Children's Home run by Alpha-Imperial Private Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2744977 1 Registered provider: Alpha Imperial Private Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and registered to provide care for up to 3 children.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, one child is living here.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, 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. Inspectors have 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: 2744977 2

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

The child has been living in the home for 10 months, giving them stability and consistent care. This has directly contributed to the progress they have made.

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Findings from the inspection

The child had not been in education prior to living here. Leaders have worked proactively with the child's social worker and education professionals to ensure that appropriate learning opportunities are in place. The child now attends an alternative provision that supports both their physical interests and academic development. In addition, staff support learning by engaging the child in educational activities at home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff nurture the child's interest in football. They now attend both a football academy and a local club. The football coach praised the child's talent and positive contribution to the team, which is good for their self-confidence.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that the child can express their wishes and take part in decisions about their care. They support the child to attend care reviews and education meetings. Staff have also decorated and furnished the child's bedroom how they like it.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff advocate for the child to have specialist emotional support from child and adolescent mental health services. A psychologist commissioned by the child's placing authority is helping to support family relationships. Staff play an important role in helping professionals to understand how best to communicate with the child and their relatives.

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Findings from the inspection

Care planning documents are individualised and link to the child's current needs. This provides staff with information of how best to support and respond. Although there have been challenges, including missing events, property damage and assaults towards staff, records show a reduction in safeguarding incidents over time.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond effectively when the child goes missing. They work well with partner agencies. However, one serious incident where the child went missing for 2 nights while visiting their family was not notified to the regulator. Leaders acknowledge this shortfall.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff recognise and celebrate the child's achievements and use incentives to encourage positive behaviour. Staff use consequences appropriately, with management oversight evident. One record is unclear and included consequences imposed by the child's family, which gives a misleading impression that staff restricted family time. Leaders are addressing this and supporting staff to improve their confidence and accuracy in written records. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2744977 3 Leaders continue to mentor and develop the team, with improvements seen in the quality of care. Staff benefit from training opportunities and reflective supervision. Leaders complete regular audits, including staff feedback to develop the service. However, external quality assurance feedback has not been fully utilised.

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Findings from the inspection

Feedback from professionals is positive. The child's social worker said, 'The child had several moves, but here staff are patient and caring, they don't give up; they continue to support the child even when there are challenges. They are making sure she has the right support at the right time.' Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2744977 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2744977 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (e))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to leaders notifying the regulator of all serious incidents in a timely manner. 29 January 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping, and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2744977 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Alpha- Imperial Private Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 9, Uxbridge Road, Leicester LE4 7ST

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Inspector

Tazim Akhtar, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2744977 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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