Children's Home run by The Acorns Leicester Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2783593 1 Registered provider: The Acorns Leicester Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, no children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is being led by an acting manager who has applied to become registered with Ofsted. The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to monitor the provider’s compliance with the restriction of accommodation notice, issued by Ofsted on 9 May 2025, and to review the progress made to meet the statutory requirements set by Ofsted at the full inspection on 6 and 7 May 2025.

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This monitoring visit

No children have moved into the home, and therefore the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

At the last monitoring visit, on 20 August 2025, a newly appointed manager had just taken up her position. The manager has continued in post and has now applied to Ofsted to become registered for this home. The manager has the required qualification in the leadership and management of residential children’s homes. She also brings previous experience as a registered manager. The manager is committed to improving the care provided and has made good progress. The statutory requirements are judged to have been met.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and leaders have taken swift action to recruit staff to vacant positions. Consequently, the home is now fully staffed. The manager will be supported by two senior care workers. Most staff are qualified with the required qualification for staff Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2783593 2 working in residential care. For staff not yet qualified, they are enrolled on the required training programme. The home now has a clear management structure and suitable staffing arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

New and existing staff have now had safer recruitment checks completed to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. The manager has taken steps to overhaul the safer recruitment process and reviewed how staff were recruited. The system is now rigorous and organised to ensure that the right people work with children, but only after going through the required vetting.

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This monitoring visit

All the staff have received safeguarding and behaviour management training. This includes how to physically intervene to safeguard a child if required. This training is underpinned by a good safeguarding policy that sets out how staff should respond to any safeguarding concerns. The behaviour management training has been supplemented by training in medication administration, fire safety and food hygiene. Staff have undertaken training to provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to care for children safely.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed and updated the statement of purpose for the home. This provides external agencies and families with an accurate statement as to what the home will provide for children. Important documents, such as risk management and behaviour support plans, are readily available for staff. Leaders are planning to implement a computerised system to ensure documents are kept up to date and provide additional document security. Additionally, the manager has taken steps to ensure that recording is completed in a manner that makes records accessible to children, should they wish to read them in the future.

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This monitoring visit

Although no child has resided at the home for some time, the manager and staff have met and started to develop as a team. A structure is now in place to ensure that team meetings take place regularly. The manager has reviewed and amended the workforce development plan. This means that she can review all staff training and ensure compliance with mandatory and additional training to meet the needs of children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured adherence to fire safety regulations, with the appropriate equipment available to staff and signage throughout the home. There is a system in place to ensure that fire evacuations take place regularly. The children’s guide, used in conjunction with key-work sessions, is to help children understand why fire evacuation and tests are important.

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This monitoring visit

A thorough review has taken place of all the key documents that inform care practice to make certain that these documents are fully up to date and contain accurate information. The children’s guide has been improved, being pictorial and far more likely to be of interest to children. The guide provides children with information Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2783593 3 about what they can expect from living in the home and information about the management of the home and staff.

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This monitoring visit

The location risk assessment has been reviewed and amended to include all the known risks in the area. The manager has included planned action in the assessment to make sure any specific risks to any child in the location of the home are managed effectively to keep the child safe. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2783593 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/05/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2783593 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Acorns Leicester Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 50 Dalby Avenue, Bushby, Leicester LE7 9RD

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Inspector

Phillip Morris, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2783593 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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