Children's Home run by Next Chapter Children's Care Limited in North Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2835038 1 Registered provider: Next Chapter Children’s Care 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

This home is owned and run by a private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. Both children were spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted on 23 June 2025. The suitably experienced manager registered at the same time. This was the home’s first 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2835038 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a newly registered home and the manager ensures that it is maintained to a very high standard. The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard and has a homely and welcoming feel. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and one child described their room as their ‘safe space’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff understand the individual and very different needs of the children and adapt their responses to each of them. This has made children feel safe and secure and they have settled well into the home. The care the children receive is sensitive to their individual stories and family history and helps them to build emotional resilience and form positive attachments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting relationships with staff and feel listened to. They speak positively about the staff and feel at home. Children say that they feel safe and confident that they can voice their opinions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are attending education, which is considerable progress from one child’s starting point. Feedback from professionals supporting the children is that the communication and support from staff are of a really high standard and increase the children’s opportunity to do well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have relationships with people who are important to them when it is safe and appropriate to do so. One child was not spending time with family before moving into the home but has since been supported by staff to re-establish and maintain this important relationship. Family members say that they feel welcome when visiting the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive natural consequences which are incentive-led rather than punitive. Children’s safety and wellbeing are a paramount consideration for the registered manager when selecting appropriate behaviour management techniques for children who exhibit challenging behaviour.

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

Staff and the registered manager demonstrate a good understanding of risk and the individual needs of each of the children. Staff are alert to changing needs and protect the children from harm by demonstrating curiosity and being proactive in their responses. Robust and individual risk assessments are in place for each of the children, which are regularly updated with any emerging risks or changes in the children’s behaviour. Inspection report for children’s home: 2835038 3 There has been a significant reduction in risk for each of the children since coming to live at the home and only two episodes of going missing since the last inspection. Staff have liaised with the appropriate professionals regarding emerging concerns and have completed tailored key-working sessions to help children to understand and develop strategies to manage difficult situations.

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

Children are supported to take appropriate risks in line with their ages and level of development, in particular around spending time in the community with peers. The registered manager liaises with the allocated social worker to advocate for the children and allow for flexibility and independence where appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager instils confidence in staff and understands the needs of the children. Feedback from professionals about the registered manager and staff is positive. The registered manager is described as knowledgeable, challenging appropriately where necessary and having the best interests of the children at heart. The registered manager has built effective working relationships with family members and professionals, which has resulted in positive outcomes for children in a relatively short period of time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recent changes in terms of staffing and management structure have caused some uncertainty for the staff and the registered manager. The registered manager has been without a responsible individual and appropriate support for 4 months. This has impacted staff morale, supervision and training. In particular, the registered manager has not had regular supervision from a suitably qualified person for several months and a new member of staff has not received supervision since starting in their role 2 months ago. This has not impacted the care received by the children, which is clearly due to the dedication of the registered manager and staff, who demonstrate ongoing commitment to the children’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has covered staffing shortfalls to ensure consistency for the children. However, on one occasion staff shortages resulted in a new and inexperienced member of staff working alone with both children. The member of staff is still in their probation period and has not completed all mandatory training. Inspection report for children’s home: 2835038 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background.

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Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

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Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and—

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Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv) (3)(c)(i)(ii)) 2 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2835038 5 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)) 2 February 2026

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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: 2835038 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Chapter Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Little Houghton House, 53 Bedford Road, Little Houghton, Northampton NN7 1AB

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Inspectors

Sarah Adotey, Social Care Inspector Kate Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2835038 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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