Children's home run by Inspire Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 1 Registered provider: INSPIRE CHILDCARE LTD Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children. The home caters for children who experience social and emotional difficulties that stem from their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. Staff recognise the children as individuals and actively seek to explore their wishes and views. Staff show a great interest in the children and get to know them. The staff and children begin to form trusting relationships. Consequently, a child felt comfortable to share personal issues with staff shortly after their move to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children’s participation in different ways, including planned meetings as well as impromptu conversations. The staff are quick to provide items that children request, such as a double bed and a nail kit. It is evident that staff act on the children’s wishes, which results in them feeling listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are consistent in their approach when supporting the children. This has positively influenced progress for the children in different areas. For example, one child who had a history of going missing from home has not gone missing since living in the home. Furthermore, staff’s efforts have led to both children now engaging with education. While the children’s parent and a carer recognise the positive progress the children have achieved, both would like greater communication from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of the children having balance in their daily lives, and as such, focus is not limited to the children’s educational needs. The staff provide opportunities for the children to enjoy social activities in line with their interests. Consequently, the children spend time engaged in positive, meaningful ways.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a great focus from staff on developing the children’s independence skills. For example, staff identified that one child, who has good independence skills with household tasks, lacked confidence with going out into the community. Support from the staff has contributed to the child’s confidence improving and them independently going to the gym several times. Another child is supported to develop their skills in the home through cooking with staff and being helped to do their laundry. Children are well supported by staff to develop the skills needed to equip them for greater independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a well-maintained modern home. They have access to different communal spaces in which they can relax or spend time with others. The children enjoy spending time with staff, which signifies the quality of the relationships that have been formed.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities and how risks are to be managed. When children have gone missing from home, staff act in line with the child’s plan. The actions that staff take lead to children becoming increasingly safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 4 Staff have taken time to get to know the children and understand what may be triggers for them. The staff use de-escalation techniques to help children express their feelings without incidents escalating. The continued commitment of staff has contributed to children experiencing a sense of well-being and security.

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

Children are cared for by a stable and familiar staff team. At times, this includes regular agency workers. While pre-employment suitability checks are completed as part of the recruitment process, greater scrutiny is needed to ensure that gaps in employment history are consistently explored and references are verified. This is to ensure that the manager has access to all relevant information when considering staff’s suitability to work with children.

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

Regular health and safety checks carried out in the home help to ensure the safety of the children and others. However, two flammable products were stored in an understairs cupboard. The home’s fire risk assessment made no reference to the safe storage of flammables in that area. The products were subsequently removed by staff when highlighted by the inspector.

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

Children are cared for by staff who they share positive relationships with. The children said that they would feel comfortable to speak to staff about any issues they were unhappy about.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager strives to create a nurturing home environment for the children. She is aspirational for the children and recognises progress they have made from their starting points. To encourage continued progress, the manager has introduced a reward system. This involves realistic targets being set and the children being rewarded for their efforts. This approach enables children to experience a sense of achievement and helps to develop their self-belief.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the needs of the children remain a focus through regular discussions in staff supervision and reflective team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by staff who feel well supported by the manager. The manager ensures that staff have had training to meet the children’s needs. All staff have completed online first-aid training, but not practical face-to-face first-aid training. This could potentially lead to children not receiving appropriate care when it is needed urgently. The manager shared plans for staff to undertake future face- to-face first-aid training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken steps towards influencing a positive culture in the home through which children feel valued. Several methods have been introduced to capture children’s views, including children’s meetings and key-work sessions. Children have choices about activities, menu planning, decorating their bedrooms and improving the garden. This has encouraged the children to feel at home and develop a sense of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 5 The children receive good-quality individualised care. However, some children’s records, reports and plans lack detail and are sometimes difficult for some staff to access. This means that important information in respect of the support for the child is not readily accessible to all staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Areas of focus include improving the quality of recording and developing a strong senior staff team. Future plans include for staff to have access to a clinical psychologist, and it is anticipated that this will enhance the quality of care provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Diversity is embraced within the home through the employment of a diverse staff team. Staff increase the children’s awareness of and respect for difference by sharing their cultures with them. The children are also supported with embracing their own cultures and preferences in ways they enjoy. This contributes to children having enriched experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that flammable substances are safely stored in the home. 11 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should be responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They should ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This includes ensuring that all gaps in employment for staff are explored and all references verified. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to respond to the health needs of children and administer basic first aid. Staff should undertake face-to-face first-aid training to ensure that they are able to provide appropriate care to children when urgently needed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.12)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies

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Recommendations

on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff maintain effective working relationships with relevant persons, including children’s parents. Regular communication from staff may help to achieve this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3) Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 7

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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: 2716801 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: INSPIRE CHILDCARE LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rapid Formations Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ

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Inspector

Sasha Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2716801 9 regulates and inspects 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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