Children's home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 1256058 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 which is owned by a national charity. It can provide care for up to five children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since October 2021.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 6 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1256058 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2023 Full Inadequate 18/05/2021 Full Good 21/10/2019 Full Outstanding 11/12/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: 1256058 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the monitoring visit in April 2023, only one child has moved into the home. At the time of the inspection, the same child was living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is being provided with a good level of individualised care and support. There are good relationships between the child and staff team. The child speaks positively about the staff. They said they can talk to staff about their views openly. The child is settled and making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff team work closely with the child’s professional network. External professionals are positive about the working relationship with the manager and staff. They said that they have a good level of communication with the staff team, which allows for consistency around supporting the needs of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team supports the child with their education. There is a multi-agency approach to supporting the child in education. As a result, the child attends school on a full-time basis, is actively participating and is making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The views of the child are well understood. The child’s voice is embedded in practice. As a result, the child feels listened to and valued. The child knows how to make a complaint if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to a variety of experiences on a day-to-day basis, including activities such as baking, going to the movies, bowling and going on holidays. The child willingly participates in activities with the staff. As a result, the child is having enjoyable experiences and building positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made progress in their independence skills since living at the home. The staff have supported the child in age-appropriate activities. This has successfully included safely increasing their independence time in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support family time well. The child now sees family members, which they had not done for an extended period previously. One family member said, ‘[The child] gets on with staff and is friendly with them. The staff are doing great. Seems like a very happy child.’

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

Staff understand the risks to the child. There are individualised risk assessments in place relevant to the child’s needs. Since moving into the home, the child has been settled. However, the staff are alert to any potential issues. The approach of staff is preventative as opposed to reactive. This has mitigated safeguarding risks to the child and kept them safe. Inspection report for children's home: 1256058 4 There have been no episodes of the child going missing, or complaints or allegations since the previous inspection. There have been no concerns regarding exploitation, neglect or abuse. Issues raised at school around peer relationships have been responded to swiftly by the staff team. The child has been supported effectively with this.

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

Staff know the child well. There have been no physical restraints during this inspection period. There is a clear behaviour support plan in place. The child was involved in compiling this plan together with staff. This allows a greater level of transparency between the child and staff regarding how and why they are supported. This understanding reduces high-risk situations from escalating.

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

The child says that they feel safe with the staff. The child knows how to make a complaint and make their views known. The manager is actively seeking an independent advocate for the child to promote this further. This keeps the child safe.

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

Safeguarding incidents are rare. However, when they do occur, they are well managed by the staff, who respond and support the child appropriately.

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

None of the professionals or family members spoken to expressed any safeguarding concerns. The local authority designated officer said the staff team is responsive and reports appropriately.

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

Staff are safely recruited to the home. Thorough safer recruitment checks are in place. Senior leaders routinely check recruitment records. This process ensures the safety of children.

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good

The home has been without a registered manager since October 2021. The previous acting manager submitted their application for registration but then withdrew it. The new manager has been in post since August 2023 and has yet to submit an application for registration.

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good

The new manager was previously the home’s deputy manager. This has helped minimise disruption and provided the child and staff with some consistency. The manager knows the child and staff team well. She has high expectations and ambitions for the child and the continued development of the staff team. The home’s leaders are good advocates and actively engage in promoting the best outcomes for the child.

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good

Leaders and managers provide consistent and good-quality supervision to the staff team. Most of the staff are new. Therefore, regular probation review meetings have taken place. These reports are reflective, evidence-based and of good quality. The progress of the staff is closely monitored to identify strengths and further areas for development. Inspection report for children's home: 1256058 5 The manager and leaders know the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have reflected on inadequacies found at the previous full inspection. As a result, they have become more attuned to their statement of purpose and are now achieving their stated aims and objectives. This is most evident in their robust consideration of referrals. The learning applied has improved practice and supported positive outcomes for the child.

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good

Managers and leaders actively challenge on behalf of the child. They have done so to reflect the direct views of the child and try to achieve a child focused outcome. They are passionate about working towards positive outcomes for children and continue to strive to achieve this.

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good

The staff team is diverse. They promote the child’s introduction to different cultures in a creative way. When issues around diversity arise, the staff are quick to ensure that they are able to support the child. The home promotes an inclusive environment.

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good

Overall, management oversight and recording are good. Records are thorough, reflective and include the voice of the child. However, one incident should have been recorded as a significant health event, as it met the relevant thresholds. This was a missed opportunity but has since been rectified by the manager. Inspection report for children's home: 1256058 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the new manager submits an application for registration. 30 October 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. Significant incidents should be recorded separately. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1256058 7

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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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Inspectors

Skye Frain, Social Care Inspector Stephen Challis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1256058 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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