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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2750426 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

This children’s home is part of a private organisation. The home is registered to care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 5 February 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2750426 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2750426 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have left this home, and a new child has moved in. The move on for both children was not planned due to some serious incidents occurring in the home, meaning it was not a safe environment to live while repairs were undertaken. While children did not come to harm the risk was high. Staff tried to manage the serious incident with the safety of children in mind. However, managers reflected with staff following the event that some actions, such as leaving one child in the home alone should not have occurred.

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improvement to be good

When the new child moved into the home there was a proficient level of planning that enabled the child to move in positively. Staff completed a series of visits to the child so they could get to know them well and so they could learn more about their care needs. When the child was unhappy about visiting the home, staff continued to visit the home were the child lived, to build relationships. Managers and staff met regularly with those who knew the child well so they could learn more about how best to care for them.

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improvement to be good

The progress of children is mixed. Although one child was making good progress at the time of the last inspection, this was not sustained. A second child moved into the home, but the first child was not able to cope with sharing their home and staff with a second child. The child’s social worker shared they feel the child moved in too quickly and their child was unable to cope with sharing their space with another child. The manager shared their view that a second child moving in was a positive move and well planned, however, has since reflected that the initial child did not manage with this as well they expected them to.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff did not always recognise the warnings around the child’s behaviour. Some serious incidents were not managed well by the adults. The child’s social worker expressed concerns that managers were not always working together well with other professionals. This meant that some important decisions were made in isolation, rather than being made by a group of professionals. This increased the risks to the safety of both the children in the home when all the information was not considered.

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improvement to be good

In some areas, children have made good progress, but this is not consistent. For example, children are not always kept safe, and their needs are not always fully understood. Staff have tried to build positive relationships with the children and there are some positive routines and boundaries in place, but these are not sufficiently developed. The new child is not yet engaging fully in education. Staff have differing ideas about the parenting approaches that should be used with children, and this creates a level of inconsistency that impacts on the child.

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improvement to be good

The home environment is clean, safe and comfortable. There is a spacious lounge area with comfy sofas for children to relax on. The home is decorated to a good standard, Inspection report for children’s home: 2750426 4 and this gives a homely feel. The children have spacious bedrooms that they can personalise to their own tastes. There is a large garden for children to play in, with an outside seating area for alfresco dining. One child enjoyed water play in the garden with staff during the inspection. Children enjoy healthy meals and opportunities to be active outside. During the inspection, the smells of lovely, home-cooked food filled the home.

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improvement to be good

The current child is making positive progress in this home in a short period of time. Staff are building positive relationships with them. The child’s sleep pattern is improving, and they are eating well. Managers and staff are managing the use of the internet and online activity well. They are reflective about the plans for this child and any changes they wish to make.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers understand some risks that were posed to children. Through their positive relationships, they were able to recognise when children struggled and needed additional support. On some occasions, leaders and managers have taken robust action to keep children safe. However, this was not always consistent or effective. Some serious incidents occurred for one child who has now left the home. Although leaders and managers received advice about these risks and how to manage this, they did not take appropriate action. For example, despite a known risk relating to fire, measure were not sufficient to manage the risk and a second fire occurred putting the child and staff at risk.

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improvement to be good

Although leaders and managers have worked well with external safeguarding agencies on some occasions to keep children safe, this was not always consistent. Multi-agency working was not always effective, and some significant decisions were made in isolation. Staff did not intervene successfully to manage risks and keep children safe.

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improvement to be good

When one child went missing, there was robust action taken to keep them safe. Staff followed the child and encouraged them to return home. The staff notified the police in a timely fashion and this action helped to keep the child safe. Managers recognise when there are concerns about staff practice and investigate this appropriately. One investigation led to positive action being taken by leaders and managers when concerns were raised about a member of staff.

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improvement to be good

When a new child moved into the home, managers and staff took more robust action. The transition planning has been thorough, and this has enabled the child to have a positive start in their new home. Staff are working hard to build positive relationships with the child. This planning has meant that the child feels safe, and they are beginning to develop trust in the adults who are caring for them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2750426 5

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

There is a registered manager in post and this has remained consistent since the previous inspection alongside a consistent responsible individual. On some occasions, leaders and managers work well with other agencies to make good decisions around children’s safety and wellbeing. However, this is not always consistent. For example, although leaders and managers took positive steps to seek advice about managing risks for one child, the advice from professionals was not always implemented.

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

Managers have reviewed incidents that have happened and have appeared reflective about these events. An internal review was completed, and the manager undertook their own review to better understand what had happened. However, the organisations quality assurance process of internal reviews is a lengthy process. Leaders and managers are not involved in this process so are not fully aware of the learning or recommendations from this quickly enough. This impedes their ability to make any swift changes and improve practice.

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

The manager knows the children well and he provides them with a caring and nurturing approach. He is regularly involved in their day-to-day care. Staff indicate that they feel well supported by their managers and that they receive regular training and supervision in this home. They have regular opportunities to meet so they can talk about practice and how to improve things for children. When a new child moved in, the manager was thoughtful about the support that staff needed and implemented this. Staff are provided with clinical support and have had positive opportunities for reflection following recent events that have taken place.

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

Since the last inspection, several members of staff have left the home. There are some staff vacancies, and the manager is trying to recruit more staff for the home. During this time, leaders and managers have ensured there have been sufficient numbers of staff in the home required to care for children. On some occasions, staff from other homes within the organisation have been used to support children in this home. This can impact on the levels of consistency that children have received on some occasions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2750426 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(1)) 30 August 2024

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(f)) 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2750426 7

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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: 2750426 8

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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: 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: 2750426 9 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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Inspector

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