Children's home run by Inspirations Leicestershire Limited

Inspection report for children's home: SC437825 1 SC437825 Registered provider: Inspirations Leicestershire Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC437825 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Good 09/08/2021 Full Good 14/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/08/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC437825 3

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outstanding

Children are making excellent progress. Staff involve children in all aspects of the running of the home and seek their views about the care they receive. The children feel safe and well cared for. This is largely due to their relationships with staff, who they trust and confide in. The children have developed a very strong sense of belonging and security.

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outstanding

All children are fully engaged in education that meet their needs. Excellent communication between staff from the home and education professionals contributes to the progress children make. Children’s attendance and progress are very good and they are on track to achieve well in education.

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outstanding

The manager and staff provide excellent care and support to children who move into the home and when they leave. The manager contacts children before they move in and this helps them prepare for the move and then to quickly settle. Two children who have left the home were supported very well to move successfully. The significant progress they had made while in the home enabled them to better regulate their emotions, which in turn enabled them to achieve successful moves.

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outstanding

Parents commended the relationships that the staff have with their children. A parent said, ‘I couldn’t ask for a better home for [name of child]. Even when it was difficult, they never gave up. They were like a family. They genuinely care.’

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outstanding

The staff are motivated and very positive about working at the home. One member of staff said, ‘The children’s progress has been massive.’ They are flourishing in a family environment.’ Regular individual key-work meetings between staff and children support the children to speak openly about their well-being, feelings and emotions. Staff use fresh ideas and creative approaches to keep children engaged. This helps children to feel listened to and supports their relationships with staff.

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outstanding

Children are involved in a variety of activities to support their interests. Staff encourage children to take part in physical activities and they join in with them. Some activities are now run by a sports coach. This encourages and helps children learn the value of a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, staff and children enjoying these activities together enables them to have fun and develop their relationships.

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

Staff understand the underlying reasons for children’s behaviours and implement plans to safeguard their well-being. Staff ensure that when children see their families this is safe, and they understand the impact on children. For example, following one child’s visit to see their family, their emotional well-being declined. Managers contacted the placing authority, which agreed changes to the Inspection report for children's home: SC437825 4 arrangements around the child’s family time. This reduced the emotional toll of family meetings for this child.

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

Staff support children to feel safe. Staff can identify subtle cues in children’s behaviours to enable them to provide responsive support to children. This prevents more challenging behaviours from escalating and helps children to feel safer.

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

Safeguarding practice is effective. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to keeping children safe. Staff communication with social workers is good and this helps to coordinate the efforts of all agencies in safeguarding the children.

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

Children rarely go missing. The children’s individual risk assessments reflect their known vulnerabilities and are updated by the manager and staff regularly. These plans set out what action should be taken by carers to reduce children’s risk and vulnerability. This effective practice reduces the risk of harm over time and promotes positive behaviour.

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

Staff know the children very well and there are strong bonds between them. As a result, physical intervention is rare. However, when physical intervention has been used, it has been a last resort to ensure the child’s safety. Detailed recording of the incident, thorough debriefs with staff and children, and robust management oversight help staff and children reflect on what happened. This ensures that practice around intervention keeps improving and remains safe and appropriate.

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

Children receive a therapeutic response from staff who have a good understanding of them. Staff have received training in trauma-informed practice, using virtual reality headsets to assist them in their training. This helps staff to respond better to children’s lived experiences.

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

Children have not made any formal complaints. Children say that if they had any concerns they would speak to the managers or staff. However, children are not aware of the complaints procedure. This could prevent children from understanding their rights and entitlements and receiving the right support if they felt aggrieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is inspirational and a constant presence in the home. Children and staff say the manager is a significant person in their lives. Staff say that she goes above and beyond to make sure that children and staff feel valued, loved and supported. She is supported by an equally dedicated deputy manager. The managers are visible and approachable, work closely together and share the same ethos. They have created a child-focused environment that has helped children to enjoy living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have an excellent understanding of the children’s needs. They monitor all aspects of care to ensure that continued progress is made. They challenge other Inspection report for children's home: SC437825 5 agencies when issues arise. They act as very strong and positive advocates for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The very stable and consistent team of staff feel highly valued and supported. Staff say they love their work, are happy they made the decision to work at this home and enjoy coming to work. They speak positively and with pride about the children they care for. Morale is high. Staff retention has ensured that children experience a high level of consistency in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

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 her 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 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 these meetings. There are standing agenda items regarding safeguarding and learning and development. This enhances communication between staff and managers and improves staff development, particularly in safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have failed to ensure that changes made to their information systems, includes all information relating to children. This could prevent staff from addressing any concerns that arise, to enable them to support children. Inspection report for children's home: SC437825 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 person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders ensuring that children’s records are kept up to date to reflect children’s behavioural support needs. 29 December

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Recommendation

 Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Regulation 39 sets out the requirements on the registered person to have a complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)

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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: SC437825 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspirations Leicestershire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 131a London Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5DP

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Inspector

Corline Parker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC437825 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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