Children's Home run by Inspirations Leicestershire Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2713886 1 Registered provider: Inspirations Leicestershire 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 privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children 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: 2713886 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2713886 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is very well presented and furnished, providing a cosy and comfortable home for children. It is spacious, with areas for children to relax and socialise. There is ample room for privacy without children having to go to their bedrooms. Children’s bedrooms are suitably furnished and personalised by children. There is a large, enclosed garden which is well maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff know the children extremely well. They understand their needs and are providing excellent individualised care and support. This includes understanding and meeting their needs in relation to race, culture and identity. As a result, children are thriving in their development, self-esteem and sense of self. Children said they feel listened to and are supported to participate in day-to-day decisions and the planning of their care. Children’s progress is exceptional, considering their starting points when moving to the home. For example, one child has been successfully supported to develop their life skills in preparation for moving on to independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive excellent support and guidance to develop their understanding of their feelings and emotions. Staff use creative methods to support children to feel valued and loved. Children said they like having a small soft toy to keep when staff are not in the home, this reassures the child. Children said they have trusting and secure relationships with staff. They said they can talk to staff and ask them for help and support when needed. Staff are nurturing and very encouraging in their care of the children. Children’s views are regularly sought and acted on where appropriate. When it is not possible to act on their wishes, children are helped to understand this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff implement consistent boundaries, alongside positive praise to encourage good behaviour. As a result, children’s relationships with staff and their ability to sustain these attachments are excellent. This supports children to have a sense of stability and belonging. Children are supported with their relationships with each other, so bullying or conflict between children is not a concern in this home. The children have a positive and caring relationship with each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff actively support children to attend and make good progress with their education. Managers and staff advocate strongly for children. As a result, children are making exceptional progress. One child is sitting their exams and aspires to attend further vocational education. Another is very well supported to attend and engage with their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive comprehensive support with their emotional and psychological well- being. Staff are responsive to children’s emotional needs and know when there are any changes in children’s presentation. There is additional support from the organisation’s therapeutic team. Staff provide tailored support to each child to enhance their progress. Inspection report for children's home: 2713886 4 This provides a consistent approach for each child, which is shared with external professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are actively supported to maintain their links and relationships with their families. When preparing meals at the home, one child is supported by staff to make extra to share with her family.

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

Children have developed trusting relationships and bonds with staff. This enables them to be open about their feelings and emotions. One child said they like living in the home. They can talk to staff about any worries or concern they may have. Children have the right support from staff and, when required, external services in place to help them.

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

Children know how to make a complaint. If they do make a complaint, this is investigated and resolved swiftly. One child was able to explain the home’s complaints process and said that they had been given timely responses to their complaints.

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

The help and protection children receive has resulted in a significant decrease in their vulnerabilities and risks. The children arrived at the home with high safeguarding risks, including self-injurious behaviour and increased vulnerability to exploitation. Managers and staff ensured that robust risk assessments were in place to guide staff’s care practice in keeping the children safe. Children’s individual risk assessments are regularly reviewed by the manager and the views of children and key safeguarding agencies are considered. Consequently, children’s risks have greatly reduced. Staff are proactive in supporting children to help them to understand their risks and vulnerabilities.

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

Despite children becoming much safer, incidents do occur. Staff use their knowledge and strong relationships with children to manage incidents very well. This is key to the effective action taken by staff, which keeps children safe.

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

The manager and staff have strong links with local authorities and key safeguarding agencies. The manager is proactive in challenging any drift or delay. When responses are not sufficient, leaders and managers escalate their concerns effectively. They adapt their care and practice to promote the welfare of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is very proud of the children and the home. She is highly committed to providing a home for children where they can develop and flourish. She and the staff have successfully created a family home. Children say they feel safe, secure and cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high expectations of staff. She provides excellent management oversight, supporting and encouraging staff to be equally ambitious for the care provided to the children and the success of the home. Staff are enthusiastic. They speak very Inspection report for children's home: 2713886 5 highly of the children, their colleagues and the manager. They demonstrate good understanding and commitment to care, help and protect the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Robust recruitment procedures are in place that ensure staff working with children are suitable to do so. The manager has effective systems in place to monitor and review staff’s continued suitability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads by example and has created a culture of high aspiration and positivity. She is a very strong and tenacious manager who is proactive in advocating on behalf of children. The manager challenges and escalate shortfalls with partner agencies when required. She has effective links with key agencies and community services. As a result, there is a good multi-agency approach to the care of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are from diverse backgrounds and bring different skills and experience to the home. They are highly motivated and committed to working towards the relevant qualifications. Leaders and managers provide research-led information and support for staff which enhances their care of the children. As a result, they are making an exceptional difference to the experiences and the lives of the children. One child has developed their independence skills to enable them to use their free time safely, and they are also applying for part-time jobs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers know their strengths and weaknesses and actively drive change to improve areas identified for development. This is achieved through staff training, regular team meetings and high-quality reflective supervision. Staff are encouraged to contribute to the development of practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has robust systems in place to maintain effective oversight of the home and staff practice. She ensures staff understand required standards of practice and uses forums outside of regular supervision and team meetings to support and guide staff when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent support from a strong leadership team who are equally committed to the care and progress of the children. No statutory requirements of recommendations have been made during this inspection.

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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: 2713886 6

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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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Inspectors

Angela Duffus-Palmer, Social Care Inspector Caroline Coop, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2713886 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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