Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC424348 1 SC424348 Registered provider: Nottingham City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. 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

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024. She is dual registered with another setting.

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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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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: 21 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: SC424348 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2025 Full Good 19/03/2024 Full Good 12/09/2022 Full Good 11/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC424348 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and nurturing home where care is underpinned by strong, positive relationships with staff, who maintain a consistently child-centred focus. The physical environment is mostly presentable and comfortable; however, some areas require updating, including replacing worn carpet and purchasing a new sofa for the living room to ensure the home remains welcoming and well maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individual needs are carefully assessed and considered before they move in. For example, staff ensured that sensitive and appropriate adaptations were made in advance for a child with a sight impairment, enabling them to settle safely and comfortably.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills, including budgeting, cooking and using public transport. This focused support has been particularly beneficial for those whose care plan involves moving to semi-independent accommodation. For one child, this preparation contributed to a smooth and seamless transition when they moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have their health and personal care needs met. Both children have benefitted from improved personal hygiene, with staff providing regular prompts and modelling good routines. Children’s medical appointments are up to date, and staff follow professional guidance to ensure that their emotional and mental health needs are appropriately identified and supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place high importance on children’s education and provide structure and routine that support a positive approach to learning. One child has maintained excellent school attendance which is celebrated by staff. Another child has recently moved from another city, resulting in disruption to their education. At present, they are receiving home tuition, which is not meeting their needs effectively. The manager is proactive in escalating concerns, particularly around ensuring the timely transfer of the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan, so that appropriate school provision can be identified and secured without further delay.

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

One child experienced a prolonged period of absence from the home, although their whereabouts were known. The manager implemented a robust and well-coordinated safety plan, which staff followed consistently. This included carrying out daily welfare checks and ensuring the child had access to essential items so that their basic needs were met. This persistent engagement played a key role in enabling the child to maintain relationships with trusted staff. As a result, the child agreed to go on holiday with staff, before returning home so that their care plan could be reviewed appropriately before they moved on from the home in a planned way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC424348 4 There are current concerns regarding the suitability of the two children living together. Their interactions are increasing risks for one another, including frequent incidents of them leaving the home together without permission. The manager maintains excellent

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

communication with each child’s professional network, ensuring the situation is reviewed regularly and that the most appropriate course of action is considered. This coordinated approach enables risks to be monitored closely and ensures decision making remains focused on the children’s safety and best interests.

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

Children’s individual risks are clearly identified and carefully considered within their risk assessments and safety plans. Staff demonstrate confidence in discussing complex and sensitive issues with children, which contributes to the strong and trusting relationships that have been built. One member of staff has developed bespoke internet-safety sessions. This is tailored to the child’s level of understanding and informed by their own experiences, enabling the child to engage meaningfully and relate directly to the material.

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

One child made multiple allegations against different members of staff during a period of increased emotional distress and uncertainty. The manager responded promptly by increasing staffing ratios to ensure the safety of both the child and the staff team. All allegations were investigated thoroughly, and the outcomes were shared with the child in an appropriate manner. Despite this being an emotionally challenging time for staff, they continued to show empathy, patience and understanding towards the child, recognising and responding sensitively to her underlying feelings and needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong and effective leader who provides clear focus and direction in the way she leads. She works in excellent partnership with her deputy manager, and this positive, cohesive leadership filters down to the staff team. As a result, staff report feeling consistently well supported, valued and confident in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager places trust in her staff team to deliver the day-to-day care for children and delegates responsibilities effectively. This ensures she can prioritise her time and maintain balanced oversight across both of her registered homes. Despite this shared leadership approach, her knowledge of each child’s experiences and care plans remains robust. She takes pride in spending individual time with children and maintains clear oversight of all reporting and recording, which is well evidenced in documentation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals is unanimously positive. They praise the staff team for their excellent communication, responsiveness and commitment to the children. Staff are skilled, confident and consistently deliver high standards of care. Strong working relationships within the team have helped maintain staff morale during more challenging periods, enabling them to remain resilient and child-focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision that promotes personal development and supports practice improvement. Attendance at team meetings and development days Inspection report for children’s home: SC424348 5 offers further opportunities for discussion about important matters relating to the children and the overall quality of care. External professionals are welcomed into these meetings, strengthening ongoing learning and development and further enhancing the consistency and effectiveness of staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC424348 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the home is maintained to be a homely and pleasant environment throughout. This specifically relates to ensuring soft furnishings are replaced or repaired when damaged. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC424348 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG2 3NG

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Inspector

Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC424348 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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