Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2765360 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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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 that is owned and operated by a national charity. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties. There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2765360 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is happy living at this home. She feels well supported by the staff and managers. A homely and safe environment has been created. The home is well decorated, furnished, and maintained. The child said, ‘I feel safe here. The house is really nice. I like the staff and feel listened to.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s care plan is detailed and well written. It gives clear direction to staff as to how to meet the child’s needs. There is also an additional creative child-friendly version of the plan. As a result, staff know how to provide good care and protection for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently in full-time education. However, the staff and manager are working with education professionals to achieve this goal. There are many creative ways that they are helping the child to learn. This includes excellent working relationships with alternative education providers and community projects.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to remain healthy. This includes staff giving guidance on health issues, healthy eating and a range of activities that include exercise. Health professionals are appropriately engaged when required. This includes support for the child’s physical and mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is included in her care. There are clear opportunities for her to express her wishes and feelings. This includes constructive one-to-one keywork sessions. Also, manager consultations and everyday interactions with staff and managers take place. This ensures that her opinions are important to staff and acted upon.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to keep in touch with people who are important to her. Staff have been flexible to ensure this takes place. Family members are welcomed at the home. This helps the child to maintain positive relationships with her family.

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

Staff understand risks that may affect the child. This is supported with a clear and detailed positive behaviour support plan. There is a very good child-friendly summary of this plan. It includes ‘what I can do’ and ‘how you can help me.’ A location risk assessment is also in place. It is a very good document and working tool for assessing risks in the local community.

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

The child says she feels safe and can talk to any staff member about anything she wants to. The child also has an independent advocate. They visit the child at the home as additional support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2765360 3 The child has gone away from the home on occasions. There are clear policies and procedures in place for when this happens. Staff respond immediately and follow the child. There is a positive working relationship between the manager, staff and police. This ensures that the risk involved with the child leaving the home is well managed.

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

A specific risk to the child is understood well by staff. This includes knowledge of patterns of concern before the child came to the home. The home has been set up in a way that has considered these risks extremely well. Procedures are in place to address the concern. The physical environment has been adapted to reduce risk.

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

The manager ensures that safe recruitment practices are used for all new starters to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is extremely dedicated to his role. He clearly wants to help staff to provide the best care and protection to the child. Staff say they feel supported by the manager and can talk to him about anything. They can raise concerns if necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager feels extremely well supported by the responsible individual. He learns from her extensive knowledge and experience. The manager also values support from other managers within the company. He continues to find ways to develop his own practice. This enables him to be a good role model and mentor to the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive a comprehensive induction. It is well planned and equips staff for joining the home. This is then followed by a large amount of mandatory and additional training. Therefore, staff feel welcomed to the home and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive regular one-to-one supervision sessions. They are effective in supporting staff and developing their practice. There is also an appraisal system in place. As a result, staff can learn from senior staff and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established positive relationships within the local community. This includes a partnership with the town football team’s community group. Many other efforts have been made to ensure integration with the community the home is in. There is also clear and effective partnership work with other professionals involved with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a range of quality assurance and monitoring tools. He has very good oversight of staff practice and the child’s experience of living at the home. The workforce and home development plans are good working documents. The manager can clearly demonstrate his knowledge of the strengths of the team and areas he would like to develop further. Inspection report for children’s home: 2765360 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: 2765360 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Homes 2 Inspire Limited, Lumonics House, Valiant Office Suites, Valley Drive, Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kathryn Scoltock

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Thomas Grimmett-Mitchell

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2765360 6 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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