Children's Home run by O’Connell Care Group in Worcestershire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744065 1 Registered provider: O’Connell Care Group

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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 operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties because of trauma. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home, and the inspector spoke with both children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been registered since March 2024, and there is a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager in post.

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Inspection date: 23 September 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744065 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious concerns in relation to the protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, in June 2026, one child has moved into the home. Leaders and managers did not adequately consider the vulnerabilities for that child. This specifically relates to vulnerabilities arising from their age and previous experiences. As a result, the manager’s approach to assessing and managing risks for children was passive rather than proactive. Consideration was not given to the location of the child’s room, or whether the time-limited use of measures such as the use of waking night staff or door motion sensors might have been appropriate to support the child in settling, and enable a fuller assessment of risk.

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Findings from the inspection

These shortfalls resulted in one child making a serious allegation against another, and one child moving out of the home at short notice. For one child, there is the possibility they have been significantly harmed in the home, and for the other child, they have experienced further loss and instability in their lives.

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Findings from the inspection

Additionally, the manager has not considered the risks posed by a low, accessible window in one child’s bedroom. Staff have not helped educate the child about the risks relating to that window nor have any practical steps been taken to keep the child safe. While there has not yet been any impact for children, there remains a real risk of serious harm to the child were they to accidentally fall.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been 2 significant incidents where children have hurt, threatened or upset one another. While staff have acted to keep children safe, opportunities to repair relationships between children have been missed. This is likely to have left children feeling worried, angry or upset.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite these significant shortfalls, there have been areas of positive practice identified. Although one child experienced a move at short notice, leaders, managers and staff ensured the child was well supported.

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Findings from the inspection

Children currently living in the home feel safe and enjoy positive relationships with the adults who care for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding incidents are rare. Since the most recent inspection, there has been one occasion of a child going missing from the home. During this time, staff remained in contact with the child and were able to ensure they returned to the home safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Similarly, restraints continue to be rare. Since the last inspection, there has been one incident of a child being held to keep them and others safe. Managers’ oversight of this incident was thorough, and focused on learning and on improving children’s experiences. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744065 3 As a result of the concerns identified during this inspection, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 12. Both requirements made at the previous inspection have been met. Leaders and managers have improved their safer recruitment practices, and most staff now have a valid first-aid qualification. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744065 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 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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

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)(iv)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that adequate consideration is given to children’s individual vulnerabilities, including their age and lived experiences. In addition, the registered person must ensure that risks in the home environment are identified and promptly addressed. 22 November

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 22 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744065 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that when children hurt or are unkind to each other, they are supported to appropriately repair and rebuild relationships.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744065 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: O’Connell Care Group

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Inspector

John Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744065 7 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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