Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 1 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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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 company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have experienced social and emotional difficulties, and children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, 3 children have moved on from the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. All children contributed to this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in October 2024. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced and has been in post since the home opened. The manager also manages another children’s home for the same organisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 14 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 2 Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2025 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 4

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Summary of findings

The children receive outstanding care and make exceptional progress because of a highly motivated and child-focused manager and staff team. Children build trusting and positive relationships with staff, who promote children’s safety, wellbeing and growing independence. In addition, staff provide a high level of therapeutic support and create a family environment, which strengthens stability for children. The manager provides exceptional leadership, which equips staff to provide outstanding levels of care. Staff, families and professionals speak highly of the care provided, and the manager is celebrated for his hard work, communication and advocacy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Outcomes for children who move on from the home are consistently positive. Two children stayed together as siblings as part of their move and one child returned to family. This means that children maintain important relationships. Children are well supported when leaving the home and benefit from child-focused planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive personalised welcomes to the home. Even when children move at short notice, the staff ensure that they know their preferences, and they reflect this in details such as bedding and individualised welcome packs. This level of attention to detail is standard practice and is seen throughout the care provided to children. Feedback from one parent stated how the parent was very confident and supportive of the care and support provided to their child and they were glad their child had ‘settled in there so smoothly.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children flourish as a result of the care provided. They benefit from strong relationships with staff, who know the children well and provide a high level of therapeutic support. This is reflective of the committed and stable staff team, whose members go above and beyond to build trusted relationships with children. Staff ensure that children are involved in all aspects of their day-to-day care, including their individualised care plans, which are reviewed, updated and understood by all staff to track the progress the children make.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in all aspects of their health, education, social and psychological wellbeing, peer relationships and emotional regulation. Examples include children making significant progress from their starting points, such as improved personal care, excellent attendance and attainment in education, healthy relationships and developing independence skills. Furthermore, children are supported with their all aspects of their identity and choices surrounding this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are highly dedicated to supporting and encouraging children to develop and maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Managers and staff worked creatively to support two children to establish new relationships with their Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 5 parents. They explored approaches that promoted connection and positive relationships. This was carefully planned and thought out, reflecting the children’s individual needs and emotional wellbeing at every stage of the reunification.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged and supported to have their own hobbies and interests. This includes activities such as football, basketball, tennis and trampolining. Children also attend clubs, such as Scouts and Cadets, and have been on different holidays. Children engage in joint activities to mimic ‘family time’, and this has been especially successful during the summer, with use of a pool in the garden and the home’s vegetable garden, which the children enjoy tending.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is warm and welcoming and provides children with a homely and nurturing environment. The children benefit from ample communal space, which is reflective of their interests, such as building blocks and tradeable cards. There are lots of pictures of the children enjoying activities and holidays on display, giving a family feel to the home. Each child’s bedroom is personalised to suit their individual tastes. Children are at the heart of any decision-making when it comes to changes in the home, making them feel valued.

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

Children are safe. This is because they have enduring relationships with the staff at this home, who know them and understand their vulnerabilities. Children have individualised plans that are under regular review and involve feedback from in-house therapists, who offer direct support to children and staff.

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

Staff help children to understand risk. They encourage and support them to take risks that are age appropriate and developmentally suitable. This can be seen as children increase their use of technology, reduce online restrictions, use public transport and have free time in the community. Children are actively engaged in ongoing learning around risk, and this educational approach dynamically captures their attention and understanding. A child who took risk around water was supported to complete an online water safety course as a natural consequence of their actions. Furthermore, a senior member of staff has recently completed an AI and digital intelligence course, which has been shared with the team.

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

Children are heard. This is because their voices are ‘loud’ and central to the home and the care they receive. Their wishes, views and feelings are captured in meaningful ways to ensure they feel listened to and valued. Where needed, managers and staff advocate extensively for children and persist until children receive the support and opportunities they are entitled to. Consequently, children are confident that staff will stand up for them and protect their rights.

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

Children live in a calm and nurturing environment where safeguarding and behavioural incidents are low. This reflects the consistent environment and strong relationships staff have built with children, enabling them to feel safe and well supported. There has been some minor self-injurious behaviour for a child no longer living in the home. Staff acted Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 6 appropriately by supporting the child in the home with effective coping strategies and externally by referring them to appropriate professionals. Furthermore, the members of the in-house therapy team offer support and guidance to children and staff.

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

Staff creatively support children with their changing needs. The in-house therapeutic approach is effective and helps children to better understand their emotions and identify triggers and find ways to manage and regulate their behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is remarkably skilled and experienced, which is reflected in his ability to dual-manage two homes. Supported by a dedicated deputy manager, he leads a motivated team with shared high expectations. Together, they model the excellence and ambition needed to drive children's progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager knows the children well. He operates an open-door policy and has a hand-on approach to their care. As a result, there is a reciprocated relationship with the children, who speak positively about him. The registered manager is dedicated to ensuring that children have individualised care, and, where needed, he has advocated on behalf of children and escalated concerns appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a committed and stable core staff team. Since the last inspection, the team has remained stable. Members of the team are passionate about the care they provide, which is reflected in low sickness rates and a shared commitment to covering absence. Staff are always present for special occasions for the children, and they are known to bring souvenirs back from their holidays for children. Staff feel this is important to help children feel valued as part of the ‘family unit’ in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has developed effective systems to ensure that he has a sophisticated understanding of all aspects of the operation of the home and the children’s care. The registered manager is clear in his expectations of his staff team, and this can be seen in the quality of their support for children, safeguarding practice, record-keeping and report writing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback about the registered manager has been exceptionally positive. Staff speak highly of the support and guidance they receive, including regular and effective supervisions, informative team meetings, training and appraisals. Externally, the registered manager is celebrated for his hard work, communication and advocacy for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There have been no requirements or recommendations made as part of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 7

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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: 2800240 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fitzroy Academy, Cruckton, Shrewsbury SY5 8PR

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Inspector

Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2800240 9 regulates 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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