Children's Home run by Budwood Limited in Dorset

Inspection report for children's home: 2620261 1 Registered provider: Budwood 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 organisation. It provides care for up to 2 children who may have needs associated with social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities. There are currently 2 children living in the home. Both children were present for the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 good

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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: 14 October 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2620261 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/07/2024 Full Good 01/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2620261 3

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Summary of findings

Staff develop positive relationships with children and help them to become increasingly safe. They skilfully use time with children to explore important topics and concerns, helping them to learn how to keep themselves safe as they grow older. . The manager oversees the home well and nurtures a supportive and collaborative culture among the staff team, which in turn provides children with stability and consistent care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled and enjoy a calm, homely environment. There are positive relationships between staff and children. Staff speak about children with pride, celebrating their achievements and progress. Staff carefully plan for the care of children. They understand what they want to achieve and how to support this. As a result, both children are making progress. This is well captured and understood by all in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive activities and spending time with staff. They enjoy trips to coffee shops and drives out to the countryside, and they enjoyed a day at the county show together. Staff capture photos to remember these experiences. However, they only create memory books once a year, missing opportunities to involve children in this process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have been supported in their education. One child has successfully sat GCSE exams and has secured an apprenticeship. They work part time in a supermarket and look forward to earning their own money. Staff are in the early stages of supporting the other child with their new alternative provision. They recognise the potential barriers and support them at their own pace, celebrating the small achievements. There were delays in provision being in place for this child. Although the manager continued to chase professionals, they did not consider escalating concerns more formally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s attendance at specialist health appointments is inconsistent. However, there is close working with the children in care nurse for one child to develop their relationship, with the eventual aim of accessing more appointments. Both children vape, and staff maintain clear boundaries about not vaping in the home and speak to children about the risks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are central to the care in the home. They are consulted and contribute to planning through house meetings and day-to-day conversations. For one child, staff have provided support to ensure they understand the local authority’s plan for their care. Inspection report for children's home: 2620261 4 Staff support children to see friends and family in a managed and structured way, helping to keep them safe. They provide emotional support to children and their families when needed. One child’s parent is positive about the support and care for their child.

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

There are significant concerns for one child’s safety in the community. There are concerns about the child going missing from home and being exploited. These concerns are in the early stages of reducing, and the times the child goes missing from home have significantly reduced. Staff provide the child with clear expectations, support and boundaries, as well as taking a caring and compassionate approach. They remain non- judgemental when concerns emerge.

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

Through building relationships with children, staff begin to learn more about their day- to-day experiences. For one child, staff have been able to share this information and contribute to plans to further reduce risk, as part of a multi-agency team. Staff identify the child’s interests and work creatively to support these positively, mindful of the potential vulnerabilities for the child. Relationships for the other child are more established, and staff provide them with emotional support and a place of stability. They are willing to open up and trust staff, who support the child with reflective discussions to help them make sense of their own experiences.

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

There have been concerns about substance misuse for both children. One child attends a support service, with staff supporting the child to prioritise attending. The other child is not at the same stage in understanding the issue, and instead staff talk with them about their worries and concerns.

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

Staff have regular conversations with children to discuss and explore risks and important topics. Staff speak about sexual health, relationships and exploitation. These conversations are skilfully managed, either planned or responsive to the situation. Staff offer children a space for reflection, and the conversations demonstrate the development of relationships over time. Staff challenge children when appropriate but ensure children are clear that this comes from a place of care. Staff use their reflective practice sessions to plan important discussions.

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

Leaders ensure safer recruitment processes are in place for permanent staff. However, processes to assure themselves that the correct checks are in place for agency staff are not clearly established.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is knowledgeable and knows the children, staff and home very well. She maintains good oversight of the home, understanding what is happening and where development is needed. She works to create a positive culture and environment for staff, which translates into their care for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2620261 5 Staff enjoy working at the home and feel well supported by their manager. Staff benefit from regular supervision, team meetings and reflective practice. This focuses on children and their experiences, as well as how their actions can help the children to develop and progress. Staff are insightful and reflective about their practice. Staff have regular training, which is responsive to the presenting needs in the home. The home’s therapeutic approach is well embedded and consistently applied by staff, which leads to purposeful care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some staffing challenges, which have required agency staff to support. Leaders have ensured that consistent staff work in the home where possible to minimise the impact on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are very positive about the support provided to children and the progress that they make. They say staff listen to and advocate for children. Communication is good, and there is strong multi-agency working. Inspection report for children's home: 2620261 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there are clear processes and procedures to assure themselves that agency staff have the checks in place required under Schedule 2. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that consideration is given to formal escalation when there are delays in services being put in place for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that they capture memories of the children’s time in the home on a regular basis, including context to help children remember where they were, who they were with and when for later life. When appropriate, children should be involved in capturing them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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: 2620261 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspector

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2620261 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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