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

Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 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 run by a private company that is owned and operated by a large national charity. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager who was appointed in September 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/08/2022 Full Good 18/01/2022 Full Good 08/10/2019 Full Outstanding 11/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children with differing care experiences and levels of engagement receive consistently high levels of care and support. A strength of the home is the positive relationships between children and staff. Children benefit from staff showing them emotional warmth and genuine affection. The children develop a sense of belonging and have a range of positive experiences. As a result, children are nurtured and receive consistently good and stable care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are very well considered by the manager and staff. Children are involved in their own care planning and they choose their weekly menus and the activities they want to undertake. However, there is inconsistency in capturing and recording children’s wishes and feelings. This limits children’s participation in the running of the home and decisions that may affect their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to explore their interests. They enjoy a range of activities and have many positive experiences. Children access community activities on a regular basis, and they are motivated to achieve their goals. Because of this, their confidence and self-esteem improve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s contact with their families is encouraged and supported by the manager and staff. Good and safe arrangements are in place for children to spend time with the people who matter to them, even when they live some distance from the home. There is good communication between the home, family members and external professionals. This contributes to the stability of children’s placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education daily. Well-established routines and structure mean that children are well prepared for their school day. Staff work closely with education providers to ensure there is effective partnership working to help children make good progress. Children are also encouraged and supported to attend work experience where possible. Children receive consistency in care and education. As a result, children engage with learning and make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment reflects that children are valued and cared for. The environment is homely and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. Staff ensure children develop a sense of belonging and stability. They see themselves as a family around the children, in a family home. This supports the progress and experiences of the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff have a good understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Safeguarding training for staff is appropriate for the current needs of the children. Staff refresh their knowledge in key areas of training, although not all staff are up to date with this. Staff would also benefit from exploring safeguarding issues during Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 4 team meetings. This would raise staff awareness and knowledge of safeguarding matters and coordinate agreed approaches to care and protection.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been very few incidents of children going missing from care. When this happens, staff have followed missing-from-care protocols and procedures. Staff understand what action to take in the event of a child going missing. However, not all records are sufficiently detailed or have management oversight.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff support children in developing independence skills that are appropriate for their age and development. This includes taking age-appropriate and well-managed risks. Staff are confident in supporting children to access community facilities and try new things. This encourages children to explore their interests and take part in activities that are fun and stimulating.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

At times, staff use physical intervention in response to children’s unsafe behaviour. Records show that these interventions are necessary and proportionate. There is a cohesive approach with instructors, who help staff implement the preferred method of behaviour management. They work closely with the manager to ensure that each intervention is reviewed and reflections and learning are completed and implemented. However, on some occasions, records do not use compassionate and caring language. The manager and instructors are aware and have plans in place to improve this.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children enjoy the trusting relationships built with the manager and staff. Children know they are listened to. They can share their worries or concerns with staff and these are taken seriously. This reflects the staff’s ability to manage and support children to work through any worries they may have. This supports children to feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is relatively new in post. He speaks with commitment and enthusiasm about the children and staff. The manager has started to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of care and establish new systems and processes. He has worked hard to develop an environment that is a positive one for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s quality assurance and monitoring systems are variable, and some internal systems do not consistently identify or rectify the shortfalls identified. For example, there are gaps in the regularity of health and safety logs, children’s meetings and one-to-one meetings with staff. In some cases, it is not clear what actions have been taken to address shortfalls because quality assurance records are not fully completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been extensive changes in the staff team and challenges in recruiting new staff. At times, this has led to staff shortages. Children have found the changes in staff difficult to manage. However, the managers make sure that there are adequate numbers of staff who know the children. Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 5 The staff have faced some difficult situations. They have had to manage some challenging behaviours. Staff experience positive support from the managers and external professional agencies. Bespoke training has been arranged to support the development of staff in relation to these difficult situations. As a result, staff are receiving the development and support they need to persevere through some challenges.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership work with external agencies is very positive. External professionals commended the manager and staff on their good communication and the cohesive approach to the care provided. A common theme in the feedback was the positive communication from the manager and staff and the progress children make and how happy they are living at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 6

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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, The 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to having effective quality assurance systems in place that lead to improved outcomes for children. 18 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including

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Recommendations

the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 7 and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. Professionally qualified staff employed by the home, for example, teachers or social workers, should be provided with relevant professional or clinical supervision by an appropriately qualified and experienced professional. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 1275228 8

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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, Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kathryn Scoltock

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Inspectors

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1275228 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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