Children's Home run by Nova Childcare Services Ltd in Walsall

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 1 Registered provider: Nova Childcare Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2025 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, the home was not operational, and no children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home was judged inadequate at a full inspection which started on the 10 March 2026. Inspectors returned to the home on the 22 April 2026 to gather additional information following serious child protection concerns. The home’s registration was suspended with immediate effect, and a notice of proposal issued to cancel the provider’s registration of the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review action taken by leaders and managers in response to concerns identified at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The home has not been operational since April 2026. Therefore, leaders have not been able to demonstrate that they have met the requirements previously issued. Apart from the registered manager and deputy manager, there is currently no staff team in place. Leaders confirmed that they do not intend to move children into the home or recruit staff while they await the outcome of the notice of proposal to cancel the home’s registration.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, leaders have started to implement systems and processes to support compliance with regulations. This includes the implementation of a new Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 2 recording system which she anticipates will help leaders to identify safeguarding themes and trends more easily. Leaders are also developing a new induction programme for staff and have identified a training plan that can be tailored to children’s specific needs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have made changes to safer recruitment systems. This includes strengthening recruitment checks. The responsible individual will also provide oversight of the recruitment process before a new member of staff is recruited. Both the registered manager and deputy manager have undertaken safer recruitment training aiding their knowledge and understanding of the process. However, leaders are not yet able to demonstrate that these changes are effective in practice.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation is in the process of undertaking an internal investigation into serious child protection concerns. However, this work is still in progress, and leaders are not yet able to conclude their findings or recommendations. The registered manager and responsible individual have worked closely with external professionals to share appropriate safeguarding information.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s physical environment is not currently of suitable quality for children to move in. Leaders are aware of this and have plans to improve the décor and personalise the home should a decision be made to move another child in.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have recently reviewed the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the home. However, the assessment does not fully consider potential risks and vulnerabilities relating to the recent serious safeguarding concern, which may potentially compromise children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection are not met and have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/03/2026 Full Inadequate 22/09/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 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 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive clear guidance to reduce risks to children and that this guidance is consistently followed. 19 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 5 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. Additionally, the following has been added and raised:

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that the home’s location assessment includes all known, updated, and potential risks relevant to the location of the home and takes action to ensure those risks are mitigated.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that monitoring and review systems are effective in identifying patterns and trends in the quality of care for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 19 October 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. 19 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 6 The registered person may only—

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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,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that recruitment processes are robust and that concerns identified from previous employment are fully explored.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

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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 way that will be helpful to the child. This recommendation has been restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that is homely and meets children’s needs. Specifically, the registered person should fulfil their plans to make necessary improvements to the home environment prior to any children moving in. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 7

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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: 2828269 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nova Childcare Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Holyhead Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B21 0LG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Taylor

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Inspectors

Louise Naylor, Social Care Inspector Nicola Lownds, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, Social Care Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2828269 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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