Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1275228 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 large national charity. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Both 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 outstanding

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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: 1275228 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2024 Full Good 18/07/2023 Full Good 30/08/2022 Full Good 18/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1275228 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff have excellent relationships. The staff are nurturing and kind. Children seek out comfort and reassurance from staff. They want to spend time with staff and feel loved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children take part in a range of activities, including swimming, visits to parks, concerts and pantomimes. One child is in a karate club. The manager realised one child had not experienced taking part in a school play. The staff are creating a play and making the child the main character. Another child experienced their first school prom. Children have enjoyable new experiences that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to take part in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of inspection, one child had recently moved to the home and is not yet accessing an education place. Another child, who has lived at the home for a long period of time, had stopped attending college. However, both children have access to an education coordinator. The education coordinator has ensured that staff are helping children to engage in appropriate alternative educational activities. One child is being home schooled creatively. Another child was looking forward to sitting their mathematics and English exams. The child has engaged with external educational services, exploring apprenticeships and regularly volunteers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children are listened to, and their views are taken seriously. Children take part in weekly meetings to share their views. One older child has access to their care records online and can add their views. These are reviewed by the manager. The child is also a voice for other children and helps to interview potential new staff and completes child friendly reviews of other children’s homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff promote time with family and friends. Children spend time with family and friends important to them. One child spends time with their friends independently. Staff encourage children to develop positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has made significant progress because of the staff’s commitment and excellent care. The child was able to move on to a foster carer. The foster carer was impressed with the well planned and seamless move. The manager and staff have stayed in touch with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is cosy and welcoming and feels like a family home. The children personalise their bedrooms. The home has benefited from a new kitchen and carpets are being replaced imminently. Inspection report for children’s home: 1275228 4

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outstanding

Safeguarding is exemplary. There has been no incident of holding children, allegations or missing-from-home incidents. One child, who used to regularly go missing from care and be aggressive towards staff, has not for a significant period of time. The child said, ‘The best thing is that staff really do care.’ Staff have excellent relationships with children, and they feel safe.

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outstanding

The manager recognised that previously the relationships with the community were negative. The manager, senior managers and a child have been instrumental in developing research to promote positive relationships in the community and the decriminalisation of children in care. A neighbour said, ‘The manager has worked tirelessly to ensure that there is a sense of belonging for everybody in the community. Embracing the pledge has made a massive difference to everyone.’ The research has led to Northamptonshire Children’s Trust implementing a policy for all children’s homes in Northamptonshire.

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outstanding

Key-work sessions are planned in advance, interactive and excellent quality. They cover important safety topics, including online safety, sexting and love bombing. Staff are creative and use information they have researched to deliver the key work in an interesting way that promotes children’s learning.

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outstanding

The manager understands the importance of keeping safeguarding knowledge current. Staff present different research in team meetings. Staff gave a presentation about how trauma can impact children’s safety. Staff are dedicated to continuous learning and maintain professional curiosity around safeguarding.

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outstanding

Behaviour support plans are well detailed, creative and individualised. One child is being helped to understand and manage their difficult emotions safely. Another child has been helped to process grief in creative ways, including journaling, writing letters and using music to self soothe. This approach has led to a significant decrease in self-injurious behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to providing excellent care for children. She is experienced and qualified. Staff are proud to work at the home and are motivated to deliver child-centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that the staff have accessed specific training to enable them to meet the children’s individual needs. Staff said that they have a good understanding of the children’s needs due to the thorough training provided. Staff either have a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards the qualification within agreed timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: 1275228 5 Staff said that they feel valued, respected and empowered by the manager. Staff have good quality and regular supervision. The manager supports the staff, and they have access to an independent phone counselling service. This support helps to create a stable and resilient staff team that provides excellent care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers are impressed with the care provided by the manager and staff. One social worker said it was the ‘most happy and settled’ he had seen one of the children. Another social worker said the manager and team were ‘amazing’ with the child. The manager has become an expert about the child and was an excellent advocate for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly consults with children. However, to support a thorough review of the quality of care, feedback should be sought from others who are involved in the children’s care. The manager had identified this as an action to improve the report previously submitted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s monthly reports are generally good quality. However, parents’ and professionals’ views have not been obtained. This means that external views have rarely been considered by an independent person. Inspection report for children’s home: 1275228 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 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; and

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the independent person regularly consults with parents and that the review of the quality of care includes feedback from parents and professionals. 1 August 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 1275228 7

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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: 1275228 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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