Children's Home run by Core Children Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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 privately owned and registered to provide care for up to 3 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 1 child was living at the home and spoke to the inspector briefly during the visit.

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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 outstanding

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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: 17 February 2026

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/02/2026 Full Good 29/04/2024 Full Outstanding 24/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Summary of findings

This home provides a warm, calm environment tailored to the child’s individual needs. Staff balance safety with dignity, regularly reviewing restrictions and finding creative ways to promote independence. The child’s wishes and feelings are central to decision- making, supported through meaningful relationships. Staff respond proactively to changing needs, using specialist advice and personalised communication methods to keep the child safe and engaged. Strong leadership, skilled staff and effective multi- agency working ensure consistent, high-quality care. The registered manager is a dedicated advocate for the child, driving positive outcomes and maintaining a culture of aspiration, support and continuous improvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and beautiful environment that has been tailored to the child living there. Spaces have been personalised to the child’s needs, and thought has been given to maintaining calmness throughout. Where restrictions have been implemented for the child’s safety, these are actioned in the most considered way possible. These are reviewed regularly, in line with the child’s needs and presentation at the time. Staff are mindful of the impact restrictions have and seek creative ways to reduce these over time. This means the child receives care from staff members who are considerate of their needs, feelings and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff champion education in the home and have provided the child with effective support to move from school to college. Staff have ensured the child has had the opportunity to visit a number of settings. These visits have been tailored to the child’s needs, with sensitive conversations held about the benefits of the options available. The child’s wishes have been central in decision-making. One professional said, ‘The home recognises the importance of education in improving long-term outcomes and actively supports [name of child] to achieve their full potential.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to see the people who are important to them. Staff are led by the child about this and are non-judgemental of the child’s decisions. Where the child wishes to have time with another family member, this is explored appropriately with the local authority. The registered manager advocates for time with family to occur, if safe to do so. One family member said, ‘The registered manager really tries his best for [name of child] and supports time between me and [name of child], and I know does as much as he can in encouraging this.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The wishes and feelings of the child are sought consistently by staff. They think creatively about how these can be gathered, using a variety of methods to support the child to share their views. This has included using technology, games and quizzes to increase accessibility. Conversations held are detailed, and staff respond proactively to Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

areas of interest for the child. This has enabled the child to be well supported in many areas, including around health, education and sharing what staff can do to help them when they need support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The management team ensures support plans are updated regularly, with any changes highlighted. All staff who come into the home have this explained to them in detail, ensuring consistency in practice. This is also discussed in team meetings, ensuring consistency in staff approaches. Staff are responsive to the changes in the child’s behaviour, considering proactive ways that can keep the child safe. One professional recognised, ‘The home has supported [name of child] through periods of emotional difficulty and has responded appropriately when concerns have arisen by reviewing plans, updating risk assessments and seeking support from relevant professionals.’

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

The child is subject to a significant amount of oversight and restriction to keep them safe. Consideration has been given to how to balance safety with the child’s privacy and dignity by the leadership team, and significant multi-agency oversight and advice have been sought. Where there have been delays in these restrictions being reviewed by external agencies, the registered manager has continued to advocate strongly for the child and has escalated as appropriate. This ensures that the arrangements for the child are subject to the independent oversight and scrutiny they should be.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of the child’s needs and respond proactively to incidents. Their practice is informed by specialist advice that is specific to the child and their needs. Staff show a high level of ability in understanding the changing needs of the child, which can occur rapidly, and alter their approach in response. This means that the child is cared for by people with a good understanding of them and what works well for them.

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

Physical intervention is used proportionately to safeguard the child and others. Staff practise approved holds consistently to ensure their practice is as safe as possible. Conversations following any incident occur with the child with someone not involved, ensuring their immediate welfare and emotional wellbeing after the event. Repair work to relationships is undertaken when required, allowing things to move forward for the child. Management oversight is diligent and provides comment on the event and staff practice. When there are shortfalls in staff practice, these are clearly identified and additional learning completed as needed.

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

Allegations are treated seriously and managed appropriately. The child is kept up to date of any investigation and can revisit what they have shared. Where one staff member’s practice fell short of expectations, appropriate action was taken and reflection and learning were taken from the incident. Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 5 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The child in the home is cared for by a competent and experienced staff team that provides the child with consistent care. Where a staff member has moved on and agency cover has been needed, the registered manager has sought to use consistent staff and completed a thorough induction. This ensures that all staff caring for the child have an awareness of their needs and the specific plans in place to support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a strong and caring relationship with the child in the home, and this is evident through interactions and documentation. He takes his role as an advocate for the child seriously and can challenge services effectively to improve the outcomes for the child. For example, where a child’s college place was reported to be no longer available, the manager quickly addressed this with multi-agency partners, continuing to escalate as necessary. This resulted in the child beginning their transition as planned, which was essential to their continued progress in education.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has created a culture of high aspiration and positivity in the home. Where staff morale has been impacted by complex incidents, leaders have sought creative ways to support them. This has included changes to shift patterns and allowing staff to support in alternative homes for short periods. This has allowed staff the opportunity to recharge and return, and it has prevented further changes for the child in who is supporting them longer term. One staff member said, ‘We have experienced very difficult times in our home, but I feel extremely supported both personally and professionally in my workplace by my team and managers.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has excellent oversight of the home and staff practice. This is achieved through consistent auditing and oversight of documentation, as well as visibility in the home. Positive practice, as well as areas for development, are documented in quality-of-work reviews, and these feed into supervision discussions and wider upskilling. The responsible individual is present in the home and contributes effectively to team meetings. Staff feel comfortable in the leadership team’s knowledge of the child, their needs and circumstances, and they are comfortable seeking advice and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious for the home and staff team. They are aware of the areas in which they excel, while also understanding where improvement is needed. This is supported by their detailed understanding of their staff team and the wider dynamics. Supervision occurs regularly, and the registered manager seeks opportunities for staff to develop. One staff member said, ‘The registered manager is on it when it comes to my progression. He gives me the opportunity to learn with support and has stressed the importance of multi-agency working.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive training appropriate to the child’s needs, which is monitored effectively by the registered manager. Where specific support need is identified, further upskilling is completed. Team meetings are used effectively to share information and address practice issues. The registered manager operates with honesty and transparency, allowing staff to feel safe to communicate when they need further support. One staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

member said, ‘I never feel there isn’t anything can’t go to them about; there is no judgment.’ This places staff in a better position to continue caring for the child effectively.

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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: 2695308 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Core Children Ltd, The Glades, Festival Way, Stoke-on- Trent ST1 5SQ

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Inspector

Fran Dallow, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 8 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspector

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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