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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2732313 1 Registered provider: Homes2inspire

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to care for three children with emotional and social needs. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in this home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a suitably qualified and experienced 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: 22 January 2024

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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: 2732313 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2732313 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have continued to live at this home since the last inspection. The children were absent on both days due to them spending time with their families. One child spoke to the inspector briefly before leaving the home. They said that they like living in this home and that they get on with the adults who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have made progress since living in this home. Their outcomes have improved, and they are making progress with developing their independence. They are both engaging in education. One child has obtained a part-time job and is accessing the local gym. They are both learning to cook and to be able to care for themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have shown great commitment to both children. The staff have continued to work hard to build on the relationships that they have developed with both children. This has helped the children to make good progress and enabled them to feel well supported and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One professional commented that the child they support is ‘… settled in the home and knows the staff team well. The staff team are invested in him. They have worked hard with him to effect change and have continued to support him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been some incidents where damage has been caused to the home. The staff have worked hard to manage these events. There are repairs and decorating being completed to the home to make this feel more homely again. Staff do their best to overcome challenges and provide support to children to help them to make progress in these areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have positive routines and boundaries in place for them. However, on some occasions staff have not been consistent. This is an area that the manager is trying to improve so that children are provided with consistent responses from the adults who care for them. A contract is being developed in consultation with one child so this is much clearer for them.

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

Managers and staff work positively with other agencies to manage levels of risk and they have a good understanding of this. Although there have been some serious incidents, the staff work hard to try and manage these incidents well, so they reduce. There are regular meetings that are being held for each child together with social workers and other agencies. The managers and staff talk to social workers about the potential risks which promotes children’s safety. This important work means that the level of risk is being shared by all the professionals and not been solely held by one person or agency. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732313 4 Some serious incidents have been managed very well by staff and positive conversations with the children have resulted in a calm ending to the events that have happened. The manager and staff have worked hard to tackle any risks that children are experiencing

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

and to intervene with situations early when this is possible. This helps children to feel safe and well supported. The managers and staff are working in a preventative way to ensure that any risks are identified and well managed.

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

The manager and staff have developed strong working relationships with family members and people who are important to the child. They support children to maintain contact with their family and friends. There is open communication between the parents and staff. This means that staff can talk openly to the parents, family and friends when they are worried about the safety of children. This important communication helps to keep children safe. One parent commented, ‘The staff are a friendly team. They take good care of my child and update me on things that have happened.’

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

Physical interventions have been used with children on some occasions, these are only used as a last resort. When children go missing from home there is a clear plan of action. Staff try to find children by contacting them and their friends by phone or going out in the community to look for them. On one occasion, the protocol was not followed, and staff did not go to physically look for the child.

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

There has been one incident which was not managed well by the staff. This incident was reported to the social worker and is being investigated by leaders and managers. Advice was sought appropriately from other agencies about the events that took place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows both children well. He spoke positively about them both and has shown a good level of commitment to supporting them. He is regularly involved in their day-to-day care and wants the best outcomes for them both. The manager is suitably experienced and qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works in partnership with people who are important to the children. They have regular contact with social workers and other professionals. Meetings are held on a regular basis to talk about plans for children. Therapeutic support is available to the children through child and adolescent mental health services and the clinical team who are involved. There is a lot of thought given to the right agencies who may need to be involved in supporting the children. All of this helps to keep children safe and ensures their needs are being met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides regular opportunities for staff to meet and discuss how to improve care and practice. There are regular handovers and team meetings. Staff report that they receive regular supervision and have access to training. The manager identifies training that is relevant to the staff and home and then implements this. This all helps staff to improve their knowledge and practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732313 5 There is good management oversight within the home’s documentation. Monitoring and review systems are in place to make continuous improvements. There are positive levels of reflection and learning taking place. The manager knows what works well in this home, and what needs to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some new staff who are employed for other homes within the organisation have been working in this home as part of their induction. One child said that they had found it difficult to have more people in the home, some who they haven’t built a relationship with. They acknowledged that they have positive relationships with some staff. There were some concerns raised with the inspector by the adults who work there. This was shared with the manager, who intends to investigate these concerns further. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732313 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, The 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(1)) 30 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: 2732313 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3h, Valiant Office Suites, Valley Drive, Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Inspector

Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2732313 8 regulates and inspects 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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