Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 1 SC039056 Registered provider: Leicester City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 5 children under short-break arrangements and a further 4 children under longer-term arrangements.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living at the home, and 24 children were accessing the short-breaks service. The inspector saw 5 of the children and spent time with 2 of them. Since the last inspection, 3 children have moved into the home, and 5 children have moved out.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025 and was present for both days of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2025 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Good 06/03/2023 Full Outstanding 02/02/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff fully understand the children’s health needs. During a medical emergency, staff provided a child with life-saving medical attention. Leaders and managers strive to provide staff with advanced training to ensure that they can meet children’s complex health needs. As a result, children are spending significantly less time in hospital and more time engaging in education. Children’s educational attendance significantly increased when they came to live at the home. Staff help children develop their independence and understand their own vulnerabilities and health needs. All children have made exceptional progress from their starting points with their education and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children participate in a wide range of activities they enjoy, including theme parks, Christmas parties, birthday parties and holidays. For many children, these new experiences have helped develop their confidence and self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of children maintaining some of their meaningful and positive past experiences. The staff travel significant distances with children to ensure that they spend meaningful time with their families and friends, allowing them to maintain important relationships. Staff speak lovingly about the children. The staff take their roles in children’s lives very seriously. Staff are unquestionably committed to helping children achieve their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Positive, warm and nurturing interactions were observed between staff and children. Children develop highly trusting relationships with staff. Caring relationships between staff and children provide children with a strong and secure foundation. Parents and professionals collectively said that the care children receive is excellent and that children have made significant progress. When asked what they liked about the home, a child responded ‘the staff’ and named their favourite staff member. The child went on to say, ‘All of the staff are great.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have created a warm and welcoming home that provides a family feel. Children enjoy a pleasant home with spacious communal rooms, sensory areas and highly personalised bedrooms.

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

Children feel safe and supported. They are safer because of the care they receive. Staff have received safeguarding training and have a strong understanding of safeguarding procedures and whistleblowing. They know how to follow these procedures if necessary.

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

Professionals and parents are extremely positive about the safeguarding practices at the home. They speak with enthusiasm about how well the staff know the children and understand their needs, which contributes to their safety. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 4 Staff have a comprehensive understanding of working therapeutically with children. This has helped children make positive changes to their daily routines and behaviours. Incidents are notably less frequent and less severe.

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

There have been no allegations, complaints or missing-from-home incidents since the last inspection. Leaders and managers are aware that the absence of allegations does not mean that concerns do not exist. They are open-minded about the potential and model an ‘it could happen here’ approach.

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

The staff’s understanding and awareness of children have significantly contributed to there being no need for any physical interventions since the last inspection. Staff have received training on appropriate restraint techniques. They are highly skilled in de- escalation strategies to respond to children’s anxieties. Staff and managers help children understand their behaviour through key-work sessions. The staff have an excellent approach to reinforcing positive behaviour. When incidents occur, staff use positive reinforcement rather than consequences to correct behaviour.

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

Staff are assisted by strong, detailed assessments and plans. These cover a range of topics, including children’s daily routines, managing behaviour and other key areas. They are highly effective, helping staff know the children well and identify their triggers and vulnerabilities. Staff review the plans consistently and follow strategies that help keep children safe. Staff understand the children’s vulnerabilities and their potential and allow them to take balanced risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team is exceptionally strong and knowledgeable. The members of the leadership team know the children extremely well, and the manager leads by example. Leaders and managers consistently motivate staff to strive for excellence, resulting in children receiving the highest standard of care. The staff team holds high aspirations and expectations, always aiming to provide the very best for children. Leaders and managers have also created a highly reflective culture, where continuous learning and improvement are prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an excellent understanding of children’s journeys, along with the support they need to achieve. As a result, staff feel confident and equipped to perform their roles exceptionally well. Staff speak highly of the management’s commitment and support. Staff benefit from regular purposeful supervision sessions and annual appraisals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff build incredibly positive relationships with external agencies and parents. One professional said, ‘I can’t fault them; they are great and hard-working for the children.’ A parent said they were incredibly happy with the care their child was receiving and could not ask for any better. All parents and professionals spoke positively about the ‘excellent’ communication from the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 5 Leaders and managers use highly effective systems for auditing and monitoring records. When shortfalls are identified, the manager takes the opportunity to implement improvements and shares these with the wider team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is innovative, creating opportunities for himself and staff to develop through regular team meetings and additional training. During some staff meetings, workshops take place. These workshops and additional training have developed the staff’s understanding and knowledge and enhanced the care they provide to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most staff hold a relevant qualification. Staff who have not yet achieved qualifications are working towards them within the specified time frames.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been raised following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 6

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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: SC039056 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leicester City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Halford House, 91 Charles Street, Leicester LEI 1HA

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 8 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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