Children's Home run by Impact For Change Ltd in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2484443 1 Registered provider: Impact For Change 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 operated by a small private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to 3 children. The home’s statement of purpose sets out that the home provides short- to medium-term care for children aged between 7 and 12 years old.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home has been registered with Ofsted since August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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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 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 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: 2484443 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection took place following the home being judged requires improvement to be good at its full inspection.

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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 at this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is settled and the care of the child is improved. Interactions between staff and the child were observed as emotionally warm. Staff use different approaches to support the child and to gather their views. The child expressed their views to the inspector. They described improved care experiences and reported that they feel positive about living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

After a turbulent period, staffing arrangements are settled and the home is fully staffed. This increases stability and continuity of care for the child, and has informed decision-making to progress specialist help to support the child’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have advocated for the child to attend an education provision. This child’s plans have progressed, and they attend an education provision daily. They continue to advocate for the child and work closely with the child’s local authority for a permanent and suitable educational provision to be identified for them as soon as possible.

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Findings from the inspection

The experiences of children who have moved on from the home are mixed. Shortly after the previous inspection, one child moved on as their needs could not be met. For another child, care and planning has helped them to move on successfully, and in line with their agreed care plan.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a gradual reduction of incidents in the home, and of the use of restraint. There has been no restraint used for a short period. Serious incidents involving injury to staff or children have not occurred for over 3 months.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s manager has spent time reflecting on previous events to develop their skills to manage and lead the home. Critically, they have identified action points to strengthen planning processes that aim to ensure that children move into the home, and live together, safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Training activities completed have had a positive impact on staff practice. However, the home’s manager and some staff are not fully informed, or trained, to deliver the specific models of care outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. When the child is distressed, records do not highlight the use of these specific models of care to benefit the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers reported a serious allegation against a staff member to the relevant agencies. They escalated their concerns appropriately when they were dissatisfied Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2484443 3 with the initial response from partner agencies. The responsible individual has identified learning to improve future compliance with the home’s child protection policy, including ensuring that medical attention is sought for any injury. While the child was supported to give their account, staff did not follow up the child’s view to establish whether the child wished to be supported to make a complaint. The child has since moved on from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has systems in place to monitor the child’s activities online. However, electronic monitoring alone leaves the child vulnerable to risks online. During the inspection, inappropriate online chat from other users was observed while the child played a new, age-appropriate game. Staff were not alert to this at the time.

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Findings from the inspection

Generally, managers have taken action to improve the home environment. There are books and soft toys available to the child, and hygiene items available for them to use in the bathroom. However, there has not been sufficient action to ensure that all areas of the home are clean and decorated to a high standard. Until this is addressed, the physical environment will fall short of being fully nurturing and homely for the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2484443 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/11/2024 Full Good 08/08/2023 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2484443 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 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff have a sound understanding of, and the necessary skills to deliver, the specific models of care outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. 4 May 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the need of the child. Children’s homes will, in most cases, be homely environments. In particular, the registered person should ensure that prompt action is taken to ensure that all areas of the home are clean and decorated to a high standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should consider how they can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. In particular, staff should have a clear understanding of the risks posed to the child online in order to support them to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2484443 6 access the internet safely and to take action as needed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are given information by staff on how to report any allegations of abuse and are enabled to do so if required. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2484443 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Impact For Change Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Canns Down Press Ltd, Beaford, Winkleigh EX19 8LZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Scribbins

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Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2484443 8 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

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