Children's Home run by North Star Children’s Homes Ltd in Windsor and Maidenhead

Inspection report for children’s home: 2866399 1 Registered provider: North Star Children’s Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This multi-building home registered with Ofsted in January 2026 and is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 5 children with learning disabilities and who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with 2 of the children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 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: 2866399 2

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Summary of findings

Children make progress to achieve their goals. Children are valued, and staff speak warmly about them. Staff take pride in children’s successes and celebrate their achievements. Children live in an environment that is tailored to meet their needs. Therapeutic staff use creative ways to engage with children. Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and emotional needs. Children are learning how to manage their feelings and develop safe coping strategies. Leaders are ambitious and committed to ensuring that children have positive experiences and are supported to achieve their potential. Two requirements have been made in relation to staff supervision and employment practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home opened, 6 children have lived at this multi-building site. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the homes; 2 in one home and one in another. Three children have recently moved on from the home. One child returned to their previous foster care placement following a change in their circumstances. Another child moved to a placement closer to their local support networks after an increase in risk- taking behaviours that staff in the home were not always able to manage safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A notable success has been the progress made by one child, who achieved their goal of family reunification. Staff speak warmly and proudly about the child’s journey and the significant progress they made from their starting points. When the child moved into the home, they were subject to a deprivation of liberty order. Through consistent support from staff and effective partnership working, the child engaged in a range of positive experiences, including therapeutic sessions with the in-house clinical team. As a result of the progress made, the child was able to return to live with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children currently living at the home have recently arrived. Appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure that they begin education at the start of the new school year, with effective involvement and oversight from headteachers at the virtual schools. One child who recently moved on had not engaged in education for some time and was supported to re-engage and complete their exams; this was significant progress for this child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to enjoy positive experiences and promote healthy lifestyles. This includes attending trials with local football clubs, participating in sporting activities, such as gym sessions and swimming, and visiting museums. Children also benefit from support provided by the in-house clinical team and are encouraged to access the therapy farm if they wish.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build positive relationships with children and support their individual culture and identity needs. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and choose Inspection report for children’s home: 2866399 3 games and equipment for the home that they enjoy using. This supports children to create memories and enjoy typical childhood experiences, while building trusting relationships with staff.

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

There have been some incidents that have required police involvement to help safeguard children and staff. Following incidents, leaders carry out thorough reviews to identify learning and ensure that it informs children’s risk assessments, care plans and strategies, supporting a proactive approach to risk management.

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

Leaders have also developed effective partnerships with local police services and youth referral support agencies to provide bespoke interventions for children. This targeted work helps children to better understand the consequences of their actions, reduce risk- taking behaviours and avoid unnecessary criminalisation. Children have responded positively to this support and are engaging well with the sessions, helping them to develop their understanding of risk and make safer choices.

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

Staff respond proactively if children go missing from the home. They take swift action to locate children and reduce potential risks, including following children when appropriate, using dynamic risk assessments and implementing strategies that are tailored to children’s individual needs and circumstances. Following incidents, staff spend time with children to reflect on what has happened, helping them to understand risks and identify safer ways to manage future situations.

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

There have been some incidents where staff have used physical intervention to keep children safe. When physical intervention is required, it is used at the least restrictive level and is followed by reflection with the child and staff. Some staff members reported that they had lacked confidence in using restraint techniques. In response, additional support and training were provided to ensure that they had the skills needed to confidently support children.

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

There are shortfalls in safer recruitment checks for employed and agency staff. For example, there are gaps in verifying the reasons why staff have left previous roles working with children or vulnerable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders are ambitious and committed to securing excellent outcomes for all children. They have a clear vision that every child should be given the opportunities, support and encouragement needed to achieve their full potential. Leaders continually reflect on and evaluate practice and foster a culture of ongoing learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders maintain effective oversight of care planning. They review incidents carefully to identify any learning opportunities and consider whether alternative approaches could have been taken to further support children’s safety and wellbeing. This reflective approach promotes continuous improvement in practice. Risk assessments Inspection report for children’s home: 2866399 4 and safety plans are updated promptly following incidents, and relevant external professionals are kept informed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are ongoing efforts to recruit a full staff team. Until this is achieved, managers have been using staff from other homes in the group, along with regular agency staff, to ensure consistency for the children. New staff receive a two-week induction programme, consisting of online training and essential reading, which they feel supports their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have responded proactively to concerns raised by some neighbours regarding the home. They have engaged with the local police, representatives of the host local authority and members of the community to promote positive relationships, encourage open dialogue and help the community to understand the aims of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff say they feel supported by senior leaders and report an open and positive culture in the team. However, staff do not receive supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. This limits formal opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders do not have an established system for monitoring staff training records to ensure that staff receive the training necessary to meet children’s needs. Although leaders recognise this shortfall and have plans in place to address it, these arrangements are not yet embedded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2866399 5

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

staff supervision is consistent with the approach outlined in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

effective systems are in place to oversee and monitor staff training to ensure that they have the skills to meet children’s needs. 30 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, 30 November 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2866399 6 if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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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: 2866399 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North Star Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 14 David Mews, London W1U 6EQ

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2866399 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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