Children's home run by Homes2Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2534696 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 home is led by a registered manager. She is the manager of two children’s homes and shares her time between both homes.

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Information about this children’s home

This home can care for up to two children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. This report considers the experiences of both children who have lived in the home during the inspection period.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2534696 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2024 Full Good 03/08/2022 Full Good 28/07/2021 Full Good 25/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2534696 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently undergone some refurbishment work. The child’s bedroom is personalised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager understands the importance of family ties and friendships for children. The manager is keen to involve the child with redecorating the conservatory. This space will be used as a ‘snug’ where children can spend time with their friends. Staff speak to family members regularly to arrange family time. This includes planning for children to spend time with their siblings. The manager understands this is meaningful for children and supports their identity needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has recently moved into this home and is not yet in education. Staff are working with the relevant professionals to ensure the child has an appropriate plan in place. They are supporting the child to share their views in the planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities such as going to the cinema, skate parks and a water park. The child who previously lived in this home enjoyed a holiday to the seaside. This supports children to build positive memories, and this continues to build relationships between staff and the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prepare children to move on from the home. Comprehensive planning takes place with the child and the wider support network. This child valued the support from staff and felt ready to move on due to the independence skills gained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s life experiences and memories are not fully captured. As a result, children’s identity needs are not fully supported.

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

Children are helped to access their advocate, who will share their views on their behalf. It had been suggested that there would be a change of advocate for one child due to geographical reasons. The child was not happy about this, and staff supported the child to share their views. This led to the child remaining with the same worker. This demonstrated to the child that staff value advocacy.

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

When children go missing from home, staff inform relevant agencies. Children are offered a return home interview. This ensures children can share their views with external professionals. Staff use professional curiosity when children return home. This explores risks such as criminal and child sexual exploitation.

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

Staff have regular conversations with children about important topics that are relevant to them. This is in line with what the child’s needs are. This includes sexual health and Inspection report for children's home: 2534696 4 healthy relationships. This supports children to make good decisions, which supports their well-being and safety.

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

Children’s plans are mostly detailed; however, some important historical information was not included in the risk management for one child. This could lead to missed opportunities for staff to ensure their safety.

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

There was a serious safeguarding incident in the home that had an impact on the staff and leadership team. There has since been a review of some practices. Additional training for staff and further management oversight have since happened. There was also a focus on staff well-being following this incident. This supported staff with opportunities to reflect in a safe space. This has helped build resilience in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious and has high aspirations for children. The manager is also well supported by the deputy manager, who is child-focused and able to ‘step up’ when the manager is not at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular one-to-one supervision and group supervision, and they attend team meetings that take place on a regular basis. This helps staff feel supported in their role. Staff understand the whistle-blowing policy and are confident to use this if required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s needs are carefully considered during the admissions process. Children’s needs are considered against the skill set of the staff and the location of the home. This supports the manager to identify any training needs and whether the child’s needs will be met or not. The manager also carefully considers the needs of each child and how this may be managed alongside the competing needs of one another.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths and challenges in the home. There have been some staffing challenges. The manager is keen to continually improve practice and upskill workers. This has been through training opportunities. The manager has also developed scenario-based group learning. This is supporting staff to feel confident responding to scenarios in line with safeguarding policies and procedures. Inspection report for children's home: 2534696 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that sufficient information is gained from relevant agencies about the life experiences of children. Life-story work should be completed with every child who lives in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered person should ensure that the child’s history, including their risks, is fully understood by staff. The child’s history should also be included in their planning so staff can respond to ensure safety. (‘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: 2534696 6

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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: Lumonics House Valiant Office Suites, Valley Drive, Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 1TQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Craig Whitchurch

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Inspector

Becky Thompson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2534696 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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