes in their behaviour.

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

Before children move into the home, leaders carefully consider children's individual needs, vulnerabilities and relationships with others. Plans are put in place to support children living together and to help staff respond to their needs. Despite this, there have been occasions when the needs and behaviours of some children impacted on other children's experiences. Managers have recognised these challenges and taken steps to support children and staff and review how children's needs could be best met.

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

Door alarms are used to support children's safety and wellbeing. However, the manager has not ensured that there is clear evidence to demonstrate that their use has been formally agreed and regularly reviewed. As a result, it is not always clear whether this measure remains necessary and proportionate for every child. Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the home's strengths and areas for development. They demonstrate insight into children's experiences and recognise where improvements are needed. During a particularly challenging period, they took action to review practice, strengthen support arrangements and work with partner agencies to promote positive outcomes for children. Reflective reviews following significant incidents have been completed in some areas. However, opportunities for debriefs, reflection and the sharing of learning following all significant incidents and difficult placement endings are not always timely. As a result, opportunities to evaluate practice, support staff and embed learning are reduced. Leaders and managers have recognised this and taken steps to strengthen arrangements for reflective practice and oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the support they receive from the registered manager and describe them as approachable, child focused and committed to children and staff. However, some staff feel that senior leaders are not always sufficiently visible during particularly challenging periods and that a greater presence would provide additional support and oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak highly of the registered manager and describe them as approachable, responsive and committed to children. They value the manager's communication, partnership working and child-centred approach. Professionals are confident that children's needs are understood, promoted and consistently advocated for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a broad range of training that helps them meet children's individual needs and respond effectively to safeguarding concerns. Training reflects the experiences and vulnerabilities of children living in the home and includes topics such as criminal exploitation, neurodiversity, trauma-informed care, reactive attachment and disordered eating. This helps staff to understand children's behaviours and provide informed, therapeutic support. As a result, children benefit from care delivered by a skilled workforce that promotes consistent, child-centred practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring arrangements provide leaders with oversight of children's experiences and help to identify strengths and areas for development. This supports ongoing improvement and ensures that children receive care that meets their needs. Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that effective leadership, support and oversight are maintained during periods of challenge within the home. In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive appropriate support to recognise and address the impact of fatigue, that reflective discussions and debriefs take place following difficult placement endings and other significant events, and that learning from these events is thoroughly evaluated and used to improve practice. The registered person must also ensure that senior leaders maintain a visible and supportive presence within the home during periods of crisis and take action to promote consistent practice by staff to ensure children receive high-quality care and support at all times. 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 7 The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child's age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any measures used to restrict children's liberty, including bedroom door alarms, are necessary, proportionate and subject to regular review. In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is clear recorded justification for their use, that restrictions are not used to compensate for supervision arrangements and that appropriate consultation and written agreement from those with parental responsibility and relevant professionals are obtained and retained. 30 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: SC030650 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Step-A-Side Company Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 29 Market Place, Coleford, Gloucestershire GL16 8AA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rachel Carwardine

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Inspector

Karen Hallam, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC030650 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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