Children's home run by Homes2Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 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 is operated by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity. It provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced registered manager.

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2024 Full Outstanding 21/02/2023 Full Outstanding 21/09/2021 Full Outstanding 19/02/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and team continue to provide extraordinarily high-quality care to children. The home is well maintained and welcoming. This attention to detail builds a sense of pride among staff and children. Children spend most of their time downstairs in communal areas. This gives the home a busy, vibrant family feel. The family atmosphere is enhanced by numerous photographs of children and staff around the property. These include children who have moved out. This creates a strong sense of continuity and belonging. Staff reassure children that they will always be part of the home, even after they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and one has moved in. All the moves occurred in a planned way that enabled the transitions to be positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Three children have exceptionally high school attendance. The newest child moved in with a history of non-school attendance. They immediately started on a part-time timetable to help reintegrate them into school. The staff work closely with the child and teachers to develop strategies that the child can use if struggling at school. These are proving successful, and the child’s attendance rate is steadily increasing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff in the home have created an emotional well-being tool. Children use this, with staff support, to score various aspects of their life, such as sleep and diet. This enables children to gauge where they may be struggling or require extra support. Children engage in regular key-work sessions, and they actively participate in weekly house meetings. Staff listen to children’s views and requests and appropriately respond to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children speak positively about their home and the way that staff care for them. They speak about their emotional and mental health being much improved. Children say that staff listen to them and do not judge them. They feel able to speak to staff about anything. This open communication is enhanced with support from external professionals as required. This has led to positive changes for children and the dynamics within their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The team builds positive relationships with families and professionals. A parent spoke proudly about the transformation in his child. They expressed deep gratitude and appreciation for the staff. They described the staff’s approach as ‘honest and direct’, and said that the home was ‘the light in a very dark situation’.

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

The home maintains high standards in managing and reporting incidents. There have been two physical interventions. These are the first in nearly two years. The team is Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 4 proactive in de-escalating potentially volatile situations. Staff are adept at managing challenging behaviours without resorting to physical interventions.

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

The home experienced an increase in incidents and challenging behaviour from a child. This followed a lengthy period of stability and the staff attributed this to a significant change in the child’s care plan, which caused them significant distress. This was heightened by the placing authority delaying seeking an alternative home. The managers escalated their concerns appropriately. Regrettably, uncertainty caused the child to become unsettled and determined to move on. The team worked tirelessly to support the child through this difficult period. They also ensured that they kept the other children safe. Children describe how upsetting it was to see the child distressed. They also disliked staff having to endure the behaviours. Staff challenged these behaviours appropriately. Staff demonstrated their commitment to the child’s well-being and need to move on positively. They achieved this.

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

A new child has made significant progress. They have achieved their longest period without self-harming in years. The staff are well-attuned to the child’s needs. The child said, ‘This is the safest I have ever felt. I have never had that before.’ Another child spoke about how the staff have supported them to feel safe. An example a child gave was staff helping them physically and emotionally through a recent bereavement. Some staff visited the home on their days off to check on the child. The child said this made them feel really cared for.

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

No children have gone missing from home for over eighteen months. Staff are fully aware of the processes to follow should it ever occur. During the inspection, a child went missing from school. The staff acted quickly and effectively. They assisted the school in the search and ensured that, once located, the child returned home safely. This swift and coordinated response exemplifies the home’s strong safeguarding procedures.

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

The manager is continuously seeking to improve the home, ensuring that it remains a warm and homely atmosphere. He ensures that the facilities maximise the children’s ability to have space and fun at home. His improvement plans include repurposing certain areas of the home, such as the conservatory.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team is highly respected by staff and children. The manager’s ambition for providing excellent care is evident in the home’s daily operations. Staff praise his supportive approach and clear communication of expected standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is keen to continually improve the service. He regularly seeks feedback from children and staff. He implements suggestions where appropriate or advises why he cannot action them. This involvement helps children and staff have a sense of ownership in what happens within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is committed and cohesive. They say that the manager supports them very well. Staff turnover is generally low. When staff do leave it is often to commence in Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 5 senior roles within the organisation or the wider sector. This demonstrates the home’s role in developing staff. It also ensures that their positive practice is disseminated throughout the care sector.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

New staff members have quickly built strong relationships with the children. The qualities of the individual staff members enrich the whole-team approach. Staff engage in continuous professional development. They have ongoing training tailored to the specific needs of the children. The manager closely monitors staff training to ensure that staff maintain and build on their already strong practice. Additionally, managers use their internal and external auditing processes to focus on continual improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff recruitment practice is thorough. This ensures that only suitable staff are working with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s continued success in meeting its aims and objectives is clear, as reflected in the progress of the children. The nurturing environment supports the children’s development and well-being. Children say they feel safe, loved and cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals praised the team’s collaborative, solution-focused, approach. Family members spoke with joy about the staff team. A parent credited the staff for ‘creating the potential for a better future’. A grandparent shared that they believed their grandchild would not have survived without the staff’s support. They said, ‘If you gave out gold stars, they would deserve a platinum plus or higher.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 6

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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: 1255745 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, Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kathryn Scoltock

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Inspector

Sonia Hay, Ofsted inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1255745 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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Inspector

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