Children's Home run by Heritage Children’s Homes Limited in Swindon

Inspection report for children's home: 2864725 1 Registered provider: Heritage Children’s Homes 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 provider and offers care for up to 2 children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home and spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children's home

The manager and home registered with Ofsted in February 2026, and this is the home’s first inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2864725 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Inspection report for children's home: 2864725 3

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Summary of findings

Staff provide good quality care to the child. Staff understand the child’s individual needs and they have developed trusting relationships with them. The child feels settled and secure in their home. However, weaknesses were identified in safeguarding practice because leaders and managers were unclear about the child’s online experiences and community ties. The manager reflected on these shortfalls and accepted that improvements were needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is happy and settled living in their home. Staff make efforts to broaden the child’s experiences by suggesting new activities and trips. However, the child often prefers to stay at home, but this does not discourage the staff from seeking out new opportunities for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to maintain relationships with people who are important to them for example, staff take the child to visit their family and invite them to the home. Staff take steps to meet the child’s religious needs. For example, they ensure the child attends church with their family each week. This helps them to identify with their culture and to feel a sense of community and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made progress with their education from their starting point. The child has struggled to attend education settings for several years but staff have been successful in encouraging them to complete educational activity at home. Staff are also supporting the child to develop independence skills in preparation of young adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child spends extended periods of time in their bedroom. While staff make efforts to wake the child every morning, offering them breakfast and encouraging them to participate in activities, their efforts are not always impactful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager is interested in the child’s views, wishes and feelings and seeks to involve them in important decisions. For example, the manager included the child in their placement planning before they moved in and she has sought their views about new children moving into the home.

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improvement to be good

The child has access to technology and staff carryout devise checks and have robust filtering systems in place. The child is agreeable to giving staff their phone overnight. However, there are indicators that the child has another secret phone and staff have not made sufficient efforts to explore this. Consequently, staff are unclear about the child’s Inspection report for children's home: 2864725 4 online experiences and connections, which means the child is potentially vulnerable to unknown risks.

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improvement to be good

Despite voicing the preference for solitude, the child does enjoy spending independent time in the community and they tend to visit the shops and the local park. The child has made friends, but the registered manager was unaware of their community ties. Consequently, staff are unable to determine whether the child’s friendships are positive, healthy and safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff take appropriate action when the child goes missing from home, for example they follow the child’s missing protocols and make efforts to ensure they return home safely. Staff talk with the child about the risks associated with going missing. Plans and risk assessments are clear, concise, and regularly updated, providing good guidance and instructions to staff.

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improvement to be good

The child has not raised any complaints or concerns about their home or staff. They understand how to complain if they wish to do so. Additionally, staff have offered to refer them to an advocacy service so that they can share their views, wishes and feelings with someone independent of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by a confident manager and an experienced deputy, who work well together. Staff are well-supported by leaders and managers, and they enjoy working in the home and caring for the child. Staff complete a range of training, so they feel equipped for their role. Furthermore, staff receive frequent supervision and engage in regular team meetings, which supports them to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a good advocate for the child. They challenge professionals when they believe they fall short of their duties towards the child. They regularly attend meetings to address concerns and formulate plans with the aim of keeping the child safe. Professional and family feedback is very positive about the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers clearly understand the strengths and areas for development in the home. They have good insight into the quality of care the child receives and this is informed by effective monitoring and review systems, as well as listening to the child’s views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well maintained and cosy. However, the child's bedroom is very cluttered and untidy, which detracts from the homely feel. Additionally, leaders and managers have identified the garden needs renovating to make it welcoming for the child but have not yet taken steps to address this. Inspection report for children's home: 2864725 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, 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

and that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they have an accurate understanding of the child’s online experiences, connections and access to devises. The registered person must also ensure that they have an accurate understanding of the child’s community ties and friendships. In both instances, the registered person must assess any associated risks and take appropriate steps to mitigate them. 28 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2864725 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the child is supported regularly to keep their bedroom clean and tidy, so it is cosy for them. Additionally, the registered person must ensure that the garden is welcoming for the child and well-presented. Furthermore, that it is a safe environment. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15., paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2864725 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Heritage Children’s Homes Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 21, Ergo Business Park Kelvin Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 3JW

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Inspector

Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2864725 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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