Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: 1256135 1 Registered provider: Homes2inspire Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is operated by a national provider. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection took place after two serious incidents took place. One incident is still under investigation and involved a car accident. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that this incident was anything other than an accident. The second incident was managed well and evidenced good partnership working with the police.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of young people moving in and out of the home. Within a four-week period, three new young people moved into the home on an emergency basis and one young person moved out. This led to a period of instability for the young people. This has been further compounded by the two recent incidents. Furthermore, the manager did not fully consider each new admission and how having so many transitions so close together would impact on the young people and staff group . As a result, bullying has taken place at the home. Staff recognised this and took action to protect young people. Inspection report children’s home: 1256135 2 None of the new young people have an educational placement. The young person who was attending education is now struggling to attend. As a result, young people’s educational needs are not fully met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s environment is poor in some areas. For example, there is ripped wallpaper in one young person’s bathroom, chewing gum stuck to the wall and a cracked light fitting in the lounge. However, managers and staff have taken swift action to resolve these issues.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has not ensured that the statement of purpose has been updated and sent to Ofsted in accordance with regulatory requirements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

More positively, young people, staff and professionals, including social workers and police officers, talk positively about the home. A young person told the inspector that he liked it at the home, understood the rules and has good, supportive relationships with the staff team.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous requirements have been met and managers have taken action to make improvements, some of which are ongoing. There is now a full staff team and young people are now supported by higher staffing ratios. Staff have undergone tailor-made training and further training is booked to take place. Staff report that this training is having a positive impact on their daily practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical restraints are now recorded correctly with debriefs taking place for both young people and staff. The management team has good oversight of these and has developed new monitoring techniques to ensure the quality and consistency of these records.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are up to date and provide clear guidance for staff. Staff feel supported by the management team. A police officer told the inspector, ‘I’ve been involved with the home since it opened. We have a few challenges particularly at the moment. We do work really well together, we work proactively and we try to anticipate problems. They [managers and staff] really give young people a chance when others haven’t as they feel they can work with them. Staff are brilliant at talking to them at their level, being direct and calming them down.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Previous to the new young people being admitted, the number of incidents had decreased. Young people were making progress. For example, incidents when young people went missing had decreased.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1256135 3

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(x)) 17/01/2018

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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 that—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(b)(d)) 17/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

that arrangements are in place to ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(2)(b)(i)) 17/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 17/01/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1256135 4

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes2inspire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Prospects House, 19 Elmfield Road, Bromley BR1 1LT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kenneth Farrimond

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1256135 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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