Children's home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2716221 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This 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. The home provides short-term care for children.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At this home the staff are usually referred to as carers.

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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 outstanding

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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: 2716221 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2716221 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel cared for and safe at this home. Comments from children show that they have been well supported at a difficult time. Carers have established strong relationships with children. A homely atmosphere has been created by the carers and manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made good progress in their short time at this home. This helps social workers to find appropriate homes for children following assessment. A child’s social worker said, ‘I think they are doing an amazing job with [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that thorough and clear plans are in place for each child. They are specific to the child’s individual needs. The manager works closely with the children’s placement team. Children’s moves into and out of the home are managed well. As a result, children feel welcomed and helped.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The wishes and feelings of children are important to the carers. Children’s views are sought and inform care plans and aspects of life at the home. This includes planning meals, activities and spending time with people who are important to them. One-to-one time for children with carers is regular and appropriate to each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to remain healthy. Activities include swimming and going for walks. Children are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians. They are helped to access physical and mental health support when required. However, the manager has acknowledged that medication recording needs to be improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers support children to return to education if they have no provision. There are good examples of children accessing learning after many years without education. Children are helped to attend school, even when it is a long way from the home. This provides consistency for the child. The structure of the day for one child who is out of education could be better planned.

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

Any allegations from children about carers are taken seriously. The manager ensures that a thorough investigation takes place. Safeguarding professionals are involved appropriately. Therefore, action is taken to help children remain safe.

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

Children’s complaints are responded to well by the manager. The manager acknowledges the complaint and investigates the issue. The child is given a written and verbal response by the manager, including the outcome of her findings. This ensures that the child feels listened to.

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

Children’s positive behaviour support plans are clearly written. They address the known risks to each child and how carers should respond. Incidents of unwanted behaviour are Inspection report for children's home: 2716221 4 handled well by the carers. Physical intervention is rarely used and only as a last resort. Intervention is brief and proportionate to keep the child or others safe. There is also a clear assessment of the location of the home. This identifies any potential external risks to children.

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

Carers understand safeguarding and risks to children. Staff know how to raise concerns with the manager and responsible individual. They feel confident to do so when required. Policies and procedures also make clear how to raise concerns externally.

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

The manager ensures that thorough safe recruitment processes are completed for new starters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an inspirational leader of the home. She is committed to her role and is a firm advocate for children. She knows the strengths of the team and areas for further development. She is aspirational for both staff and children. One staff member said, ‘She has supported me massively with achieving my goals into becoming a senior and is constantly believing in me so I am able to achieve further.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is excellent support for the manager from the responsible individual. This includes regular supervision and visits to the home. The manager also feels incredibly well supported by senior managers and her peers. Therefore, the manager feels valued and enjoys her work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has ensured that both recommendations from the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a comprehensive induction in place for all new starters. This involves a three- week corporate programme. There is also additional online training. The induction continues with introductions to the role in the home and shadowing carers. The manager ensures she has oversight of this process. The induction is very well received by the staff, who feel welcomed to the company.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Carers like working here and caring for and supporting children. They feel supported by a dedicated manager. Staff receive regular supervisions. This gives them an opportunity to reflect on their practice and how best to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that a range of quality assurance and monitoring processes are used. She speaks of the importance of spending time with the children and observing staff practice. As a result, she has excellent oversight of everything that takes place at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are strong working relationships between the manager and other professionals, including social workers, the police and the virtual school. There is particularly close working with the placements team from the local authority. This is crucial to the work at Inspection report for children's home: 2716221 5 the home as a short-term assessment home. One social worker described the manager as ‘absolutely amazing’. Inspection report for children's home: 2716221 6

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Recommendations

 Clear and accurate records must be kept of the administration of all medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Recommendations

 Before the child starts education they should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: 2716221 7

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Cherelle Robinson

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2716221 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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