Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 1 Registered provider: Barnardo Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a charity working in partnership with a local authority. It can provide care for up to 3 children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably experienced and registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of inspection and was spoken to.

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Inspection date: 15 January 2026

Date of last inspection: 30 September 2025

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Inspection date: 15 January 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 15 January 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Staff ensure that the living spaces are decorated and furnished to a high standard, and it continues to feel like a warm family home. Damage that has been caused following incidents has been quickly repaired. As a result, the child is not reminded of times when they have struggled to manage their emotions. The child loves their room and how it is decorated. They take pride in keeping the room tidy and clean.

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The care of children

One child had a poor experience of moving to the home. Their needs were not matched to the child living there, and there were several significant incidents. The child’s placement had to be ended, and they moved. Leaders and managers have been addressing the referral and admission process with the placing authority they are partnered with. There have been productive discussions about systems and communication being more effective. The manager is determined to ensure that children receive a better experience of living in the home.

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The care of children

The child living in the home has trusted and secure relationships with the staff. This has meant the child is settling back down quickly after a period of being dysregulated when the other child moved in. Staff know the child well after they moved from a sister home in the organisation. The move was well planned and demonstrated the progress that the child was making.

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The care of children

Staff invest in supporting the child’s social and emotional needs. Staff know the child’s background and experiences. This contributes to meaningful, honest and open discussions between the child and the staff supporting them. Staff are supporting the child to access educational provisions that meet their needs. In addition, a specialist arts worker supports sessions in the home.

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The care of children

Systems for capturing, recording and responding to the child’s views, wishes and feelings are not yet effective enough. The staff are keen to explore different ways to engage the child in expressing their opinions about the care they receive.

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The safety of children

Managers have improved children’s safety plans. Plans are now clearer around each risk and steps staff should take to keep children safe. However, some key and current risks and concerns continue to be missed from children’s plans. There are new staff being recruited to the team who are still developing their understanding of children’s risks. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 3 There have been very few incidents of children going missing or attempting to leave the home unauthorised. Children have clear plans and protocols in place if they do go missing from home, and staff know the steps to take in response.

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The safety of children

There have been incidents of restraint being used when children’s behaviours escalate, and the situation is no longer safe. Staff are trained in the safe use of restraint, and incidents are well recorded. Managers review incidents to ensure safe practice. However, there are not enough reflection and oversight from senior leaders when the manager has been involved in an intervention directly. There has been a decrease in effective debrief with staff after incidents. However, children are consistently spoken to and supported to talk about their experiences after they have been held.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home continues to be led by a dedicated manager and deputy. Both recognise the areas for development in the home alongside the existing strengths. Recent challenges in the home have contributed to some staff leaving. However, feedback from departing staff has consistently been positive in relation to the support from managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been highly effective support in place for staff who have been affected by significant incidents in the home. Individual staff have had access to clinical support as well as space and time from leaders to recover and reflect. This has been instrumental in some staff continuing in their roles and feeling positive about their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has recognised the need for the team to recover in terms of numbers, resilience and development. Alongside the needs of the child living in the home, this is reinforcing the decision for admissions to be paused. This decision is supported by senior leaders in the organisation and the wider partnership with the local authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers have improved the staff training plan. Staff now receive more bespoke training in line with children’s needs and experiences. This is improving staff practice as they better understand children’s diagnoses, backgrounds and cultural norms.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Professionals spoken to were positive about the manager and staff. They feel that this is the best place for the child to live. Professionals in the placing authority have acknowledged the joint drive to improve systems of communication and information- sharing. It is recognised that agreed changes will have a focus on children being better matched and having more positive experiences of living in the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 5

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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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to there being risk assessments and home care plans in place that identify known and potential risk for each child and staff being aware of individual plans and their use. Ensure that staff are skilled and confident in challenging and dealing with inappropriate and risky behaviour. 31 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 31 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 6 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff receiving training that aligns with the needs of the children living in the home. Ensure that the staff have the experience and knowledge to be prepared for the varied needs of vulnerable children in care.

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Requirement Due date

This also refers to there being enough staff to care for children and meet their needs and the leadership structure in the home being in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to admissions of children being considered in line with the experience and development of the team in the home. 31 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnardo Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnardo House, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Maria Papastratigaki

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Inspector

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2826938 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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