Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a large private organisation. The home is registered to care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has registered with Ofsted. They were present throughout the inspection.

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Inspection date: 28 July 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 2

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection took place due to a concerning number of incidents taking place in the home. This led to concerns for the safety and well-being of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children during this assurance inspection. Leaders and managers are aware of the shortfalls identified during this inspection and are taking action to address them.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children who live in the home were spoken to during the inspection. They said that staff spend time with them. This has supported them to build positive relationships and has led to them feeling safe and listened to. Children are supported to complete activities in the home and the community and have everything they need.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received guidance and advice on how to improve the quality of their report writing. Despite this, the majority of written recordings lack crucial information about the techniques that staff used to support the child and the actions of the child. This does not allow the reader to gain a full view of practice and the lived experience of the child. During the inspection, the registered manager arranged training for the staff team on reporting and writing.

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Findings from the inspection

Children said that they feel supported by permanent staff during incidents. When the police and ambulance services have been called to the home, this has been necessary to ensure the safety of the children and/or staff. Staff are usually engaged in reflective discussions following incidents. Management oversight is not always recorded on incidents and other documents about children. There is a lack of analysis and evaluation of how the team has supported the child to make progress or how practice could be improved. This limits the learning opportunities for staff in relation to their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have reflective conversations with children following incidents. The quality of these conversations is mixed. Staff can be attuned to children’s needs and experiences and can address concerns about risks or behaviours. However, on occasion, important issues are missed. This prevents children from having the opportunity to reflect and learn from their behaviours and experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

There is an ongoing reliance on agency staff. They are used at times when the children are more likely to feel unsettled and need the guidance and support of staff. Both children said that they do not like being cared for by agency staff and that this has led to them feeling unsettled. One child said that staff do not always remember their name. Leaders and managers acknowledge that inconsistent staffing has had a negative impact on children. Efforts to recruit permanent waking night staff are ongoing. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 3 Leaders and managers have recognised that matching for the children who live in the home is no longer safe. Vital information about a child was not known before they moved into the home. The extent of the risk and impact of this on the other child has only been identified since the child moved in. Staff have implemented measures with the aim of managing the presenting risks. This includes a planned

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Findings from the inspection

break away from the home and extended family time for one child. However, they acknowledge that these are not sustainable in the longer term.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality of planning for a child to move to the home was mixed. The team spent time with the child, building relationships, gaining their views and getting to know them. However, when considering the information and risks that were known before the child moved in, there was no evaluation of the impact on the other child or how this could be mitigated.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers are aware of children’s needs and what needs to be done to meet them. They have begun to revise care planning for children. However, plans that should guide staff on how to meet children’s needs still lack clarity and direction. When managers identify the need for staff to complete new training, they promptly source it and book it for staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff recognise the value of children’s relationships with their family. They promote positive family time and have supported one child to go on a weekend break with their family. Two family members spoke positively about the care and support that staff provide to their children. They value the high level of communication from staff and the relationships that have been built.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from the joint working that takes place between staff and the clinical team. Thorough and reflective discussions about the children lead to informative and focused planning to support children to manage their behaviours and emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers, who are present in the home. They value the support that managers provide. Managers are very reflective and aim to lead by example. They are working shifts in the home, providing children and staff with additional support in the evenings when it is needed the most. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 5

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

 reports that document the actions of the child and staff provide sufficient detail; 1 September 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 6  they monitor and review staff practice;

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Requirement Due date

 they evaluate the progress that children make;

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Requirement Due date

 staffing in the home provides children with the care and consistency that they require; and

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Requirement Due date

 children are engaged with meaningful and reflective discussions following incidents.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

 planning to meet the needs of children and meet the aims of the placement is clear and directive; and

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Requirement Due date

 robust evaluation and analysis of all available or required information about all children is completed before a decision is made for a child to move into the home. 1 September 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Ltd

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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

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2812978 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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