Children's Home run by Homes2Inspire Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 1 Registered provider: Homes2inspire 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

The home is run by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity. It is registered to provide care for up to five children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Five children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Four children were spoken to during 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Good 25/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/07/2022 Full Good 07/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and two children have moved out. At the time of the inspection, five children were living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious, welcoming and well decorated. The children benefit from various communal areas. The children asked for the garage to be converted into a gym, and they have had input into the decor of the gym. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. The manager has imminent plans for new carpets throughout the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they have good relationships with staff and can talk to them if they are worried or upset. One child said, ‘I would not live anywhere else for the world. The staff really care, and the manager treats me like her own child.’ The staff are kind, patient and nurturing with children. Children have trusted adults who they can talk to and have positive relationships with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making excellent progress with education from their starting points. Before moving to the home, most of the children were not engaging with education. All of the children have education places. Three children are due to take their GCSE exams. One child has secured a college place for next year and is very proud of their academic achievements. A school headmaster said that one child would not have made the progress they have without the manager and staff and their consistent advocating for the child .

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend valuable time with friends and family members who are important to them. Staff support children with their family time. Staff take time to build trust with the children’s families. Parents said that their children are happy and safe. One parent said that he would rate the home as ‘12 out of 10’ because the staff are excellent. Families feel assured that their children are receiving good, child-centred care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have opportunities to try a wide range of new activities and experiences. These activities have included baking, swimming, day trips and go- karting. Children are looking forward to a ‘staycation’ holiday. They engage in fun and enriching experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved on from the home. These moves were well planned. Children still visit the staff and the home. Children maintain relationships that are important to them. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 4

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

Children are safeguarded and feel safe at the home. The manager has ensured that the staff have appropriate training and that they understand safeguarding procedures. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents, which helps keep children safe.

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

Effective protocols give good guidance to staff on managing incidents of children going missing. Staff manage such incidents well and with sensitivity. They always welcome children back to the home and ensure that children receive an independent return home interview.

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

There has been one incident of bullying. The manager and staff take bullying concerns seriously and managed the incident well. The manager and staff completed key work and a bullying workshop with the children to reduce the recurrence of bullying. Children feel supported around bullying.

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

There have been no incidents of holding children. Staff implement the children’s behaviour support plans, understand how to de-escalate behaviours and take advantage of their positive relationships.

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

There has been a significant reduction in self-injurious behaviours. Children who need mental health interventions have appropriate therapy. Staff help children to use safe coping strategies, and children are now able to self-soothe.

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

Children who are at risk of substance misuse have engaged with a specialist substance misuse professional. The intervention by specialists means that children are helped to understand the risks and impact of substance misuse.

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

All of the children vape. Local shopkeepers have been reported to the police and trading standards for selling vapes to underage children. Children have been encouraged to engage with smoke cessation. However, during the inspection, one child had left a vape in his bedroom, which was not removed by staff. Two of the children’s risk management plans did not identify vaping as a risk. Staff failing to remove the vape does not act as a good role model for children, nor sufficiently considers the risks posed by vaping to children’s health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is awaiting her certificate for a relevant level 5 diploma and is an excellent role model to staff. She has support from a competent deputy manager. Staff said that the managers are ‘brilliant, approachable and supportive’. The manager has high expectations of staff. Morale is high because staff are motivated to deliver good-quality care to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 5 Three social workers spoke highly of the staff and manager. A social worker said that the manager and staff are ‘amazing’. She said that communication is excellent and that the manager and staff go above and beyond for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that meets the children’s needs. Staff either hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards the qualification. Good training helps staff to understand and meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has investigated two staff practice concerns. When staff have not delivered the standard of care expected, the manager has taken effective and appropriate action.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are happy and fulfilled in their roles. Experienced staff receive regular supervision. However, staff in their probation period are not having supervision at an agreed frequency, which may limit their development opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has identified that the independent person’s monthly reports are not as effective as there is no consultation with parents for several months. This means that parents’ views have not been considered. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s risk management plans give clear guidance to staff and that staff have a consistent approach to managing the risks relating to the use of vapes. 24 May 2025

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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;

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 24 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 7 In particular, ensure that the independent person’s visits support continuous improvements for the home.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff in probation receive supervision at a frequency that supports their development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.11)

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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: 1256367 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes2inspire Limited

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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

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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