Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 1 Registered provider: Barnardo’s

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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 home is managed by a charity working in partnership with a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably experienced and registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of inspection. All three children were spoken to.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the home is well maintained and looked after, and they support children to have some responsibility for their environment. Children are helpful around the home. Children’s bedrooms reflect their interests and character, and they like their personal space and have been involved in personalising their rooms. One child has been supported to safely care for a pet which they had prior to moving into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop positive and trusting relationships with children. The manager leads in ensuring that relationships are the foundation to supporting children’s progress. Relationships are authentic, honest and based on respect. Children respond well to this and enjoy spending time with the staff. Staff support children to maintain friendships outside of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have all made progress with their education since moving into the home. Staff have supported children to improve their attendance. Two children have sat their exams and aspire to attend college after the summer. One child spoke enthusiastically about their offer of a construction course. Another child has been asked to support a scheme for younger children over the holidays in a mentor role. Staff work collaboratively with schools to improve children’s outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain good health and provide healthy home cooked food. Children are encouraged to exercise and try new activities. Staff have planned a group holiday for the children that they are excited about. One child is practicing hiking with staff in preparation for a climb up a mountain on the holiday. Staff support children to navigate and process past trauma and low self-esteem. Children’s mental health and confidence are improving because of careful and consistent care from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their families where this is appropriate. The manager and staff are developing positive relationships with families. Staff understand how important family is to children and adapt to the different dynamics of each child’s situation. Time with family or past experiences can sometimes impact on children’s well-being. Staff understand this and know how to support children when they express their feelings or struggle with their emotions.

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

Children do not choose to go missing from the home. Children who do have time in the community or in other areas have safety plans in place. Children engage with their safety plans and communicate with staff to let them know they are safe. They respond well to the boundaries and expectations of them. Children feel safe at the home and want to return. Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 4 The manager and senior leaders respond effectively to allegations made by children. Leaders ensure that professionals are updated in a timely manner around safeguarding concerns. Children know how to complain and when they wish to do so they are supported with this and helped to access independent support. One child’s complaint was acknowledged and processed, but the outcome of the complaint has not been followed up within timescales.

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

Staff support children who use illegal substances with a realistic, open and reflective approach. Children’s experiences, cultural norms and their understanding are all considered by staff trying to discourage the use of illegal substances. Staff work on changing the perceptions of children, which helps them to be safer when out in the community or when they are with peers and family. Children respect and engage with this approach and have honest discussions with the staff.

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

The manager has considered carefully the behaviours of children and the reasons behind them. Plans are in place that guide staff on how to support children when they struggle with their emotions and in communicating their feelings. The plans are detailed and regularly updated and reflect the manager’s intentions of ensuring that staff understand what drives behaviour in children who have suffered trauma or poor experiences of care. Risk management plans for children are clear and effective. Staff have clear guidance on how they can keep children safe and on ways of reducing risk taking behaviours. Plans are shared with wider professionals for transparency and a consistent approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced and qualified manager, who is registered with Ofsted. The manager has a strong support network of senior leaders and managers. There is a cohesive approach that the manager welcomes in improving outcomes for children living in the home. The manager is committed to the development of the home and the well-being and safety of children. A deputy manager has recently been appointed, who is having a positive impact on the shared leadership of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is positive and upbeat. The manager has created a happy atmosphere in a relatively new and inexperienced team. This makes the home feel like a family environment and children are responding positively to this. Staff enjoy working together. They support each other in their development and through challenging periods in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staf receive regular and effective one-to-one support. Team meetings are well planned and attended because importance is placed on them by leaders. Staff have access to clinical support both individually and as a group. Staff report that clinical sessions help with reflection and to reset after difficult or challenging incidents with children. They report that sessions help with their development and understanding of their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have oversight of the home and systems for quality assurance. However, they are not yet effective in ensuring that actions are completed or evidence is available to demonstrate steps taken to respond to incidents or Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 5 concerns. This has meant a delay in one child’s complaint being concluded. It has also meant that evidence of the actions taken to prevent future serious incidents cannot be provided to professionals. The manager did not notify Ofsted of one serious incident that occurred in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All professionals and families who were contacted as part of the inspection speak highly of the manager and the staff. Professionals say that communication with the team is regular and effective. The manager works collaboratively with children’s social workers. The manager ensures that views and practice align between the home and children’s wider network. Family members’ feel included in children’s care and trust the staff. One family member said, ‘[Name of child’s] progress has been amazing; it’s the best place he could have moved to.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This in particular relates to feedback being sought and used to improve practice and care and to ensuring that children receive timely responses to when they voice opinions or concerns.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the manager monitoring and maintain records of actions following incidents of concern. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 30 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 30 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 7 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to an incident that the registered manager agreed should have been sent as a notification.

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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: 2802014 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnardos, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford IG6 1QG

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Inspector

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2802014 9 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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Inspector

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