Children's Home run by Inspirations Leicestershire Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2504494 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. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced manager who is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were 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 outstanding

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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: 2504494 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2023 Full Good 27/07/2021 Full Good 24/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2504494 3

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outstanding

The staff and managers ensure that the home is extremely well presented. The home is in an excellent state of repair. As well as the communal areas, children have space where they can spend time alone should they wish. This includes a room where they can study and an area where they can be supported to develop their independent living skills. As a result, the children enjoy their home and, overall, they are thriving.

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outstanding

Staff know the children exceptionally well. The conversations that staff have are always about the children. Staff know what approach to use with each child. For instance, one of the children responds well to humour, while another requires a more cautious approach to ensure that they can cope with the attention of staff. The relationships between the children and staff are excellent, caring and nurturing and this means that the children feel confident and comfortable and make excellent progress in all areas of their development.

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outstanding

Staff always cook meals for children with fresh ingredients. As a result, children eat healthy and enjoyable food. Children are encouraged to cook meals and bake cakes with staff. As children become older, they have use of a separate kitchen area to develop their cooking and kitchen skills. This helps them learn how to manage more independently in a safe and supported environment. Consequently, children learn to develop crucial skills for when they leave the home and live independently.

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outstanding

There is a strong focus from staff to support children to have good memories of their time at the home. For example, one child has joined a local football team and staff regularly join in and display a genuine interest in the sport. The child is also supported to obtain signatures and photographs of football managers and players. This helps the child to feel that staff genuinely care and share in the child’s interests. This helps to develop strong bonds between the children and staff.

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outstanding

Staff and managers work closely with each child’s family and other adults involved in the child’s life. Communication between staff, parents and professionals is excellent. Staff ensure that, wherever possible, children’s families remain involved in their child’s life. One parent said, ‘Can’t praise them enough, they are amazing. They go above and beyond all the time. They have spent the time getting to know and support our child and now our relationship is in a much better place.’

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outstanding

Staff are very imaginative and support children to understand each other’s needs. They achieve this through using technology in creative and fun ways. This helps children to become empathetic towards each other and develops the relationships between the children. The staff’s care practice in this area is supported very well by the psychotherapist working with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2504494 4

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outstanding

The children and staff have very strong relationships. The manager and staff provide children with a consistent daily routine. Children enjoy this and benefit greatly from this day-to-day structure. Staff provide emotional warmth and understanding. This supports children to feel safe and secure. This has helped staff to develop proactive approaches to keeping children safe.

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outstanding

Some children have accessed inappropriate content online. The staff have managed this well. The manager and staff have consistently reviewed any concerns and the approaches taken by staff. They are flexible and change their care practice to ensure children’s safety. Staff use individual key-work sessions with children to address the risks associated with the internet or any other areas they are concerned about. As a result, children are helped to understand the risks and how to keep safe.

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outstanding

The children’s risk assessments set out the risks and vulnerabilities for the child and the actions staff should take to keep them safe. Staff have a detailed understanding of these assessments, and they are kept consistently under review. The managers and staff work collaboratively with external professional agencies and so risk to children is reviewed in a more holistic context. Should staff be concerned for children, they act immediately to keep children safe. The manager and staff anticipate risks to children. They are proactive and take actions designed to ensure that the children are safe.

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outstanding

Staff rarely have to use physical intervention to keep children safe. When this is necessary, the least restrictive measures are used to ensure children’s safety. Prior to staff using a physical intervention, several methods to reduce challenging behaviour are tried. These are often successful. This is because of the strong bonds between staff and children, which are based on trust and respect.

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outstanding

Staff help and support children with specific issues that are affecting them, such self-harming behaviour and their personal safety. Staff support children’s understanding of their own safety and try to educate and help children to become safer. Child-friendly discussions are used to support children. The manager and staff team regularly meet with the provider’s psychologist. This gives staff opportunities to further understand and manage children’s behaviours and risks.

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outstanding

There are safe practices in the home that help to protect children. For example, the recruitment of staff, the storage of sharp items, the storage and administering of medication and the manager’s approach to health and safety are all geared towards the safety and protection of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy manager are ambitious for the children. They know the children very well. All the staff spoke very highly of the managers. The ethos of the home comes from the dedicated manager, who wants to provide the best possible Inspection report for children’s home: 2504494 5 care for the children. The staff share her aspirations. As a result, children feel loved and cared for and are making very good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff are highly knowledgeable about the children. They demonstrate a high level of empathy and understanding towards each child. Staff focus on children’s strengths and abilities. The staff work together as a coherent team, and this has provided the children with the best possible care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s support of staff is excellent. Inductions are thorough and supervision sessions take place regularly. Staff said that they love their work and feel very well supported and can speak to the manager. One member of staff said, ‘She [the manager] is always there. She makes me feel safe.’ The manager has created a child-focused environment that has helped children to enjoy living at the home. Therefore, staff enjoy caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff undertake several training and development courses. These have included training around safeguarding children, physical intervention practice, eating disorders and understanding sexuality and diversity. Additional learning takes place in team meetings. This means that staff are provided with opportunities to enhance their care practice and further enhance their skills and knowledge in working effectively with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The dedication from the managers and staff helps children to thrive and make very good and sustained progress. The children are happy and content and feel cared for and loved by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2504494 6

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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: 2504494 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: 2504494 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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