Children's home run by Homes2Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2515370 1 Registered provider: Homes2Inspire 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 organisation that operates several registered children’s homes. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022. She is currently on long-term leave and was not present for this inspection. Additionally, she will soon be leaving the organisation, and a new manager has been appointed.

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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: 28 January 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: 2515370 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2025 Full Good 02/05/2023 Full Good 26/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2515370 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build positive relationships with staff who are attentive to their individual needs, wishes and feelings. The staff speak about the children with pride, warmth and positivity, celebrating each child’s progress. This fosters a sense of value in the children, making them feel that the staff genuinely care about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s opinions are regularly gathered and considered. The staff are skilled at using opportunities to explore children’s views and other relevant issues. Planned conversations and daily discussions encourage children to actively participate in decision-making, allowing them to share their thoughts and feelings. This approach helps to nurture trusting relationships while thoughtfully addressing difficult topics. As a result, the children are thriving and making progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are dedicated and genuinely care about the children, working hard to provide the best possible opportunities and outcomes for them. They have developed a deep understanding of each child’s unique identity, lived experiences and family background. This is reflected in staff’s care-planning documents and day-to-day interactions. The records offer a clear insight into each child, providing valuable guidance on how to support them effectively. This approach reinforces the inclusive culture of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are dedicated to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in the home. The team works to ensure that children are positively exposed to various cultures and religious beliefs, fostering an environment that values respect and understanding. This approach enriches the children’s experiences and prepares them to engage with a diverse world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is prioritised, and staff work with professionals to ensure that children receive appropriate learning opportunities. Flexible arrangements are in place for those not ready for full-time school, helping children to make progress at their own pace.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home benefits from engaging in activities and exploring interests outside the home, which helps them to grow as individuals. The child enjoys participating in a football club, going horse riding and having bike rides. These activities are not only enjoyable, but they also provide valuable opportunities for the child to build relationships beyond their home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with children to help them settle and overcome personal challenges they experience, including not placing other children in the home to allow them time and space to settle. As a result, children who have not previously been able to settle now trust staff for the first time and feel able to share their views. One external professional said, ‘The placement is meeting [child’s name] needs and is the most settled they have been for a very long time.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2515370 4 Staff ensure that children have time with their families, regardless of distance. This support is creative and includes telephone calls, as well as time spent with brothers, sisters, parents and significant others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is inviting and feels warm and welcoming. Children are actively involved in decisions about their home and bedrooms. However, there are several areas of the home that require decorating and improvements. There are plans in place to address this and some work has already started.

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

The home has established a strong safeguarding culture. Staff receive regular training and refresh their knowledge through team meetings, learning circles, debriefs and supervision. This ensures that they remain alert to potential risks, even when children do not currently present with them. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and work effectively with other professionals to ensure that children are kept safe.

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

Children’s safety and wellbeing are prioritised. Staff know each child’s vulnerabilities and strengths and use clear, regularly reviewed safety plans to guide their practice. This helps children feel secure and supported. Communication in the team and with external agencies is effective, reinforcing a proactive approach to safeguarding.

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

The children who live or have lived at the home present various complex vulnerabilities and engage in risky behaviours, such as the potential for exploitation and extended periods of going missing from home. The staff are aware of the specific types and levels of risk that these children may present. The staff have managed challenging and risky situations effectively, while remaining attentive to the children’s progress. The staff successfully balance this focus on progress with risk management, and they collaborate with the multi-agency team to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.

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

Incidents are managed effectively, and staff respond to children with sensitivity. Staff know how to respond to children when they are upset. Staff understand that behaviour is a form of communication. They know how to manage challenging behaviours and they meet the children’s needs effectively. If children become distressed or show behaviours that challenge, staff use individualised de-escalation strategies and physical interventions are rarely used.

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

When physical intervention is used, it is as a last resort. Records of interventions are detailed, and staff demonstrate reflection and curiosity. Reflective conversations with children after incidents are effective. This is because staff help the children to explore their emotions, find different ways to communicate their feelings and increase their sense of safety, as well as helping to repair the relationship. Inspection report for children’s home: 2515370 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the home has undergone significant changes in staffing and senior leadership. The registered manager remains on extended leave and will be leaving the company in February 2026. Another manager registered alongside her in January 2025 and then left the organisation in July 2025. There is now a new manager in place. She has quickly established herself and is working closely with the team to strengthen practice and maintain consistency for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual is actively involved in the home. She places a high importance on investing in staff and is focused on developing the team to ensure that children receive consistent, high-quality care and support. Her continued support, guidance and oversight have enabled the staff to feel well supported and the child to remain settled and continue to make progress. One member of staff said, about the responsible individual, that they ‘stepped up massively and showed us resilience and determination, which brought the morale back to where it should be’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager has been prioritising upskilling the staff team through mentoring, working alongside staff with children and delivering bespoke training. Staff value this support and guidance. One staff member said, ‘When [manager’s name] joined us, she got stuck right in and has helped us make changes in the homes to meet all expectations and is amazingly supportive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team feels supported by leaders through regular team meetings, supervision and appraisal. This provides numerous opportunities for staff to come together and discuss the needs of the children and their own support requirements. Consequently, this helps them fulfil their roles effectively. Feedback from staff is that they feel valued, have grown in confidence and their knowledge has improved, enabling them to provide the best care they can to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Newly recruited staff receive a comprehensive induction, which includes shadowing experienced staff. This ensures that staff have a good understanding of the children and how to support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made during this inspection. Leaders have good monitoring tools that effectively identified areas for development, which, at the time of the inspection, they were in the process of completing. Inspection report for children’s home: 2515370 6

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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: 2515370 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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Inspector

Sharron Dormand, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2515370 8 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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Inspector

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