Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2728917 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in May 2023 to care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, three children were living in this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2728917 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have come to live at this home since it was registered. The manager and staff have shown great commitment to the children. They have worked hard to build positive relationships with the children. This has helped the children to make progress and to feel well supported and cared for. This is the most stable home the children have lived in, after experiencing several moves before coming to live here.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children spoke positively about this home and the care that they receive from staff. One child said that they feel this is one of the best homes that they have lived in. They feel that staff talk openly to them and really listen to them. The children did not identify anything that they would wish to change about this home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have all made good progress since coming to live in this home. Their outcomes have significantly improved, and incidents have reduced. The children are all engaging in education, having previously had time away from school. One child has made a successful transition into a school setting after being home-tutored. The children have enjoyed doing different activities with staff. One child is learning a musical instrument and writing their own music. The children are being supported to maintain contact with the people who are important to them.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is clean and well maintained. Staff ensure that the living areas are comfortable, clean and tidy. The children have spacious bedrooms that are nicely decorated in line with their interests. One child has posters on their wall of their favourite musicians. Another child has decorated their bedroom using LED lights and artificial plants.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are respectful and they value children’s views. Through listening to the children, they have adapted the support that is provided to them. Staff are thoughtful about children’s needs and how best to care for them. They have regular conversations with children about family time, activities and education. This important level of support helps children to feel safe, loved and well cared for. Staff advocate for children during meetings when this is needed.

p.2

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

Children are provided with positive routines and boundaries. Staff regularly talk to the children and have open conversations with them about any worries for them. Children are supported positively with their behaviour and to reduce their levels of risk. This helps children to learn from their experiences and make progress.

p.2

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

Restraints have been used at a high level with one child; this was done to keep staff and children safe. There is evidence that these incidents are reducing over time. The manager and staff have worked hard to build positive relationships with this child, Inspection report for children’s home: 2728917 3 and to manage any risks to them. This has enabled the child to feel safer and means that the child is able to trust the adults to support them positively.

p.2

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

When safeguarding concerns are identified, they are reported promptly. There is good communication between staff and social workers, and this helps to keep children safe. Records written about children are, overall, clear and thorough. There are positive levels of management oversight in relation to this, which has enabled staff to move forward in their practice. There are regular conversations with staff about how to keep children safe.

p.3

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

Allegations against staff have been investigated by the manager. Advice was sought from appropriate agencies and action taken. However, when a concern was raised by the police about a member of staff in another home, the manager did not assure themselves that this had been notified to the right agencies.

p.3

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

Managers and staff work together with social workers and other agencies to manage levels of risk . On some occasions, leaders and managers have taken strong and decisive action in relation to keeping children safe; however, this is not consistent. The same strong decision-making has not been taken in response to some incidents. When a serious incident happened for one child while they were on family time, the manager did not take robust enough action to keep this child safe.

p.3

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

There have been some serious incidents where staff and children have been hurt. Staff have not always responded appropriately in line with children’s care plans. The police have been called to manage children’s behaviour, which is not in line with the company’s policies. Recordings of some incidents is not clear or detailed enough.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children well and is regularly involved in their day-to-day care. He has high aspirations for their future and has shown strong commitment to them. There is a positive culture in the home and staff said that they enjoy working there. The manager takes effective steps to advocate for children, and will challenge professionals appropriately when something is not right.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. There is a stable team of staff, who are working consistently with the children. Staff spoke positively about the manager, saying that they receive good levels of support and training. They feel that the manager is very approachable and easy to talk to. Staff receive regular supervision, and this helps them to develop their practice.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager recognises what works well in the home and what needs to change. There are good levels of evaluation and reflection. The manager understands the areas that require improvement and has communicated this to staff. Staff understand their roles in the home and what needs to change for things to improve.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When new children move in, the manager thinks about any additional training that is required to support staff, and quickly implements this. There are regular Inspection report for children’s home: 2728917 4 conversations in team meetings and supervision about what is working well and any areas for improvement.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are positive levels of management oversight to ensure they understand the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2728917 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(1)) 29 March 2024

p.5

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: 2728917 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lumonics House, Valiant Office Suites, Valley Drive, Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby CV21 1TQ

p.6

Inspector

Sarah Sheffield, Social Care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2728917 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7