Children's home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1255743 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity. It provides care for up to five children with social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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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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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector(s) 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: 1255743 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

Children enjoy living at the home. They receive good care and support, and they enjoy many positive experiences. Children are regularly encouraged to access a range of activities in the local area and beyond. This enables children to develop and grow in confidence.

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The care of children

Children have trusting relationships with the adults that care for them. Children know they will be listened to and taken seriously. This reflects the ability of staff to manage and support children with their anxieties or worries. Consequently, children have the stability they need to keep them safe.

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The care of children

Children that have been out of education are sensitively supported to re-engage with education and develop their independence skills. Some children are making good progress in education. However, one child is having difficulties with attendance due to their current circumstances. Staff have high aspirations for children. The staff promote and support educational progress and celebrate achievements that children make, no matter how small this progress may be.

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The care of children

The home provides care for children for a period of up to twelve weeks to enable the child’s long-term needs to be assessed. However, it was identified that one child has been at the home considerably longer, and a long-term placement has not yet been identified. This has led to the child starting to disengage and having extensive missing-from-care episodes. The manager has escalated her concerns with the local authority and continues to support the child to try and stabilise the placement.

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The safety of children

One child is currently spending a lot of time away from the home. The manager has escalated her concerns about the placement and concerns for the child. There have been several multi-agency meetings convened to assess and address the risks. However, the local authority is yet to find a suitable alternative placement for the child.

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The safety of children

Children know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy with any aspect of their care. They are provided with information to support them in this process. The manager ensures complaints are taken seriously and children are kept informed throughout the process. Outcome letters are written to the child, providing a thorough response and detailing their findings and any action taken. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1255743 3 It was again identified, at this visit, that risk assessments do not identify all known risks. This prevents staff from having a clear understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. One child has a mobile phone and frequently goes missing. However, regular phone checks have not been completed. This means that staff may miss crucial information about the child that could prevent further risks from individuals who may want to exploit them.

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The safety of children

Children have been missing from care. Staff understand the factors leading to children going missing. Staff ensure they follow each child’s missing protocol, reporting children missing to the police and ensuring return home interviews have been completed on the child’s return. However, children would benefit from staff having a more coordinated response to searching known areas to locate them and return them to the home.

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The safety of children

Staff rarely resort to physically holding children to manage behaviour. Staff are skilled in managing behaviour and resolving conflict without incidents escalating. When physical intervention has been used, the recording of incidents is comprehensive. There is evaluative management oversight of incidents, which helps to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has recently returned from an extended period of leave and has worked closely with staff and senior leaders to improve the quality of care. She is visible and approachable, supporting day-to-day care practices and leading the team by example. The manager has plans to continue to develop and improve the home further. She speaks with passion about the home and children, and she demonstrates a genuine commitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management monitoring and reporting systems have been improved. Regular feedback is now being sought from children about the care they receive. Children participate in the reviewing of their assessments and plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff supervision has improved. Staff now receive regular and reflective supervision. They discuss care practice scenarios and learning derived from incidents. This supports them to develop within the role. The team speak highly of the manager and has welcomed her return and the stability she provides.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers are strong advocates for children. They ensure professionals are challenged when their service falls below satisfactory. Managers advocate for children to receive good care and the services they need without any delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are well trained and skilled. The manager ensures staff complete the required safeguarding training to keep children safe and manage their individual needs. Safeguarding is discussed in each staff member’s one-to-one meeting with the manager. Safeguarding matters are also discussed in team meetings. This supports staff to develop their knowledge and understand their role. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1255743 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/05/2021 Full Good 09/12/2019 Full Outstanding 12/03/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1255743 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 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—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(i)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically related to ensuring that risk assessments provide thorough guidance to staff in the action they must take when a child is reported as missing from care. It also relates to the effective monitoring of children’s mobile phones to identify and manage risks. 23 February 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1255743 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1255743 7 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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Inspector

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