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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2732257 1 Registered provider: Homes2Inspire Limited

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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. It provides care for up to three children, who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified and experienced. The term, ‘adults’ is used to describe staff who work at the home.

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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: 24 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: 2732257 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/02/2025 Full Good 05/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2732257 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home, and two children have left. There are two children living at the home. The inspector spent time with both the children, and they engaged with the inspection. There is a constant caring, attentive atmosphere, with fun and laughter shared between the children and adults in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like to spend time with the adults. For example, children and adults relax together in the communal areas, they prepare and share meals and eat together. Children personalise their bedrooms to reflect their interests and hobbies. Adults ensure that children develop a sense of belonging and stability. They see themselves as a family around the children, in a family home. This helps children to have a real sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships with their families are promoted, where this is appropriate. Children have quality and meaningful time with their families. Parents and families are regularly updated and kept informed as to their children’s progress. Family members say they know their children are safe and being well cared for. One parent said, ‘Their child was a big part of the home, I felt part of their family as well. They are always there for me and have helped change him [child] loads.’ This shows a commitment from staff to ensure children’s personal relationships are promoted and maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

T he children’s environment is nurturing and welcoming. Adults have established and sustained a strong sense of belonging and stability for the children. They speak about the children with enthusiasm, warmth and compassion, reflecting their unwavering commitment to promoting children’s well-being, development and progress. However, the garden area would benefit from maintenance, as parts of the garden are overgrown and an outdoor shed shows sign of wear. This would enhance the overall quality of the environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to attend education, including alternative education provisions and college. Despite some challenges in the last few months, adults have worked very creatively to make sure one child is able to be supported to attend their school. This supports children to learn and make good progress and begin to prepare for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with the appropriate health professionals and are actively encouraged to eat homemade nutritious meals and engage in regular physical activity. For example, one child has begun weekly swimming lessons. Emotional well-being is openly discussed and supported, fostering an environment where children feel confident to talk about their feelings. This holistic approach contributes to children developing a positive attitude towards both their emotional and physical health. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732257 4

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

Adults have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Safeguarding training is thorough and planned to meet the children’s complex needs. Keeping children safe is also discussed in one-to-one meetings with the adults and at team meetings. Adults have an in-depth knowledge of the children’s risks and vulnerabilities. When there has been a safeguarding incident, the manager is quick to respond. Because of this, safeguarding practice is adapted in line with the changing needs of each child and keeps them safe.

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

Adults are extremely diligent. This ensures that the potential risks to children are understood and minimised. Risk assessments and care plans are extremely thorough. They provide clear and concise information about how children need to be supported. Adults know and understand the underlying causes to more difficult behaviour that children can present. This supports children to be assured that adults will do everything to keep them safe.

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

Relationships between children and adults are consistently positive and purposeful. Children report feeling safe and supported by the adults caring for them. Adults help the children to develop secure and trusting relationships. Adults are committed to developing these connections, recognising their importance in helping children to settle and succeed. These nurturing and reliable relationships play a vital role in enabling children to understand and manage their feelings and emotions, as well as reducing and de- escalating challenging incidents.

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

There have been incidents of children going missing from the home. The adults have followed missing children protocols and procedures well. Adults are quick to respond and go above and beyond to ensure children are safe and well and children return to the home safely and quickly. Following incidents, the manager reviews all these incidents to identify ways in which the staff or agencies working with the child could have more effective strategies to reduce risks to the child.

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

When incidents occur, adults respond in a child-centred manner. They listen to the child with empathy and compassion. Adults undertake direct work with children following any incident so children can share their feelings. This approach is helping to build children’s self-esteem, reduce incidents overall and support children to understand how to repair relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is an exceptional leader and role model. She has an equally dedicated and skilled team. The manager speaks about the children with deep affection and a strong sense of responsibility. She consistently advocates to ensure that they receive the highest standard of care and support. When there are difficulties or challenges, she ensures that these are addressed and resolved in a timely manner. The manager and the adults are a driving force in ensuring that children receive the very best care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732257 5 The adults focus on children’s strengths and abilities. They celebrate all the children’s successes. The adults are committed to ensuring that each child has the best chances and outcomes possible. They advocate for children’s rights and needs. The manager and adults see themselves as a family around the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults receive formal one-to-one meetings, team meetings and regular appraisals. These include self-reflection, safeguarding and well-being. This means that adults can learn and adapt their own practice. They also receive daily support and guidance from the manager, team leaders and each other. As a result, adults are highly motivated and feel they have a voice in influencing the high care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults complete the mandatory training required. They also receive bespoke training that is tailored to the needs of the children. For example, the team recently completed training to better understand the impact of trauma on children. This is designed to develop their understanding as to why children become upset while building safe and trusting relationships. This provides a stable, consistent, learning and ever evolving environment, where children benefit from a skilled and nurturing workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective systems to monitor the quality of care provided to children and to aid reflection and learning. She understands the strengths and areas of improvement, recognising the home is not fulfilling the statement of purpose. The manager has a clear vision and plans for the home and remains focused on bringing continued progress because she knows this will benefit children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Adults talk about the home with pride. They enjoy their work and express pleasure in spending time with children and enhancing their experiences. Adults have confidence in the manager and recognise how the home continues to progress and develop under her leadership. Adults spoke of the high morale and commented on the high support and development from the manager and that they feel valued and listened too.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership work with external agencies is very good. During this inspection, professionals commended the manager and staff on the communication and collaboration. External professionals commented on the care provided to children being very nurturing. A common thread in the feedback provided by stakeholders is the progress children make and the strong leadership. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732257 6

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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, 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 registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)) 02/02/2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure the home to be nurturing and a supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. With reference to the external garden areas. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2732257 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes2Inspire 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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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2732257 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: 2732257 9

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