Children's home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 1 Registered provider: Inspire Childrens Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

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 and/or learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection. All three children spoke with the inspector about their experiences living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 18 February 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2025 Full Good 12/03/2024 Full Good 15/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/12/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed trusting relationships with children and know them well. This helps them to respond sensitively to children’s individual needs and provide reassurance when children feel unsettled. Children describe the home as a safe and welcoming place where they feel listened to and respected.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to access education and liaise closely with schools and colleges to advocate on behalf of children. Where children have previously struggled to attend, staff have worked with education providers to create bespoke timetables and routines that encourage engagement. As a result, children have re ‑ engaged with education and begun to make progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities that reflect their interests and bring enjoyment. Staff organise these opportunities to encourage positive social interaction and to help children to build confidence and a sense of achievement. Staff record and celebrate experiences well, with memory books and photos displayed around the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are prioritised, and staff are attentive to children’s physical and emotional well-being. Children are registered with local services, and staff ensure that appointments are attended promptly. They respond quickly to concerns and adapt care plans accordingly. Staff engage children in regular discussions about healthy eating, smoking cessation and substance misuse, which gives children the knowledge to make informed decisions.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are managed carefully and with sensitivity. The manager ensures that only children whose needs can be met by the staff come to live at the home. This means that children live in the home on a long-term basis. Staff recognise the importance of family connections and work closely with social workers to ensure that family time is positive and child centred.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers are aware that some of the language used in records is outdated and not always helpful to children. Documentation is being revised to reflect the ethos of the home and use language that is respectful, child centred and supportive.

p.3

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

Safeguarding incidents are managed effectively by staff and managers. During recent incidents involving fire ‑ setting behaviour, staff responded quickly to ensure the safety of all children and to protect the premises. Staff closely monitored the children following the incidents to reduce risk. While this reduced the likelihood of harm, it highlighted the need for stronger preventative measures. Children were supported to share concerns with staff following the incident, and reflective conversations helped them to understand risks and feel reassured. Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 4 There are occasions where staff rely on police support to manage children’s behaviour. On another occasion, police attended rather than the ambulance service, but there was no effective challenge when the wrong service was dispatched. This delayed the child receiving the most appropriate emergency response and increased the risk of

p.3

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

Staff know how to keep children safe and demonstrate a clear understanding of risks through well ‑ written and detailed risk management plans. These provide clear guidance to reduce risks and help staff to respond effectively to concerns. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated, ensuring that staff remain confident in their practice.

p.4

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

Children benefit from consistent boundaries. Staff understand children’s needs and vulnerabilities, which means that they are able to provide emotional support when needed. Staff use restorative conversations and positive reinforcement to help children to manage their feelings, which reduces conflict and builds resilience.

p.4

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

When children go missing from the home, staff work effectively with external professionals to locate them and support their safe return. The manager and staff are proactive in looking for children and maintaining contact with them during these episodes. When children return, staff hold meaningful conversations with them to understand the reasons for going missing and to help them recognise risks.

p.4

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

Allegations are managed well, and professional judgement is used to ensure that children’s voices are heard and that outcomes are evidenced. Staff respond to all concerns to reassure children and support them through reflective conversations. External professionals are informed in a timely manner, and decision-making is taken with children’s best interests at the centre.

p.4

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

A recent medication error was investigated promptly, with learning shared with staff to prevent a reoccurrence. This demonstrates a learning culture and provides assurance to children and families that health needs are safeguarded. External advice was sought, and there was no danger to the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted. She has high aspirations to help children achieve in their lives. She knows the children well and is committed to their success. Strong relationships between staff and children are evident and contribute to a culture where children feel supported and encouraged to thrive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following the incidents involving fire-setting, the manager took prompt action to ensure that the home was compliant with fire safety regulations. However, not all incidents were notified to Ofsted. This limits the regulatory oversight and transparency in safeguarding practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 5 Roles and responsibilities are clarified through a well ‑ structured induction for new staff and access to relevant training and regular team meetings. Supervision is reflective and purposeful and helps staff to achieve the aims of the home and continually improve their practice. However, supervision is not consistently completed in line with the organisation’s own policy for new and experienced staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and external professionals are complimentary about the manager and the positive atmosphere she has developed in the home. Staff state that they feel well supported by the manager.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers generally apply safe recruitment practice, but they do not always assess risk when references are unavailable. Managers must strengthen recruitment processes, ensuring that they vet all staff thoroughly and address any shortfalls with clear risk assessments completed by senior managers. Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.6

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.6

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.6

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))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all serious notifications are sent to Ofsted. 28 January 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.6

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the 28 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 7 individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that safer recruitment guidelines are adhered to when recruiting staff.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.7

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)) 28 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 8 In particular, the registered person must ensure that suitable challenge is made when the requested emergency service is not in attendance.

p.7

Recommendation

 As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them, specifically the provider’s own policies relating to supervision should be adhered to. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1),

p.8

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: 2594033 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Childrens Services Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3, Craig Court, Standish Street, St. Helens WA10 1GJ

p.9

Inspector

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2594033 10 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10