Children's home run by Inspirations Leicestershire Limited

Assurance visit report: SC437825 1 SC437825

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. The home can provide care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 14 January 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC437825 2

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The care of children

Children in the home are well cared for. They have supportive and nurturing relationships with the care team. Staff were able to confidently discuss the children and their care in the home. Both children are fairly new to the home and staff are still getting to know them.

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The care of children

Two children previously resident at the home have now moved on. For both children, their endings at the home were positive. One child has returned to live with family. Staff at the home continue to support the child and family to aid the transition and reintegration back home.

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The care of children

Children were supported well during the COVID-19 lockdown. Additional resources were purchased to keep the children entertained. Redecoration of the home and garden were undertaken, with children involved in a colourful garden project. Children maintained contact with their family throughout and the home used technology to ensure that children could keep in touch.

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The care of children

Information in one of the placement matching and impact risk assessments was inaccurate. Significant information had been assumed by the staff member completing the form. A new child did not have a suitable or agreed care plan in place.

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The care of children

Both children attend education. The registered manager is advocating for one child to access a mainstream school placement. External professionals have been consulted with and are supporting with this.

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The care of children

Improvements made within the home have led to a more welcoming and homely environment. There are further plans for development within the home, to increase the recreational space for the children.

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The safety of children

Children are kept safe in the home. There has been a significant decrease in incidents and use of physical restraint has been minimal. Children have not gone missing from the home or absent. Children have clear routines and boundaries within the home.

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The safety of children

Children’s plans and risk assessments do not contain sufficient information and one contained another child’s details. There is no evidence of consultation with social workers or children around the content of the plans.

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The safety of children

Staff have received training regarding safeguarding and were able to confidently discuss this and how to keep children safe. The staff spoken to were aware of the risk factors that may impact on the children and how these are managed.

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The safety of children

There has been one incident involving the threat of self-harm by a child. Staff involved were unable to de-escalate this incident, and additional support was Assurance visit report: SC437825 3 accessed from another home’s manager. Action was taken in response by the home’s manager.

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The safety of children

A safeguarding concern was well managed. The manager worked with other professionals in investigating the concern, and no further action was necessary.

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Leaders and managers

There were several shortfalls identified within children’s plans and risk assessments. There were also shortfalls in other key documents such as the supervision tracker and training matrix. These did not contain details of all the staff currently working at the home. An inaccuracy, based on an assumption by a staff member, had not been challenged or rectified by the manager. The manager has not had clear oversight of key documents in the home.

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Leaders and managers

Staff spoke about positive changes in the home since the new manager was appointed. Staff feel supported and have developed in their roles. The manager is developing the team and mandatory training has been completed.

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Leaders and managers

Staff have access to a range of additional training in the home. This supports them to develop knowledge around the specific needs of the children they are caring for. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals.

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Leaders and managers

The manager works well with external professionals. Two children, who have now left the home, had positive moves into their new homes. The manager has implemented a plan of support to aid these transitions.

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Leaders and managers

The home has made progress since the last inspection. All previous requirements were assessed as having been met met following the assurance visit.

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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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 01/01/2021 Assurance visit report: SC437825 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspirations Leicestershire Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 131a London Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5DP

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC437825 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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