Children's home run by Lantern Care Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2713335 1 Registered provider: Lantern Care Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024. They were present for the first day of the inspection and the responsible individual supported the second day.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Two children 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

Date of last inspection: 4 February 2025

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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: 2713335 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2025 Full Good 08/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2713335 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress during their time in the home. Staff provide consistent support to enable children to attend their education placements and health appointments. When children are not in education, staff work proactively with external agencies to identify suitable provision and ensure that children receive the services they need. This coordinated approach helps children to re-engage in learning and promotes improved outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into and out of the home are well planned and sensitively managed. Staff take time to understand each child’s individual needs, routines and preferences before they move in, ensuring that children feel welcomed, safe and supported from the outset. Similarly, moves on from the home are carefully considered. Staff work closely with children, their families and other professionals to prepare them for the next stage of their journey. This thoughtful and child-centred practice helps children feel secure and confident during periods of change, contributing to their emotional stability and continuity of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. Staff undertake specific training in any medical conditions that require specialist knowledge, and they demonstrate how this learning is applied in their day-to-day care of children. Medication is administered safely and recorded clearly. As a result, children receive appropriate health support and benefit from staff’s informed and attentive practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are actively sought and listened to. Regular children’s meetings provide opportunities for children to express what is important to them, raise concerns, or share ideas. The manager and staff follow up these meetings with personalised letters to each child, demonstrating that their views have been heard and acted upon. Staff use a relaxed, child-friendly approach when talking with children, helping them to feel comfortable and confident to share their thoughts. One child commented, ‘It doesn’t feel like a care home, it feels like a family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family members, social workers and independent reviewing officers all agree that children make good progress and are safe. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘Staff present as professional, caring and child focused.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote and support family time in ways that reflect each child’s individual needs. They provide practical help and emotional reassurance, enabling children to sustain meaningful relationships with those who are important to them. This consistent approach strengthens children’s sense of identity and belonging and contributes positively to their emotional well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2713335 4

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

Staff provide consistent, nurturing care that enables children to feel happy and safe in their home. They build strong, trusting relationships and maintain clear, appropriate boundaries, using humour sensitively to create a warm and positive atmosphere. This approach helps children feel confident to share any worries or concerns. The positive relationships children have with staff are evident; there have been no physical interventions, missing-from-care episodes or complaints since the last inspection.

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

Staff have a strong understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. This is evident in the detailed risk management plans and assessments they complete, which clearly reflect each child’s individual circumstances. These plans are reviewed regularly and include well-defined strategies to reduce and manage risks. As a result, staff respond proactively and effectively, ensuring that children feel safe and well supported.

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

Staff speak with children openly about online safety. The manager and team have a strong understanding of the specific online risks relevant to the children and have implemented learning and guidance to ensure a comprehensive and consistent response.

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

The manager responds swiftly and appropriately to any safeguarding concerns. Concerns are recorded thoroughly, and both children and relevant professionals are consulted. Where required, information is shared with external agencies in line with safeguarding procedures. This robust approach ensures that children’s safety remains central to practice.

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

Children have access to external professionals, including advocates and clinicians, who provide them with opportunities to share their views independently and receive emotional support. These sessions help children explore important issues, and relevant information is shared with staff when necessary to promote their safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are suitably qualified and experienced to meet the needs of the children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established a positive and supportive culture in which staff feel valued and able to deliver high-quality care. Staff apply the home’s therapeutic model effectively, creating an inclusive and nurturing environment. Leaders and staff know the children well and speak about them with warmth and genuine affection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager follows safer recruitment procedures, ensuring that only suitable adults work in the home. New staff receive a thorough and well-structured induction that covers key areas of practice and provides opportunities to shadow experienced colleagues. This helps staff feel confident and well prepared as they settle into their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: 2713335 5 Staff speak positively about working in the home. Communication within the team is strong, and staff maintain detailed records that reflect children’s daily experiences and progress. One staff member commented, ‘It’s a good dynamic – I’ve never worked in a place like this.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a comprehensive training programme, clinical reflection sessions and regular team meetings, which provide valuable opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge. However, supervision records do not consistently evidence how staff embed learning from training into their day-to-day practice or the impact this has on children’s experiences. This reduces leaders’ ability to fully evaluate the effectiveness of staff development and its influence on the quality of care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2713335 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page p.61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2713335 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lantern Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C9 Glyme Court, Oxford Office Village, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1LQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Hodgkins

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Inspector

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Inspector John McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2713335 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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