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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited 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. The home provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional 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

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Three children were spoken with 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: 1256061 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Good 13/06/2023 Full Good 11/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home and three children have moved out of the home. At the time of the inspection, three 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. Children benefit from various communal areas. They enjoy a large garden. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. Children benefit from a well-kept environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have positive relationships with staff and enjoy being with them. Children confirmed that they have good relationships with staff. One staff member said, ‘I love spending time with the children. It is amazing that this is my job. I just want to make a difference.’ Staff want to have fun with the children and provide them with good care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two of the children have education places that are facilitating alternative provisions that meet their individual needs. While attendance can fluctuate, staff encourage children to attend, and hold education in high regard. One child was not in education before moving to the home and is excited to start college. In the interim period, staff have been creative and have helped the child to create a CV, to volunteer in the community and to achieve various educational certificates.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two family members are impressed with the care that children receive. A family member of a child who is living at the home said, ‘The manager and staff are wonderful. They have done more for [name of child] than any other home [name of child] has ever lived.’ Parents feel assured that children are receiving good-quality 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 have included football, swimming, day trips and going to theme parks. One child has recently joined the Cadets, and another, who has experienced a significant bereavement, is taking part in a sponsored run for Cancer Research UK with staff and a peer. One child has baked cakes for their neighbours and invited them for a barbecue. Children engage in fun and enriching experiences and are encouraged to be part of the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has been on an adventure activity holiday that they requested. The child said that they really enjoyed the experience. Another child is looking forward to a weekend break to London. Children have the opportunity to experience breaks of their choosing away from the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 4 The manager reviews care planning appropriately. When she recognises that a child’s needs have changed and can no longer be met at the home, she advocates for children to be moved on to enable their needs to be met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved on from the home. When possible, moves are well planned. Two children have moved on to semi-independent homes. On one occasion, planning was not possible for safety reasons and on another occasion, the move could not be planned for reasons beyond the manager’s control. All moves on from the home have been managed sensitively so that children had closure and positive endings. When appropriate, staff have visited children and stayed in contact with them.

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

The manager and staff have acted to help keep children safe. Despite this, some situations out of the staff’s control have meant that, at times, children have been exposed to risky situations. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents. A social worker said, ‘Safety planning is excellent.’ Social workers and children’s families are confident in the manager’s and staff’s ability to safeguard children.

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

The manager works with other agencies and holds regular strategy meetings if there are safeguarding concerns. The manager will provide professional challenge and advocate for children if she feels that other agencies are not being proactive to safeguard them.

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

There has been a high number of missing-from-home incidents. Staff manage the incidents well. Children have independent return home interviews.

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

Before moving to the home, one child became involved in anti-social behaviours and was at risk in the community. This resulted in police involvement. Since moving to the home, the child has not displayed these behaviours and is engaging with exploitation specialists.

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

There have been three occasions when the police have been needed to support staff. The visits from the police have not resulted in arrests or criminalisation of children and there has been no support needed from police for a significant period of time.

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

There have been some incidents when children have been held. These have been appropriate and proportionate. Staff and children are debriefed. Being reflective helps reduce the number of further incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 5 The manager is experienced and has a level 5 qualification. She is supported by an experienced responsible individual and a competent deputy manager. Despite some challenges faced in the home, children benefit from a resilient and stable staff team. Staff morale is high. Staff feel well supported by the managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that meets the children’s needs. Staff said the induction programme is comprehensive and equips them well for their roles. 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 good oversight of the home. She has developed an internal monitoring system that helps her review and evaluate the quality of care. This system helps the manager to continually improve the service for the children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly consults with children and staff. However, she has not included the feedback into her six-monthly review of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s monthly reports are generally of a good quality. However, they have not consulted with professionals or parents for long periods of time. This means that external views have not been regularly considered by an independent person. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 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;

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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 provider supports the independent person to regularly capture the views of parents and professionals, and that the six-monthly report includes feedback from children and staff to improve the quality of care. 5 September 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: 1256061 7

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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, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 8 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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Inspector

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