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

Inspection report for children's home: 2515380 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 national charity. The home provides care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in September 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home, and both 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 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: 2515380 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/07/2024 Full Good 05/07/2023 Full Good 14/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2515380 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and one child has moved out of the home. The home is cosy and welcoming, with a family-like feel. The decor is good, and there are photos of the children around the home. The children have personalised their bedrooms to their taste.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they have good relationships with staff. Children have fun with staff, who enjoy spending time with them. Staff are caring and kind. One child said, ‘It is the best home I have lived in. It isn’t like a care home. It is a family home where I can be myself, and I have not been able to do that before moving here.’ Children feel valued and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have educational placements. The manager and staff work closely with school teachers and tutors. One child attends school full time and is dedicated to studying towards her GCSEs, including additional study after school. One teacher said, ‘Since moving to the home, [name of child] has got their education drive back and wants to succeed in their exams.’ Another child has been helped creatively by staff to build their confidence with a tutor in the home. The child now works independently with the tutor and is ready to start their new school imminently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met. Children attend routine medical appointments. One child has been helped by a healthy lifestyle coach and staff to understand healthy eating and the importance of exercise. The child spoke proudly of the weight they have lost and how much they enjoy the gym. The child’s health and self-esteem have been significantly improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to try a wide range of new activities and experiences. These have included baking, swimming, going on day trips and attending a comic book convention. One child regularly volunteers for a local food bank. Both children are taking part in a sponsored walk for a local children’s hospital. Children have the opportunity to go on holiday and are excited to plan a holiday for the summer. 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

Children’s views are important to the manager and staff. One child requested more time with their sibling. The staff and manager worked with the child’s family to ensure that the child has additional time with their sibling doing meaningful activities during holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned and gradual and include children’s input. One child was helped to prepare for independence before moving on to semi-independence. The social worker was impressed with the planning of the move and the fact that staff continued to support the child after they had moved. Inspection report for children's home: 2515380 4

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

Children are safeguarded and feel safe at the home. The manager has ensured that the staff have appropriate training and that they understand safeguarding procedures. The manager ensures safeguarding topics are explored and discussed regularly in staff meetings. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents, which helps keep children safe.

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

The manager has a multi-agency approach to safeguard children. One child has safeguarding concerns, and the manager ensures that there are regular strategy meetings. Safety plans are agreed by professionals and well executed by staff. A mental health professional said that one child’s risks have significantly been reduced since moving to the home.

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

There have been two occasions when police support has been appropriate to help staff manage a child’s safety. On one of those occasions, the child was arrested. Positively, the child was not charged or criminalised. Police are impressed with how staff safeguard children.

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

There has been minimal use of holding children. Children have thorough and detailed behaviour support plans that staff implement. They include children’s views on how they want to be supported. One child has been helped to understand and manage difficult emotions safely. Consequently, there has been a significant reduction in the use of physical holds.

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

There has been one missing-from-home incident. The staff managed this well. The child returned to the home within an hour and was welcomed back by staff. The child had an independent return home interview. There have been no further incidents.

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

Key-work sessions are planned in advance and are delivered using researched information. They cover important safety topics, including online safety and safe relationships. Staff use creative resources, including interactive quizzes, scenarios and word searches. Children are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and qualified and is supported by an experienced deputy manager. She has high expectations of staff. A member of staff said that the manager goes ‘above and beyond for children’ and is ‘inspirational’. Staff are motivated to deliver excellent 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 either hold or are working towards a relevant diploma within agreed timescales. Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs due to the thorough training provided. Inspection report for children's home: 2515380 5 Two social workers were happy with the care provided by the manager and staff. Social workers said that communication was excellent. Social workers are impressed with the excellent progress children have made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is an excellent advocate for children. The manager made a complaint to the local authority and a local member of parliament regarding one child’s lack of education opportunities. The complaint was upheld and resulted in an appropriate educational provision for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s monthly reports are generally of good quality. The manager recognised that the reports lacked external feedback. The manager has taken appropriate action and has implemented a plan to increase that feedback.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations of staff. On one occasion, practice fell below the manager’s standards. The manager informed the relevant agencies and took appropriate and effective action.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff manage significant incidents well. However, on two occasions, the manager has not completed a reflective debrief with staff to consider what lessons could be learned from the incidents. Opportunities for learning from incidents could be missed. Inspection report for children's home: 2515380 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, the manager must ensure that following significant incidents, staff are appropriately debriefed to reflect and learn from incidents. 24 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: 2515380 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: 2515380 8 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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