Children's home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 1 Registered provider: Homes2Inspire 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 part of a partnership that provides local residential care for children who have complex needs. The home’s statement of purpose states that it can provide care for up to two children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted on 21 August 2025. The manager submitted their voluntary cancellation form and was deregistered on 10 November 2025. The registered manager’s post is currently vacant.

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Information about this children’s home

Following a full inspection on 3 and 4 December 2025, Ofsted suspended the home’s registration due to concerns about serious risk of harm to others. As a result, the child living at the home moved out. No children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

During the full inspection, serious and widespread concerns were identified in relation to the care and protection of the child living at the home. As a result, two compliance notices were issued under regulation 12 and regulation 13 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulation 2015. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the effectiveness of the actions taken by leaders and managers to address the shortfalls that were outlined in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reflected on the shortfalls and have implemented an action plan to promote improvement. However, they have not made sufficient progress to address the points set out in the compliance notices. Leaders and managers reported that they need more time to make the necessary changes. Both compliance notices have been reissued, with additional actions included to reflect the vulnerabilities identified during this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 2 A new manager has recently been appointed and is completing their induction to the home. They have not yet applied to register with Ofsted. Plans are also in place to change the responsible individual. The proposed responsible individual has stated that they intend to visit the home regularly to provide support and guidance to staff. Staff say that they feel more supported.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are being offered ‘training days’ throughout February 2026 to help them to develop their skills and experience. Some of the planned sessions are designed to address the shortfalls in staff practice that were previously identified. Leaders and managers have not taken swift or effective action to support staff development.

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This monitoring visit

Since the home’s registration was suspended, many staff have been redeployed to the provider’s other children’s homes. Although this has given staff opportunities to develop their skills and experience, staff supervision sessions are not being completed regularly. As a result, staff practice and development are not being robustly monitored or supported. It is not possible to determine whether staff have the skills and ability to provide good-quality care and help children to stay safe effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed and amended the induction process for new staff. They have also made changes to how they assess the suitability of the home to meet children’s needs and keep them safe. Other policies and procedures are currently being reviewed. Although the changes introduced appear appropriate, they are in their infancy and cannot yet be evaluated for effectiveness.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers continue to explore and investigate a range of concerns that have been raised about staff practice, including serious concerns of harm to a child. These concerns have not always been fully shared with the relevant professionals, and child protection procedures are not always being followed robustly. For example, staff have been deployed to work in the provider’s other homes despite their being unresolved concerns about their practice. Coupled with a lack of regular staff supervision, current safeguarding practice places children at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have audited the safer recruitment checks completed for staff to ensure compliance with safer recruitment procedures. However, these procedures have not been followed robustly for newer members of staff. These staff are not currently working with children.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s fire risk assessment has been reviewed and updated. However, the recommended actions have not been completed. In addition, damage to the home’s environment has not been repaired.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders, managers and staff are not ready to offer care to children. The home’s registration remains suspended until 26 February 2026 inclusive. Leaders, managers and staff acknowledge the concerns that have been raised. They report feeling more positive about the future and are reassured that progress is being made. Leaders Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 3 and managers are seeking to improve the quality of external audits of the home so that concerns are identified promptly and action can be taken to prevent escalation. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 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 with 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)) 26 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and experience to help children to stay safe. Staff must follow children’s safety plans and child protection policies and take effective action to reduce the risk of harm to children.

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Requirement Due date

Secondly, the registered person must ensure that staff are helped to reflect on the support that they provide to children and that learning is identified and used to inform children’s care and to mitigate risk.

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Requirement Due date

Thirdly, the registered person must ensure that child protection policies and procedures are followed robustly. This includes ensuring that all concerns that are raised about staff practice are shared with the relevant professionals and thoroughly investigated. Robust actions must be taken to ensure that children are protected from harm.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 26 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 7 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they maintain sufficient oversight and effective monitoring of the care and safety of children. This includes regularly visiting the home and providing stable and consistent support to children and staff. The registered person must ensure that children receive good-quality care that meets their needs and helps them to stay safe effectively.

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Requirement Due date

Secondly, the registered person must ensure that when concerns are raised about children’s care and safety, they are responded to robustly and that action is taken to promote children’s welfare. This includes sharing concerns with the relevant agencies to enable a robust multi-agency response when necessary.

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Requirement Due date

Thirdly, the registered person must ensure that there are sufficient numbers of staff who have the necessary skills and experience to meet children’s needs and help them to stay safe. Children must receive support from staff who know them well, meet their needs and offer continuity of care.

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Requirement Due date

Finally, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive regular supervision sessions and feedback from their line managers that supports staff to develop their skills and understanding to meet children’s needs and help them to stay safe.

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when there is an increased risk of fire, robust and swift action is taken to reduce the risk to children. Staff must be confident and able to apply the knowledge gained through training to their day-to-day role. This includes preventing children from 26 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 8 having access to items that increase risk and ensuring that staff follow the recommendations from external specialists.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff meet children’s needs and help them to express their thoughts and feelings in safe ways. Children must be supported to develop socially aware behaviours and practise safe conflict resolution. 26 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 9 In addition, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and experience to respond to children in line with the home’s chosen therapeutic approach. Staff must be confident and able to maintain safe boundaries, de-escalate challenging situations and help children to stay safe. Staff’s responses to children must help children to build positive and trusting relationships with staff and engender feelings of safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(d) (8)) 26 February 2026

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and 26 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 10 that arrangements are in place to—

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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

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s care and support is effectively planned, meets children’s needs and protects them from harm. The registered person must ensure that before children move into the home, staff have the skills and experience required to deliver effective care and support.

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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; and

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; and

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (a)(b)(ii)(iv)(vii)(viii)) 26 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 11 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff provide personalised care that meets children’s needs. Staff must protect children’s welfare and prevent access to items that put them, and others, at increased risk of harm.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that children’s bedrooms are maintained to a good standard of cleanliness.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that concerns about children’s care and safety are shared with relevant external professionals so that a robust multi-agency response can be coordinated to improve the care and protection of children. 26 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 12

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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

Martin Brown, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2845195 13 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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