Children's Home run by Inspirations Leicestershire Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780208 1 Registered provider: Inspirations Leicestershire Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional 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

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. One was absent at the time of the inspection.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2780208 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were spoken to by the inspector and provided their views. Children live in a warm and homely environment. They are comfortable in their home and the staff spend time getting to know them and listening to them. Children’s views and wishes are considered about the decoration of their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed trusting and positive relationships with children. This enables children to feel safe. The relationships between staff and children are built on mutual trust and respect. Staff show the children emotional warmth and care. This supports children to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff treat any complaints made by children seriously and try to resolve these quickly. Children are spoken to about any action taken because of their complaint. This supports children to feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to have relationships with people who are important to them. Staff promote meaningful and safe family time. This means that children can have enjoyable relationships with those who are close to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value learning and encourage and support children to fully engage in education. One child is now attending college following a period of absence from education. Children are making good educational progress. When children are not attending education, staff support their learning. This supports children’s continued development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are good advocates for the children. For example, the manager supported one child to make a complaint to the local authority. This resulted in a meeting and a change of professional for the child. One professional said, ‘The staff really supported [name of child] to get their views across.’

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are updated following any incidents, and staff have knowledge and skills to respond effectively. If children harm themselves, the staff respond sensitively and appropriately and provide the support the child needs. However, risk assessments relating to self-harm lack the required detail. This is an area for development and would support new staff coming into the home to be prepared for any incidents of children harming themselves.

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

When children go missing from home, the response from staff and other agencies is well coordinated. Staff search for children and try to contact them immediately. If required, staff will contact the police. Staff remain in contact with children, including visiting known addresses, to ensure their safety. There is a good multi-agency response. Children are provided the opportunity to speak with staff following episodes of missing Inspection report for children’s home: 2780208 3 from care. This provides space for children to talk about the reasons for going missing and support staff to understand. However, not all incidents of missing from care are reviewed by the manager.

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

The home’s statement of purpose does not reflect what surveillance and monitoring systems are being used in the home. The use of door alarms is not reviewed by management and reflected in children’s risk assessments. This can impact on children’s need for privacy.

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

Childrens behaviour is generally good. However, if there are incidents of concern, staff manage these appropriately. Staff will hold sensitive conversations with children following incidents. Staff support children through individual work to understand their risks and vulnerabilities. This helps children to remain safe.

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

When physical intervention is used, it is appropriate and proportionate and for a minimal period. Children are spoken to following restraint and given the opportunity to voice how the incident affected them. Staff understand triggers for children’s behaviour. They know how to respond effectively, which results in positive de-escalation.

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

Robust recruitment procedures are in place. This ensures that staff working with children are appropriate. The staff are new and committed. They share the same values for the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a committed registered manager. The manager is well supported by the responsible individual. They are determined to provide an environment where children can thrive. The manager is aware of the strengths and areas of development for the home and actively drives change to make the required improvements. The manager shares any learning with staff. This supports the continued development of the home and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective and reflective supervision. Staff can share their views in regular meetings, including with an assistant psychologist who visits the home and provides support. This provides space for staff to reflect on their own practice and develop skills and knowledge to best support the children. Staff say that they feel supported by management. One member of staff said, ‘The management genuinely values staff.’ This results in consistent care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have a thorough understanding of safeguarding children. Investigations into allegations or suspicion of harm are handled quickly and responded to carefully. Allegations are shared with relevant agencies in a timely manner. This enables immediate safeguards to be put in place to support children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff use sensitive language in records that children will understand. This provides a clear sense of the child’s journey. Children are actively involved with their care planning. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780208 4 However, the recording of incidents, such as self-harm, could be improved to better reflect the incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive the training and development opportunities they need to understand the children’s needs. Additional training is also identified to help staff understand and respond to any additional needs, vulnerabilities and risks identified for children. This supports staff to feel confident in providing the help and support children need to keep safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780208 5

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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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that the use of door alarms is regularly reviewed to make sure that it is appropriate for the needs of the children. This should reflect what is stated in the home’s policies. 28 February 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records are kept detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from the home. This information should be shared with the placing authority and, where appropriate, with the child’s parents. Evaluation of missing-from-home incidents should be carried out by the registered person to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well, and this should be consistent through all missing-from- care episodes. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, when there has been incident of self-harm. Information about the child

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780208 6 must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that they actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, there should be clear and detailed risk assessments to reflect individual risks, especially in incidents of self-harm. These must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2780208 7

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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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Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2780208 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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