Children's home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2832969 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in April 2025 and is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2832969 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector spoke with both children as part of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a home that is warm, nurturing and welcoming. The home is well maintained and thoughtfully presented, creating a comfortable environment that children can enjoy. There is ample space for children to spend time together or enjoy privacy when they wish. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their individual personalities, helping them feel a strong sense of ownership and belonging in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points when moving to the home. For one child, staff and professionals have recognised significant improvements since they moved into the home. The positive impact of the nurturing care and consistent support provided by staff has led to a substantial reduction in the child’s level of risk. As a result, a court order that previously restricted the child’s liberty has been lifted, reflecting the meaningful and sustained progress achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are consistently sought and valued. Children’s voices are heard and influence the day-to-day decisions in the home, helping them feel respected and included. Staff and managers spend meaningful time with children, providing them with the space and confidence to express their thoughts and feelings openly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, they are welcomed with sensitivity and care. Children are offered opportunities to visit the home beforehand, allowing them to become familiar with their new surroundings and meet the adults who will care for them. Children already living in the home are consulted and supported in sharing their views about new admissions. Comprehensive compatibility assessments are carried out to ensure that children living together are suitably placed and that their individual needs can be met. When children move on from the home, managers reflect on children’s journeys and identify any learning to inform future practice and improve experiences for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively encourage children to maintain positive relationships with the people who are important to them. Family members are kept well informed about their children’s progress and are encouraged to be involved in care planning and decision-making, when appropriate. One family member said that they cannot fault the care provided to their child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in education and make good progress in line with their abilities. When children do not access full-time education, managers and staff advocate strongly on their behalf to ensure that suitable educational opportunities are identified. This helps children access learning that meets their individual needs and supports their progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2832969 3

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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond promptly and follow agreed safeguarding procedures. They actively search the local area and make every effort to maintain contact with the children. Staff notify the police and relevant professionals when required. When children return, they receive a warm welcome and are given the opportunity to talk to staff about their reasons for going missing. Independent return home interviews are also carried out, providing children with the opportunity to speak with an independent person.

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

If children raise any concerns about staff, the managers take swift action to ensure their safety and to address the issues raised. Investigations are carried out promptly, and the children’s social workers are involved to support and listen to the children. In most cases, managers follow safeguarding procedures and notify the relevant agencies. However, there have been occasions when the local authority designated officer and the regulator were not informed. This has reduced opportunities for independent oversight and delayed external scrutiny of safeguarding concerns.

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

Physical intervention is used only when necessary to protect children, and it is carried out in a manner that is proportionate and appropriate. Following each incident, children are offered opportunities to discuss their experiences and express how the intervention affected them. Managers review all incidents promptly to ensure that practice is safe, justified, and in each child’s best interests. On one occasion, an investigation found that a staff member had used excessive force. Managers took immediate and appropriate action to safeguard the child and ensure their well-being. As a result, the staff member involved no longer works at the home.

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

Children’s safety plans contain detailed and relevant information about identified risks. They provide clear guidance for staff on the actions required to reduce concerns and safeguard children effectively. Plans are reviewed and updated following any incidents, ensuring that they continue to reflect and address children’s changing needs.

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

Staff have a thorough understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Children are supported in developing positive relationships with staff, who spend time with them to promote ways to keep themselves safe. For one child, risks related to exploitation have significantly reduced since living in the home, and there have been no recorded missing- from-home episodes.

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

Records are consistently written with children in mind, ensuring that information is clear, accessible, and focused on their individual needs. This approach is embedded throughout the home’s practice. Staff maintain records that not only document key events and decisions but also capture children’s experiences and progress. This enables children, when appropriate, to understand their journey while living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2832969 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well supported by managers. One member of staff described the support from the manager and deputy as ‘phenomenal’. New staff report feeling welcomed and valued by both management and the wider staff team, which promotes a positive and collaborative working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive appropriate and ongoing training, including safeguarding, to ensure that they are equipped to keep children safe. They also undertake training specific to the individual needs of the children in their care. One professional highlighted the willingness of staff to learn and develop. This targeted approach ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills required to respond effectively to risks and to meet children’s complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers provide clear and consistent oversight of the home. They can identify the strengths of the service and areas that require improvement. When audits highlight areas for development, these findings are shared with the wider staff group to support reflective practice and enhance the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular individual supervision sessions and team meetings provide structured opportunities for staff to discuss children and their approaches to their care. These forums encourage staff to reflect on their practice and consider ways to improve the support they provide. Staff say that these sessions are highly beneficial because they boost their confidence and enhance their skills and effectiveness in meeting children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals is very positive, with many noting that communication with management and staff is excellent. As a result, there is effective partnership working to ensure the best outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2832969 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 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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that the local authority designated officer is informed when children raise concerns about staff. 28 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2832969 6 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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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: 2832969 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Black Country House, Rounds Green Road, Oldbury B69 2DG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Craig Whitchurch

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Benjamin Witham-Hollywood

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Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2832969 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 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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