Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2515380 1

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Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two young people who may have challenging behaviours and/or emotional difficulties. No children are currently living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently resigned. An acting manager is in place who is suitably qualified and experienced. A new, permanent manager has now been appointed.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this monitoring visit was carried out remotely. Evidence was gathered from written records as well as discussions with professionals, staff and the home’s management.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was completed in order to review actions taken in response to two compliance notices that were served following an assurance visit carried out on 10 and 11 December 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Action has been taken to meet both compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a clear focus on training. The management team developed a bespoke training package to address gaps in staff training and knowledge. Staff have completed specialist training, providing them with the skills and knowledge required to care for the children and keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have made improvements to quality assurance systems to ensure that any weaknesses are quickly identified and addressed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2515380 2 Staff now have more confidence as a result of shadowing experienced staff members and observing best practice in other homes within the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Planning and preparation work for a new referral to the home demonstrates better partnership working. Risk assessments are now written and reviewed in conjunction with external professionals who know the child well. This means that they are likely to provide clear guidance to staff on how to minimise the risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

The admission process previously failed to ensure that staff had the required skills and experience to meet children’s needs. The home has now implemented systems that ensure referrals to the home match the skills and experience of the team. A professional spoke positively about the level of scrutiny and caution applied when assessing the needs of a child who is planning to move to the home. This indicates that managers have learned from previous shortfalls within the assessment process.

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This monitoring visit

Previous requirements set at the assurance visit were not reviewed during this monitoring visit because no children are in placement. These requirements have been repeated for review at the home’s next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

No further requirements or recommendations were made as a result of this monitoring visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2515380 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, 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare; help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care; ensure that each child—

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives; is given appropriate advocacy support; ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about— what advocacy support or services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and 21 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2515380 4 any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision; and ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2) (a(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(i)(iii)(d)(iii)(e)) This specifically relates to the home providing a consistent and stable staff team. Additionally, to ensure that children

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Requirement Due date

have access to an independent advocate The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(f)) This specifically relates to effective care planning for the child from the point of placement through to leaving the home. Additionally, to ensure that the child’s daily records, including the language used and level of detail within these, are improved. 21 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular the registered person must ensure that— medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 21 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; 21 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2515380 5 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lumonics House Valient Office Suites, Valley Drive. Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Angela Muchatuta

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Inspector

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2515380 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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