Children's Home run by Sweet Hope Manor Limited in Nottingham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771481 1 Registered provider: Sweet Hope Manor Limited

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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 owned and run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children. At the time of inspection, three children were living at the home. Their views were considered as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who is registered with Ofsted.

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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. 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: 2771481 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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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the education of children has been prioritised. Staff have worked hard to ensure that children are in positive routines and ready to learn. The manager has advocated well to ensure that bespoke educational settings are available for children. Two children are now making personalised progress in their learning. Unfortunately, one child continues not to engage with school and, as a result, their academic progress remains limited.

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Findings from the inspection

There are robust plans in place to address children’s smoking. Clear direction from the manager means that bedroom checks now occur regularly and smoking paraphernalia is proactively removed. Staff support children to understand the health implications of smoking and to encourage engagement with cessation programmes.

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Findings from the inspection

Children often go missing from the home. Staff understand their required actions to respond to these and follow agreed protocols. The manager has worked well with multi-agency partners to ensure that effective strategies are in place for each child and that wider contextual safeguarding is understood. The manager advocates well for children, particularly around the importance of return home interviews.

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Findings from the inspection

When children make allegations, the manager explores these thoroughly. The child’s voice is central to investigations and informs decision-making in the home. The manager ensures appropriate liaison with safeguarding partners and that agreed safety plans and learning for staff are identified.

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Findings from the inspection

Where a physical intervention has been used, this is proportionate to prevent a child causing serious harm to themselves. The manager is proactive to speak with children and staff following these incidents to understand how this intervention was experienced by the child and identify learning.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager understands the importance of close and collaborative working with involved professionals. She works proactively to keep social workers up to date and is growing in confidence to challenge professionals when required. Several professionals spoken to praised the manager’s open and reliable communication.

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Findings from the inspection

A fire risk assessment was recently undertaken. Leaders and managers have not ensured that required actions following this assessment have been completed in a timely way. This is a concern, as children have been known to smoke in their bedrooms historically.

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Findings from the inspection

Children take part regularly in fire drills at the home, but records do not always accurately reflect this. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771481 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771481 4

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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

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 manager must ensure that all actions required following the fire safety risk assessment are completed in a timely way. 24 February 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. In particular, this relates to staff ensuring that records have enough detail to describe the events clearly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the necessary skills to motivate children to learn. These children may have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods. It may be necessary to address and work through the children’s past experiences and present needs before they can positively participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal

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Recommendations

education plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771481 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sweet Hope Manor Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ

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Inspector

Louise Copping, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2771481 6 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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