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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Ltd

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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’s statement of purpose states that this is a therapeutic home that provides a trauma-informed service that supports the individual needs of young people. The home can accommodate up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not currently have a registered manager. The post has been vacant since May 2023. An acting manager is in post. A new manager has been appointed and intends to make an application to be registered.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: An assurance inspection was completed on 12 December 2023. This inspection identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of the children. No enforcement action was taken. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has continued to live at this home for the past 14 months. Another child moved in recently. There has been a lack of consistent staff and management in place over the past year. The previous registered manager left this home in May 2023. Other managers have been in post but did not register. Since February 2024 an acting manager has been in post.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the acting manager took over, children have made much better progress. There has been a more consistent staff team in place, and they are now working well together. This helps children to make progress and, as a result, their outcomes have improved significantly. The children feel that they belong here, and they can trust the adults who are caring for them. The good progress that they have made is as a direct result of the hard work and commitment that this manager and staff have shown to the children. One member of staff said, ‘During this time, I have seen a significant change in the approach and plans for children, as well as the smoother running of the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the improvements, children now receive good-quality care. The staff have worked hard to develop more positive, trusting relationships with the children. Children have positive routines and consistent boundaries in place. Staff reassure the children that they are loved and cared about, and their actions show this. They provide warmth and nurturing levels of care to the children. Children have begun to engage more in education and make longer-term plans for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to lead a healthy lifestyle. They encourage them to be involved in preparing healthy meals and be active in the local area. One child has enjoyed going for walks in the local area and has engaged in arts and crafts. The children have developed their skills so that they can be more independent, with support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is clean and well maintained. It has a homely feel that enables children to feel relaxed and calm. One of the children has helped to decorate the home by painting a unique mural feature wall. The child worked on this together with different staff. The child chose the colours and mapped out the design. Staff have helped one child to redecorate their bedroom in a theme that they prefer. There is also artwork on the walls that has been produced by the children. One child said, ‘This home is big! I have lots of drawers to put things in, and I really like my room.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend meetings that are held about them. They help them to express their views, and advocate strongly for them when this is needed. When one child expressed a wish to have a specific member of staff supporting them at their meeting, the arrangements were changed so that this could happen. The acting manager has strongly advocated for children to ensure that plans are in their best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 4 Since the acting manager arrived, staff have developed stronger working relationships with people who are important to the children. There is regular communication between the staff, professionals, and family members. This means that there is a team around each child, who are all working together to support them, and that children feel safe and happy in this home.

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

Previously, there were concerns about how well children were being helped and protected. Some safeguarding concerns were not managed well. There were gaps in the information that was being recorded, and staff did not always follow children’s care plans. One child was found to be at substantial risk in the community and regularly went missing.

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

Leaders and managers identified weaknesses and took action to improve things. Since the acting manager arrived, the safeguarding risks for children have significantly reduced. There have been no incidents for several months, and it has not been necessary to use physical intervention to keep children safe. The acting manager and staff have worked hard to tackle any risks that children are experiencing so that children can learn from them. Positive plans have been developed with one child to give them greater levels of independence.

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

Staff have provided children with a high level of support and commitment that help to reduce any risks to them. They have worked hard to build positive and trusting relationships with the children. They have talked to the children about any risks to their safety and this helps to develop their understanding of being safe. Staff know the children well and they understand how to keep them safe.

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

Staff and managers are now working in a preventative way. This helps to ensure that any potential risks are identified early, so that action can be taken, and this is managed well. There is good communication between staff and social workers; this helps to keep children safe. Staff talk to the children openly about any worries for their safety and respond sensitively to information that children share with them. They develop plans together with the children to keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The quality of leadership and management since the previous inspection has been mixed and inconsistent. With no registered manager for 12 months, and different management arrangements in post children did not always receive consistently good care. Senior leaders identified concerns about the management of the home. These concerns were investigated, and actions taken to address the shortfalls in leadership and management. The current acting manager came into post in February 2024. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 5 Senior leaders worked hard to attempt to recruit a suitably skilled and experienced manager. The responsible individual maintained oversight of the home during this time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the acting manager arrived, the quality and experiences of children have improved. The manager has identified what needs to change and has implemented this. One social worker said ‘The child is now receiving much improved levels of care and they feel more secure. The child has a good relationship with the manager, and they really trust their judgement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The acting manager knows the children well and has shown positive commitment to them; they have high aspirations for the children’s future. The acting manager provides regular opportunities for staff to meet and discuss improvements to care and practice. This helps staff to develop their skills and practice, so they are all working together as a team. This improves outcomes for children and helps children to make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The acting manager has worked in partnership with people who are important to the children. They have regular contact with social workers, professionals, and family members. They work in partnership with the local authority to develop positive plans for children. Recording and reporting have improved significantly. Monitoring and review systems are in place to make continuous improvements so that there are positive levels of reflection and learning. This impacts on the quality of care improving for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a suitably qualified and registered manager is in post to oversee the home. 2 August 2024

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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: 2719389 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 8 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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