Children's home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1255748 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 is run by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity. The home provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced and qualified manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children currently live at the home, and their views were sought and considered.

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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: 10 December 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1255748 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/12/2024 Full Outstanding 20/02/2024 Full Good 28/03/2023 Full Good 11/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1255748 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, four children have continued to live at the home and have done so for a considerable amount of time. This stability is reflected in the settled happy atmosphere of the home. The inspector spoke to and spent time with three of the children, who were relaxed and comfortable in their environment. This continuity of care supports children’s emotional security and sense of belonging, contributing positively to their overall well-being and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively encouraged and supported to explore their interests and develop hobbies and talents. They enjoy many positive experiences, including accessing community facilities and activities on a regular basis. Staff promote and encourage safe opportunities for children to take positive risks, which helps them to build resilience and independence. This supports children’s confidence and helps to improve self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s attendance and success have continued to progress in their education. Children have sat exams and been supported by staff to collect their GCSE results and attend their end of year proms. Some children are now going to college and travel there independently. Children understand the importance of their education and are making clear progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with their families is encouraged and supported where appropriate. Good arrangements are in place for children to spend time with people who matter to them, even those who live some distance from the home. Families are invited and welcomed to spend time at the home. There is good communication between the home, family members and professionals. This contributes to the stability in children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the children’s health needs well. Children receive appropriate healthcare support and attend routine appointments. This includes more-specialist services when required. Children are involved and supported to be active. Staff encourage children to lead a healthy lifestyle. This supports children to be healthy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a say in their day-to-day care and in their long-term plans. Their wishes and feelings are actively sought and responded to. Staff support children to have open discussions about sensitive issues and difficult topics. However, children have not consistently received planned one-to-one sessions with staff. This limits opportunities for children to explore their views in a structured way and for staff to provide targeted support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s environment is homely and welcoming. This supports the children to believe this is their home. Staff have developed a sense of belonging and stability for the children. They see themselves as a family around them, in a family home. While the home is furnished well and has a homely feel, the external garden area needs some care and attention. Inspection report for children’s home: 1255748 4

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

Children are safe at this home. This is because they have strong relationships with the manager and staff. Children talk openly about their current and previous life experiences. This means that staff can support children to overcome past concerns and to manage current risks.

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

Staff complete the mandatory training required. They also receive bespoke training, which is tailored to the needs of the children. Staff discuss safeguarding issues in team meetings, one-to one meetings and learning circles. These provide opportunities for staff to discuss and reflect about specific safeguarding issues. Training is focused on care, support and the safeguarding needs of children.

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

Children are safer because their risk assessments and plans provide clarity and direction for staff. When there is an incident of concern, the manager and staff reflect on the risks and adjust plans if required. Reflections, learning and outcomes also take place for staff following any incident. Children’s plans are also subject to regular updating, so they accurately reflect children’s risks and vulnerabilities. These plans provide staff with the direction they need to support and protect children.

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

Staff have completed mandatory training in other key areas, including maintaining a safe environment and preventing hazards such as fire. However, there have been occasions when children have refused to participate in fire evacuation drills, and these instances have not consistently been followed up. This lack of follow-up does not fully support children’s understanding of safety procedures and could compromise their ability to respond appropriately in an emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and dedicated to the children and team in her care. She is clearly child focused and can detail the progress and experience of the children. She is an integral part of the home and strives to improve progress and outcomes for children. She communicates effectively, ensuring a team-around-the-child approach. When necessary, the manager escalates her concerns within the wider system to ensure decisions made are in the children’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has invested significant time and energy into the home. She understands the strengths and weakness and acts quickly to address any shortfalls. There have been changes in the staff team. However, recruitment has been successful and is ongoing. The manager is mindful of the potential impact of these changes on team dynamics and is working to maintain a consistent and positive ethos within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to monitor the quality of care. This ensures good management oversight of how children are being cared for. Children’s development and progress are communicated to external professionals, such as social workers, and Inspection report for children’s home: 1255748 5 families, who receive regular updates and reports. However, there are some records that lack oversight and monitoring from the manager, and the external assessment of the home lacks consultation with relevant people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy their work and see themselves as a family around the children. They enjoy the strong positive relationships they have in place and their role in providing consistency and continuity of care. This approach promotes a sense of belonging and emotional security for children, supporting a family feel within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, formal one-to-one meetings with their manager and have regular staff meetings. They complete reflections from learning circles that take place. They also receive daily support and guidance from the management team and each other. These offer appropriate time and space for staff to discuss the care they provide, while not losing focus on their learning and development. It provides opportunities for staff to be reflective and develop their practice. A consistent, confident and diverse team of staff is developing, who are positive and enjoy their role. The team is committed to ensuring children have the best chances and outcomes possible while providing nurturing care. Inspection report for children’s home: 1255748 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided, with particular reference to key-work plans and key-work sessions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and a supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. This specifically refers to the external garden areas and ensuring children are informed of the dangers and policy for fire evacuations. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the locality risk assessment takes into account the view of each relevant person. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: 1255748 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: Carla-Marie Dore

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Rachel Rodriguez Rosario

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1255748 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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