Children's home run by Homes2Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 1 Registered provider: Homes2Inspire Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is run by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity. It provides care for up to 2 children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is led by a registered manager, who registered with Ofsted in September 2025. They were present for both days of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children's home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. One child had recently been supported to move into semi-independent living. Children contributed their views during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Outstanding 28/02/2024 Full Outstanding 28/02/2023 Full Outstanding 18/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's lives have been significantly improved because of the care and support they have received while living at the home. Children's progress is exceptional from their starting points when moving to the home. Staff quickly develop trusting relationships with the children, which meaningfully contributes to their progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to move into and leave the home in a planned and meaningful way. Since the last inspection, one child has successfully moved to semi-independent living. Staff were proactive in promoting their independence skills in preparation for adulthood. The child continues to benefit from speaking to the staff and visiting the home after leaving. This is testament to the excellent relationships developed with staff. They spoke fondly about the home, saying, 'I wouldn't have had a good life but I did, this home was my everything.' The approach to care practice and providing children with meaningful care is exemplary.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff create an empathic environment where children feel safe to express difficult emotions. One child, who experienced a bereavement, received highly sensitive care from managers and staff. The staff provided excellent care and creative keepsakes, such as handprints and a memorial key ring to thoughtfully preserve memories.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Some children have regular medication to help with their health and wellbeing. Staff receive training on how to administer medication safely. One medication error has occurred. The response from managers was swift, and they completed a 'learning lessons' exercise to reduce the likelihood of future errors.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are persistent in finding ways to help children learn. They work tenaciously in partnership with external education professionals. One child who is not in education has support from staff with a bespoke learning programme. This has served to rebuild their confidence to re-engage in a way that feels achievable and sustainable. The managers and staff promote educational attainment for children because they understand the importance of education for children's futures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children feel confident in their home. Children benefit from a homely feel, and the children respond well to this. Children feel listened to by staff, and they have developed strong bonds with the staff that have helped children to make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children's social, emotional and safety needs are met to a very high standard. The excellent nurture that staff provide develops children's skills to access the community independently. For one child, this is remarkable progress. The child previously had not wanted to leave the home. Now the child has friends and feels trusted to return home Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 4 on time, and they are thriving with this responsibility. This is excellent progress and testament to the dedication and care of staff.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff are highly skilled in de-escalation when children's behaviour deteriorates. One child experienced being held by staff frequently before moving to this home. This is no longer needed. Staff are very patient and have developed their responses to children's emotions. The language used in incident reports is kind, caring and not embarrassing for children. Reassurance is given to ensure that children feel safe, secure and cared for. The significant reduction in children having to be held by staff reflects the effectiveness of care that is informed from a clear theoretical framework.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

If children go missing from home, the response from staff and managers is rigorous. The manager provides meticulous oversight of any incidents to ensure that these were undertaken appropriately and any lessons learned. The manager promotes a strong safeguarding culture, and staff are fully aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. Consistent boundaries are set for the children's safety and welfare. Additional consultation from mental health professionals broadens opportunities for staff development. This ensures that their practice remains consistently responsive to children's needs.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children experience a safe, supportive environment where self ‑ injurious behaviour is understood by staff. Positive relationships help children to feel able to share sensitive information with staff. Monthly collaborative reflection with appropriate agencies informs care planning and supports practice moving forward.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

One child made an allegation about their education provider. The manager notified all relevant external professional agencies without delay and worked closely with the local authority designated officer and followed direction.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff demonstrate an excellent understanding of the risks posed to children online. They tailor learning to each child's preferred style so this is tuned to help children learn about risk. Staff use approaches such as crosswords, quizzes, practical exercises and other bespoke activities. This improves awareness of risk and safer online behaviour. Consequently, children can enjoy being online in a safe and responsible manner.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led exceptionally well by a highly experienced registered manager whose practice is deeply child centred. She is supported by an equally skilled deputy manager who has a clear understanding of the children's needs and a strong grasp of the home’s strengths and any areas that may require improvement. Together, they provide stability, direction and inspirational support to staff and care to the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers demonstrate a strong commitment to research-informed practice. External evidence and specialist learning enhances staff understanding for one child's health Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 5 needs. Staff complete reflective reviews of how this shared research impacts their practice. This directly improves the quality of care and outcomes for the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers track repeated incidents to identify any emerging patterns and trends. This oversight informs changes to care planning, resulting in improved safety and stability for the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Individual supervision discussions with staff and team meetings take place regularly. Staff feel supported by the information shared about children, and this helps them provide excellent care and support. Research is undertaken to adapt strategies in each child's care planning. This shows a dynamic response, which is being embedded by managers. This is child focused and is having a positive impact on children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are highly trained and demonstrate strong competence in their roles. Staff receive specialist training aligned with children's individual needs. This includes the impact of domestic violence and bereavement. Learning circles for staff, such as supporting children at specific times of the year or particular events in children's lives, also aid the development of staff and support their progression.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are ambitious for children and great advocates for them. Feedback from external professionals is unanimously positive in relation to the progress children make. One social worker said, 'They have gone above and beyond in supporting [the child] through bereavement and always put their feelings at the centre.' They care about providing the best outcomes for the children and are extremely organised and proactive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised following this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 6

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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'. Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: Homes2Inspire Limited

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Black Country House, Rounds Green Road, Oldbury B69 2DG

p.7

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Craig Whitchurch

p.7

Inspectors

Susie Vere, Social Care Inspector Becky Thompson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2556340 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8