Children's home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire 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 with complex needs. The home's statement of purpose states that it can provide care for up to 2 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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Information about this children's home

On 26 January 2026, Ofsted completed a monitoring visit at the home. At this time, the breaches of regulation were found not to have been addressed. The home remains suspended.

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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, 2 compliance notices were issued under regulation 12 and regulation 13 of The Children's Homes (England) Regulation 2015. The purpose of the previous monitoring visit and this visit is to review the effectiveness of the actions taken by leaders and managers to address the shortfalls that were outlined in the compliance notices. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 2 At the time of this visit no children were living at the home and the notice suspending the registration of the home remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken the required action to address the breaches in respect of regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. The senior leadership team has been increased, with a view to promoting effective oversight of practice within the home and the wider organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Some training has been provided to the staff team, with a view to promoting the ability of staff to meet children's complex needs. This includes providing staff with clarity regarding the process for reporting and sharing safeguarding concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The environment is repaired and maintained to a good standard. It is decorated in a homely style and provides a welcoming environment for children.

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This monitoring visit

The proposed manager has applied to register with Ofsted. They said that they have been well supported during their induction with good support from leaders, managers and colleagues. The manager has completed a structured induction programme and has started supervising the proposed staff team for the home. However, Ofsted has not yet determined the proposed manager’s suitability for the role. They do not have experience working in or managing a children’s home. As a result, their ability to manage such a setting and to provide consistently good ‑ quality, safe care has not yet been evidenced.

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This monitoring visit

Reflection and learning opportunities facilitated for staff by leaders and managers lack depth and does not demonstrate significant progress in addressing the previous poor practice and concerning culture at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Evidenced allegations and practice concerns are not concluded robustly. Staff are working in other homes with children when known practice concerns have not been fully resolved. This means that leaders and managers have not assured themselves that all staff are safe to work with very vulnerable children. These staff are receiving supervision from the managers at the homes they are working in.

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This monitoring visit

No full investigations regarding allegations and concerns have been provided to Ofsted or the local authority designated officer (LADO) despite repeated requests for these. As a result, the effectiveness of safeguarding is not demonstrated.

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This monitoring visit

The LADO has expressed further concerns about the quality of allegations management and the timeliness of information-sharing. They have also shared concerns regarding the ability of staff to meet children's needs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not demonstrated readiness to welcome more children into the home currently. The suspension remains in place and the compliance notice under regulation 12 is reissued. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 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 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)) 10 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 5 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

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

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 action 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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 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)(c)(g)) 10 April 2026

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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)) 10 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 6 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 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)) 10 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 7 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.

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Requirement Due date

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)) 10 April 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— 10 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 8 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

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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 are effectively planned, meet children's needs and protect 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; 10 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 9 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) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iv)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

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. 10 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of 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 10

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire 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

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2845195 11 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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