Children's home run by Inspirations Leicestershire Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2557603 1 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.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified to level 5 and registered with Ofsted on 11 May 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 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: 2557603 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2023 Full Good 20/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2557603 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Four children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Two children have moved into the home in this inspection year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress and enjoy strong relationships with the staff who care for them. One child’s social worker said that her child’s progress was underpinned by the strength of relationships they experienced with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children wake up in bedrooms that are spacious and personalised. One child loves stargazing and has a telescope in their room. Children have access to an outdoor sensory room if they feel overwhelmed or want space alone. There is also a large back garden where children can play.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager recognises the fundamental importance of education for the children in her care. She is aspirational and tenacious in her advocacy for the children. All children were in education at the time of the inspection. The manager had supported one child to access weekly additional tutoring. The child spoke of now hoping to attend university in the future as their grades had improved. Another child is being entered for their GCSE exams. When they came to live at the home, they were assessed as only able to learn functional skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and emotional needs are met. When children are ill, medical advice is sought quickly. Children are supported to attend specialist appointments. Staff also discuss gender, identity and sexuality with the children. They challenge discrimination through reflective conversations. This provides a space for the children to consider alternative viewpoints and to begin to develop empathy for others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the potential risks associated with internet use. Staff use an app to monitor children’s access to the internet. At the time of the inspection, all four children enjoyed online gaming. Staff have worked hard with children to educate them around potential risks. Children and staff agree limits to their online time. Staff support the children in having time away from their electronic devices. In this time, children and staff enjoy outdoor pursuits, such as going for walks and swimming.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves to and from the home this year have been well planned. When one child’s needs escalated, staff put in place measures to try to support the child to stay in the home. Despite staff’s efforts, the child moved out of the home due to their increased vulnerability and level of need. This was well managed, and staff ensured that the child knew they were cared about. They tried to minimise any potential blame the child may have felt.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children leave the home, staff maintain relationships with them. The manager says that she often invites the children to attend significant events in the home, Inspection report for children’s home: 2557603 4 such as children’s birthdays or leaving parties. Staff’s continued support of children after they leave the home helps to build relational resilience as children move into adulthood and towards independence.

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

Staff keep children safe. Professionals, such as one child’s social worker and another child’s independent reviewing officer, say that their children are safer since living in the home. One child’s parent said that they do not feel worried about their child, that they know they are safe and that they ‘have never wished [name of child] was somewhere else; he is safer now he is living at the home’.

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

Staff work hard to build trusting relationships with the children they care for. Risk assessments are detailed, subject to regular review and indicative of the known risks. Staff’s risk assessments minimise children’s exposure to harm and maintain their safety.

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

The manager understands the importance of all agencies working together to safeguard children. When safeguarding concerns arise, leaders and managers take the necessary action to safeguard children. One child’s social worker said that they felt confident in the staff’s ability to manage safeguarding concerns quickly and sensitively.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been one incident of a child going missing from the home. Staff took appropriate and timely action. They looked for the child, liaised with police and ensured that the child was spoken with and felt safe on their return to the home.

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

Overall, physical restraints are proportionate and incidents are well managed. However, staff have missed opportunities to de-escalate incidents. The assistant psychologist has also identified in an audit that staff have missed opportunities for connection and lacked empathy at times. This is not in line with the trauma- informed ethos that staff are working hard to implement in the home.

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

During this inspection year, there have been three medication errors. Staff have made errors in recording the children’s medication and dose accurately on their electronic system. The manager responded quickly. However, the measures implemented do not appear to have reduced the risks sufficiently as the incidents have spanned the whole inspection year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a tenacious advocate for the children in her care. She has high expectations of her staff and other professionals in respect of the children. She wants the best for all the children in her care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2557603 5 Staff training is good. Staff have a robust induction and ongoing opportunities to develop their practice and knowledge through specialist and core training. This is further supported by an in-house assistant psychologist, who is embedding a therapeutic parenting training approach in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision is delivered to a high standard. Staff are supported to reflect on their practice and make improvements when necessary. The responsible individual provides the manager with good-quality supervision. She ensures that she supports and challenges the manager in equal measure. Leaders and managers are aware of the importance of staff’s well-being and how this can impact on the quality of care provided. Staff rotas have recently been amended to support staff’s work–life balance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals praise the manager’s communication. One social worker said that she was particularly pleased with the frequent and good-quality communication she received from the manager. Another child’s independent reviewing officer said that she was always kept abreast of significant incidents and that risk assessments were shared with her when necessary. Both professionals said that the manager was an excellent communicator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel cared about. One staff member said that ‘they did not feel like they were at work; this is my second home’. Staff speak of the manager proudly. They admire her and recognise her dedication and commitment. One staff member said the manager is ‘not 9-5; she is an amazing person, she keeps me on my toes’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2557603 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they make suitable arrangements to administer medication. Particularly, that staff record medication taken by children accurately. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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: 2557603 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

Majella Russell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2557603 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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