Children's home software that keeps you Ofsted-ready
CareOS manages placements, care plans, daily logs, keyworker sessions, safeguarding records and regulatory returns — so your team spends time with young people, not paperwork.
Everything children's residential care providers need
Purpose-built for children's homes — not adapted from another care setting.
Homes & placements
Manage homes, beds and placements end to end — from referral and matching through admission to planned transitions.
Care & placement plans
Person-centred care plans with goals and outcomes for every young person, kept current with reviews and sign-off.
Daily logs
Structured daily recording per young person that builds a defensible chronology automatically.
Keyworker sessions
Plan, record and evidence keyworker sessions with goals, so direct work is consistent and visible.
Missing-from-care episodes
Record missing episodes with timelines, notifications and return interviews — complete evidence for police and Ofsted.
Physical intervention records
Restraint and physical intervention recording with debriefs and oversight, feeding your reduction planning.
Reg 44 visits
Independent visitor scheduling, reports and action tracking for Regulation 44 — no more chasing documents monthly.
Annex A & inspection prep
Generate the Annex A dataset and keep regulatory documents organised, so an inspection notice doesn't mean a scramble.
SDQ & outcomes tracking
Track SDQ scores and outcomes over time, evidencing progress for placing authorities and inspections.
PEPs & education
Personal Education Plans tracked alongside care records, keeping education outcomes part of the whole picture.
IRO portal
Independent Reviewing Officers get secure, scoped access to the records they need for reviews — without email attachments.
Placement finance
Placement fees, funding authorities and invoicing handled in-platform, tied to the placements they belong to.
CareOS vs children's homes software
See how CareOS compares with Clearcare, CHARMS, Sue Solutions and OVcare — the systems UK children's homes use most.
Comparison based on publicly available product information at the time of writing (July 2026). A dash means the capability is not publicly documented by that vendor — it may exist; verify in a demo. Products evolve, so always confirm current capabilities with each vendor.
Wondering what the AI in these systems actually does for a manager? AI care management software.
Buyer’s guides for children's residential care providers
Plain-English guides to choosing and running the software behind children's homes.
Switching from another system?
Our team migrates your records for you — clients, care plans, schedules, medication records and staff — free of charge, and usually within days rather than weeks. You review everything before switchover.
Or start with our guide to switching from any system.
The full CareOS platform, included
Every sector runs on the same platform underneath — every module included, unlimited staff accounts, and pricing built around how children's homes services actually run.
- Recruitment & applicant tracking
- Workforce compliance & training matrix
- Rostering & scheduling
- Invoicing, payroll & finance
- Secure messaging & family engagement
- Reporting & KPI dashboards
- Audit logs & role-based access
- UK hosting & GDPR compliance
Children's Homes — frequently asked questions
Is CareOS built for Ofsted rather than CQC requirements?
Yes. The children's sector in CareOS is designed around children's home regulations — Reg 44 visits, Annex A, missing-from-care episodes, physical intervention records and SDQ outcomes — not adapted from adult social care.
How does CareOS help with Reg 44 and Annex A?
Regulation 44 visits are scheduled and recorded with action tracking, and the Annex A dataset is generated from live records — so both are by-products of everyday recording rather than monthly projects.
Can placing authorities and IROs access records?
IROs get secure, scoped portal access to the records they need for reviews. You control exactly what is visible, and everything is audit-logged.
How are missing-from-care episodes recorded?
Each episode captures the timeline, notifications made, and the return interview, building the evidence trail police, placing authorities and Ofsted expect.
Can we run children's homes alongside other services?
Yes. CareOS is multi-sector: children's homes run in their own workspace with their own records and terminology, while staff recruitment and compliance are managed once across the organisation.
More questions? Read the full FAQ or talk to our team.
CareOS across every care setting
Visits, AI rostering, eMAR and family updates for domiciliary care agencies.
ExploreProperties, tenancies, shifts, Active Support and MCA/DoLS for 24/7 services.
ExploreAdmissions, care charts, clinical monitoring, rotas and payroll for residential and nursing homes.
ExploreShift booking, client portal, timesheets and invoicing for care staffing agencies.
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