Children's Home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: 2807075 1 Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group 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 operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The inspector saw and spoke to the child.

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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: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2807075 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the home’s first inspection. The home is well decorated and spacious, with a large, enclosed garden at the rear. Photos of the child and people who are important to them are on display throughout. Staff supported the child when moving into the home to choose a bedroom and decide how they would like to decorate it. Staff have created a ‘positivity book’ for the child. Each day, staff write a message in the book celebrating successes and offering support and reassurances during times of difficulty. The child living in the home states that their bedroom is ‘really nice’, the garden is ‘their favourite place’ and ‘it feels like home’. Staff’s approach has encouraged the child to develop a sense of belonging and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have implemented clear boundaries and routines in the home, which the child understands. There has been one occasion where staff have implemented a consequence. On this occasion, staff did not recognise that the action taken was a consequence. The manager is aware of this and is taking steps to ensure that staff recognise the use of consequences and they are recorded as such. Staff regularly speak to the child about their needs, wishes and feelings, and act on the requests made by the child swiftly. This positive approach has allowed the child to develop the skills to navigate relationships safely, especially during times of conflict. This progress has been noted by staff both in the home and education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote education. They transport the child a considerable distance to and from school every day. Staff remain in the local area of the school throughout the day to provide the child with support if needed. Staff help the child to complete educational activities outside of school. At the request of the child, staff ensure that there is always time for revision at home. A robust approach to education has supported the child to now access full-time educational hours, with plans to complete their GCSE’s. The independent reviewing officer for the child said that they are ‘amazed’ at the child’s educational progress since living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s health. They have access to opticians, dentist, doctors and specialist health services. Staff support the child to take any prescribed medication, with plans to develop the child’s ability to self-administer medication. Staff have purchased a gym membership for the child to promote their physical health. Staff regularly engage the child in activities they enjoy, such as playing pool. Staff understand the child’s emotional well-being needs, offering consistent emotional support. Staff support the child to access specialist therapeutic support. Staff recognise the importance of the child seeing people who are important to them, and they facilitate this.

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

Staff understand safeguarding procedures and the need to raise whistle-blowing concerns if worried about the care provided to the child. Staff have acted quickly when Inspection report for children’s home: 2807075 3 allegations have been made, informing relevant professionals and making safeguarding referrals. The manager proactively pursues the outcome of safeguarding referrals and offers challenge if responses are not timely. When staff have raised whistle-blowing concerns, these have been taken seriously by the manager and immediate action has been taken to resolve the concerns raised and safeguard the child. The manager has previously received feedback that investigations completed would benefit from being clearer. The manager has used this feedback to improve their investigation recording.

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

Staff have created risk assessments and management plans that align with the local authority care plan. Staff have completed training to be able to fully meet the child’s needs, and they continue to access development opportunities to enhance this learning. Staff understand the child’s needs and associated risks and know what action to take should the child be unsafe. Staff have developed safe relationships with the child, which allow them to talk about their worries. Staff are understanding, compassionate and non- judgemental when talking to the child about their experiences. Through these discussions, staff have supported the child to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe, reducing episodes of risk-taking behaviour. Although the child has not gone missing, there are clear plans in place for staff to follow should this happen. Staff work proactively with other professionals to keep care plans up to date and to support a

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

multi-agency response when managing risk.

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

Staff understand what the child needs at times of difficulty. They give the child both emotional and physical space at times of need. When the child is ready, staff offer care and understanding and the opportunity to reflect together. This approach has ensured that situations de-escalate quickly without the need for a behaviour management approach. Staff balance the child’s needs and associated risks alongside the need to promote independence. Staff are supporting the child to develop skills to be safe in the community independently and to navigate the online world safely. Staff are helping the child to develop budgeting, cooking and self-care skills in preparation for independence.

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

The manager has recruited sufficient staff with a diverse range of skills to care for the child. However, recruitment checks are not robust. The manager did not know at point of recruitment that a staff member had a previous safeguarding concern. The manager has not completed overseas checks when required or ensured that relevant staff qualifications are evidenced when staff are recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious and has clear plans to develop the service. The manager does not blame staff when errors occur. Instead, the manager supports staff to learn from mistakes and improve care. The manager uses theory and up-to-date research to promote staff’s development and improve the care provided using learning circles. Staff report that they find learning circles beneficial in developing their knowledge and improving the care they provide. The manager has plans to develop the use of theory and research further, by integrating it within team meetings. The manager is creating a culture of learning and ensuring that care offered to the child is therapeutic. Inspection report for children’s home: 2807075 4 Staff receive thorough inductions when recruited. This includes training events and the opportunity to shadow other staff members. The manager uses professional development plans when staff have not met targets or completed their probation

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

successfully. These plans are effective in upskilling staff and ensure that staff provide good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager offers staff high-quality supervision, which is regular, reflective and focused on the child’s needs. The manager uses supervision discussions to support staff well- being, to promote staff development and as an opportunity to celebrate successes. The manager prioritises team meetings and uses these as another opportunity to develop staff’s skills and enhance the care offered to the child. Staff report that they find the manager’s approach beneficial. One member of staff said that the manager is ’a strong hands-on leader, who leads by example and always makes sure the team feels supported to do their best’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has oversight of all aspects of the care provided. The manager has proactively improved handover practises between staff when shifts start and end. These improvements ensure that the manager has full oversight of the day-to-day care and any areas of escalation they need to support. The manager completes weekly and monthly audits of care records and tasks. These audits are thorough and allow the manager to address any areas of concern swiftly. The manager proactively seeks feedback from others, such as the child, professionals, independent visitors and their own managers’ network. The manager has not received any complaints. The manager ensures that any feedback received is implemented and improvements made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2807075 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(d)) 13 August 2025

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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: 2807075 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 7, 35-37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

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Inspector

Laura Copus, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2807075 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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