Children's home run by Homes2Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity. It provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2021 Full Outstanding 19/02/2020 Full Outstanding 22/01/2019 Full Outstanding 24/01/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 3

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outstanding

Children like living at this home. Relationships between children and staff are very strong. They speak positively about each other. Children say that they can talk to staff about anything. One child said, ‘Staff treat us like family.’ Another child said, ‘The staff are actually really good.’

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outstanding

Staff and managers ensure that the home is extremely well presented. The home is in an excellent state of repair. Children have nice bedrooms, and they are proud of them. Children live in a clean and comfortable environment.

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outstanding

Children’s engagement with, and progress in, education is a high priority. Staff help children to see the importance of learning. There are desks in each child’s room and an additional large room where children can study. All the children are in school or college full time and their attendance is good. Staff support children with their studies. This helps children to make progress in their education.

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outstanding

Children feel involved in their care, and they are encouraged to be involved in care planning. Children’s care plans are clear and detailed. They inform staff of the most appropriate ways to support and care for each child. There are additional plans that are written directly to the child and commented on by the child. All recording is written directly to children.

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outstanding

Staff hold regular key-work sessions with children. This direct work is reviewed by a manager each month. The key-work sessions provide an opportunity to discuss areas of well-being, and staff can ascertain children’s wishes and feelings. This then informs care planning and can identify the focus of future key-work sessions with the child. This process helps children to feel listened to.

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outstanding

Staff and managers work closely with children’s families and other adults involved in the child’s life. Communication between staff, parents and professionals is excellent. Staff ensure that, wherever possible, children’s families remain involved in their child’s life. One parent said, ‘The care of [name of child] and support to me is above and beyond. It’s not easy having a child live away, but if it has to be anywhere, it would be at this home.’

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outstanding

Risks to children are recognised and understood. Risks are assessed well by managers and staff. Positive behaviour support plans identify the risk, indicators of risk and how staff should respond. Children are encouraged to comment on their plans. In doing so, children can see what adults are worried about and the plans to keep them safe. Children are helped to recognise and reduce risks. Managers have Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 4 good oversight of plans. They are reviewed regularly to ensure that they accurately reflect concerns.

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outstanding

Managers and staff have an excellent relationship with the local neighbourhood police constable. She visits the home regularly. This has led to managers becoming involved in initiatives to improve local safety. A local safeguarding network is also being formed. Actions from these forums have reduced the risks identified in the home’s location risk assessment.

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outstanding

Staff have responded well to incidents of children self-harming and/or misusing substances. Children receive specialist support from local mental health and young people’s counselling services. This has ensured that children have the help they need.

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outstanding

Some children have accessed inappropriate content online. This has been dealt with well. One child has received specialist support. Managers have acknowledged an ongoing risk for some children, due to their specific needs. Safe practices have been considered and amended to minimise risk. Staff use key-work sessions with children to address the risks associated with the internet. As a result, children are helped to understand the risks and how to keep safe online.

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outstanding

Managers have introduced some excellent tools to aid safeguarding. Contextual safeguarding diagrams are used to record a child’s current issues. Children complete a ‘safe zones in the house’ worksheet that shows staff if there are any areas where children feel unsafe. ‘Well-being wheels’ identify any patterns and concerns. Consequently, there is continual assessment of children’s individual needs, and work is planned to help and protect children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aspirational for children. She knows the children very well and speaks very highly of each one. Language used to describe children includes, ‘a very kind, caring kid’, ‘a great kid’, ‘a kind and gentle soul, we absolutely adore him’. The ethos of the home comes from the dedicated manager, who wants to provide the best possible care of children from staff who share her aspiration. As a result, children feel loved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s support of staff is excellent. Inductions are thorough and supervision sessions are regular and effective. Staff say that they love their work and feel very well supported. One member of staff said it is an honour to work at the home. Staff are helped to develop and progress in the company if they wish to do so. Therefore, staff enjoy caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers ensure that team meetings are held regularly and are productive. The current needs of children are discussed in detail. Staff feel able to contribute to the meetings. There is a standing agenda item regarding safeguarding and learning and development. This enhances communication between staff and managers and improves staff development, particularly in safeguarding practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 5 Management oversight of practice is extremely good. Quality assurance tools are effective and are used regularly. Plans, reports and other records include the manager’s comments. The manager states that the most important area of oversight is of the staff working with children. This is clearly evidenced. This helps to ensure that staff’s practice remains at a consistently high level.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers’ decisions regarding children coming to live at the home have been exceptional. Following a recent family crisis, a child was admitted to live alongside a sibling. The decision was completely child focused and every effort was made to keep the children together at a very difficult time. The independent reviewing officer for the children said, ‘I was blown away by the level of support. They have clearly gone above and beyond.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 7

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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, Valiant Office Suites, Valley Drive, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Angela Muchatuta

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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