Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2562531 1 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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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 company. The home provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living in the home. Children were busy doing holiday activities and so did not have time to speak with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant. A new manager has been in post since April 2026 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

On 30 June and 1 July 2026, Ofsted conducted a full inspection, which identified widespread concerns relating to the care and protection of children and leadership and management, resulting in an overall judgement of inadequate. Requirements under Regulations 12, 13 and 14 were made to address the identified shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to evaluate the actions taken by managers to bring about improvements and address the requirements made at the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reflected on the findings from the full inspection and has taken proactive steps to address the areas identified for improvement. The manager and the supporting responsible individual have maintained increased oversight of the home. This has led to some positive changes.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding concerns have been managed and responded to well. Senior leaders had not investigated previous shortfalls around safeguarding reporting, resulting in missed opportunities to identify any weaknesses in practice, accountability and oversight. However, the manager has undertaken this exercise. When safeguarding concerns have arisen since the last inspection, the manager has responded swiftly and appropriately to ensure that children are safeguarded; this includes working with relevant professionals. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2562531 2 Assessments used to determine whether the home can safely and effectively meet the needs of children have been reviewed by the manager. These assessments are more comprehensive and are supported by accompanying guidance to ensure that these tools are used effectively and to strengthen decision-making.

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This monitoring visit

There is greater workforce stability. The home is now staffed by a consistent staff team, and the rota has been reviewed to ensure that there is a balance of skills and experience to strengthen the team. This enables new staff to also learn from experienced staff. As a result, children are now offered stability, are forming better relationships with staff and there are fewer incidents.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed relevant training to meet children’s needs. The manager has conducted a learning needs analysis of the staff, which has been shared with the learning and development manager to create a tailored training programme. In the meantime, the manager has delivered training in team meetings, as well as provided staff with the opportunity to reflect on children’s individual support plans and learning from incidents. This has improved staff responses to deflect and intervene, reducing incident occurrence.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, Ofsted has been made aware of significant concerns within the senior leadership team and about the effectiveness of leadership and management systems in the organisation. These concerns are being investigated by an independent person. However, shortfalls in leadership and management systems have the potential to adversely affect the quality of care and experiences of children.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit, requirements under Regulations 12 and 14 have been met. Requirements under Regulation 13 have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2562531 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/06/2026 Full Inadequate 23/09/2025 Full Good 23/06/2025 Full Inadequate 28/10/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2562531 4

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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 with 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

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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, senior leaders must investigate and resolve concerns that have been raised about the effectiveness of leadership and management systems within the organisation. 9 October 2026

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2562531 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Lymevale Court, Lyme Drive, Parklands, Stoke- on-Trent ST4 6NW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Emmaline Scoular

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Inspector

Tonia Dubidat, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2562531 6 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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