Children's Home run by Inspire Care (UK) Limited in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 1 SC487764

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Registered provider: Inspire Care (UK) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A privately owned company runs this home. It is registered to provide residential care for up to two children who may have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The home currently has no registered manager. Interim management arrangements are in place and the interim manager will apply to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 6 December 2022

Date of last inspection: 7 and 8 September 2022

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Inspection date: 6 December 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 6 December 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last visit, no children have moved in or out. At the time of the visit, two children lived at the home.

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The care of children

Children are provided with a homely environment. Improvements have been made to the decor. Items that had been broken have been replaced. Soft furnishings give the home a feeling of warmth. Children have input into the development of the home by adding ideas and choosing their own colour schemes for their personal spaces. This provides children with a sense of pride in their home.

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The care of children

Positive relationships between children and staff help to promote children’s welfare. Children develop trusting relationships with staff. Children say that they can chat to staff about anything and are comfortable to discuss any concerns should they need to. Staff provide children with structure and routine which provides stability and gives children a feeling of security.

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The care of children

Children are making measurable progress with their education. They attend school regularly and managers attend meetings to discuss any barriers that children face. One child has received a conditional offer of a college place for his desired course for the next academic year. Staff are aware of children’s individual education targets and support children to achieve these. One education professional said, ‘The interim manager is very effective and attends all educational meetings.’

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The care of children

A large number of staff work at the home and care for the children. In October and November 2022, additional staff were needed to cover on 43 out of 61 days. A range of staff are used, from agencies, bank and from the organisation’s other children’s home. The staffing arrangements do not provide children with consistent care.

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The safety of children

Risk management is clear and effective. The interim manager has reviewed and changed all risk management plans, ensuring that they are individualised to each child. Individual behaviour support plans (IBSP) provide staff with a structured step- by-step guide on supporting children during times of crisis. These plans provide staff with effective guidance that they implement to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Staff understand how to manage children’s behaviour effectively. The new IBSP contains a breadth of information for each child that provides staff with strategies Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 3 that are known to help de-escalate challenging situations. As a result, staff form positive relationships with children and incidents have reduced.

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The safety of children

Staff support children through direct work. Children engage in discussions with staff about issues in the home, including when children refused to engage in a fire drill and following behavioural incidents. Staff encourage children to consider alternative strategies to manage their emotions. Because of this, children learn from their experiences and resolve conflicts positively.

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The safety of children

There have been no instances of children going missing from the home since the last inspection. Staff know what to do if children do go missing from the home. Children told the inspectors that they feel safe at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home has no permanent registered manager. The deputy manager of the home is in day-to-day charge as interim manager and plans are in place for her to apply to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Six of the eight requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Two have not been met and an additional requirement has been raised following this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Effective monitoring systems have not yet been implemented. For example, gaps in some staff records have not been identified and there is a lack of oversight of incidents that have involved the interim manager. In addition, managers do not let Ofsted know of all serious incidents, in line with regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The responsible individual is not a visible presence in the home and does not supervise the interim manager or the management of the home. Because of this, they do not fulfil the duties of the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Children are aware of how to raise concerns. Staff and managers are aware of the procedures in the event of a complaint or concern being raised. As a result, the children feel listened to and their welfare is promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The core staff team is provided with training that meet the needs of the individual children. Half of the team hold the required level 3 diploma. Plans are in place for the remaining members of the team to be enrolled on the course following successful probation periods. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 5

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the staffing requirements in the home and how these impact on children’s daily lives. This also relates to managers having clear processes in place to monitor the quality of care in the home effectively.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is repeated. 27 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5). 27 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 6 The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit to carry on the home.

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (2) (5)(a)(b)(c) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the provider notifies the regulator of serious incidents under this specific regulation in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is repeated. 27 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Care (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 263 Nottingham Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 7DA

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Inspector

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC487764 8 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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