Children's home run by Closer 2 Home Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 1 Registered provider: Closer 2 Home Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It provides care for up to four children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

On 22 April 2025, a full inspection was carried out at the home. The inspector found serious and widespread shortfalls, and the home was judged inadequate. A restriction notice was served and a notice of proposal to cancel the provision was issued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to consider the provider’s written representations regarding Ofsted’s proposal to cancel the home’s registration and to assess compliance with the notice restricting admissions. The provider has made improvements and is actively addressing previously identified shortfalls. Consequently, Ofsted has accepted the provider’s representations, and the proposal to cancel the home’s registration will not be progressed. However, the restriction on admissions remains in effect.

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This monitoring visit

One child said that the home feels like a happier place to live. They have staff who they can trust and are available when they need support.

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This monitoring visit

Children attend school regularly. There is good partnership working between staff and educational professionals, which means that children are well supported. As a result, children make progress with their learning. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 2 There has been one significant event when a child was admitted to hospital. Staff acted promptly and followed the child’s individual plan. The child is safe because staff acted quickly, and the child received the necessary support.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support children when they face difficulties in their relationships with other children living in the home. This has supported the children to develop empathy and the skills to maintain positive relationships. For example, following a disagreement in the home, the children were helped to have positive interactions with each other.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s plans have improved and contain clear, up-to-date information about known risks. This supports staff to understand children’s risks and provides them with clear strategies when caring for children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff talked about the recent changes in the management of the home. They said that morale has improved and there have been changes made that they consider to be positive. For example, direction from leaders is clearer, which means that their confidence in caring for children has increased.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of partnership working with external professionals involved in children’s lives has improved. Professionals said that this has led to child-centred decisions about children’s care being made. Staff also have a greater understanding of children’s individual needs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders are committed to making improvements to the home and have implemented a development plan to address the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. Plans are clear and provide leaders with an additional layer of oversight to assist them in evaluating the quality of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have employed a psychotherapist at the home in order to support staff and embed a trauma-informed approach. They have also undertaken a review of the complaints procedure. This ensures that children receive a timely, child-focused response if they make a complaint.

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This monitoring visit

Following a review of incidents, leaders have introduced guidance on risks such as physical intervention, self-harm and complaints. This increases staff’s understanding of children’s risks and promotes their learning and development.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s manager recently left their post, and a permanent manager has not yet been recruited. An interim manager is due to start in the next few weeks, with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2025 Full Inadequate 25/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 4

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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 with 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff having the correct skills in order to identify when children are at risk of harm and take effective action to safeguard them.

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Requirement Due date

Risk assessments need to be up to date and regularly reviewed by the manager so that they are detailed and have clear strategies in place to support staff to care for and support children. 14 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 5 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that there are effective monitoring tools in place to address shortfalls in the quality of care provided to children. Leaders and managers must use these tools to reflect and learn to improve the quality of care provided to children. 14 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that plans are in place to adequately prepare children for moving on from the home. 14 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Closer 2 Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Newington Close, Coventry CV6 1PQ

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Inspector

Charlotte Love, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2675297 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 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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