Children's Home run by Lightshine in Hertfordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 1 Registered provider: Lightshine Children’s Home 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 owned by a small private organisation and provides care for up to 3 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since July 2025.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 20 October 2025

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

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 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: 2820889 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

No children who have moved into or out of the home since the last full inspection. One child was seen during the inspection and chose not to provide feedback.

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Findings from the inspection

Children experience positive relationships with staff and appear to be comfortable in their company. The staff provide purposeful daily activities for children who are not in education. These include supporting children’s individual interests, such as trips to garden centres and developing their independence skills through budgeting.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual works well with the wider professional network. He advocates effectively for children to return to education. As a result of this oversight and attendance at meetings, one child, who has been out of education for a long period, plans to start an apprenticeship after the Easter break. Another child attends an alternative provision that provides vocational learning. This includes core subjects balanced with the child’s interests.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that children attend necessary medical appointments and specialist assessments. When children are reluctant to engage with routine check-ups, staff are proactive and persistent. They successfully identify alternative arrangements to ensure that children’s health needs are monitored and met.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is clean and well maintained. However, the house is sterile and lacks a homely feel. There are no pictures or personal photos, and the decor is tired and outdated. This means that rooms are bland and lack character. As a result, children’s views are not reflected around the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s individual needs and keep them safe. Since the last inspection, there has been no use of physical intervention, no missing-from-home episodes and no significant incidents. This reflects a period of stability and safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy positive relationships and spend quality time together. Staff support these interactions effectively by joining children for shared activities, such as watching movies. When minor conflicts occur, they are short-lived. Staff use restorative approaches to help children repair their relationships. However, staff do not record any restorative actions. This means that opportunities are missed to recognise children’s progress in taking responsibility for their actions and apologising to their peers.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff generally understand and manage risks effectively to keep children safe. However, one child’s risk assessment does not reflect the seriousness or specific Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 3 impact of their health diagnosis. Consequently, this fails to provide an accurate picture of the risks posed to children.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual has addressed the ongoing vacant manager’s post by appointing an additional deputy manager. This ensures consistent day-to-day management and provides effective oversight of the home. As a result, the quality of care is maintained while a new manager is appointed.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular and effective training that enables them to meet children’s individual needs. To ensure high-quality care, the responsible individual coordinates closely with specialist health professionals. This ensures that training accurately reflects the skills and knowledge required to support children with complex health diagnoses.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been no complaints or concerns raised regarding staff since the last inspection. The responsible individual meets regularly with families, providing effective support and guidance on how to raise concerns with local authorities. This demonstrates strong leadership and a commitment to working in close partnership with families to advocate for children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular and effective supervision and contribute to frequent team meetings. They are given opportunities to express their views and ideas, which directly informs and improves the service provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

One staff member said they enjoy their role, get along well with everyone and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

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Findings from the inspection

The independent visitor’s reports continue to be of poor scope and quality. They fail to accurately identify shortfalls and drive improvements at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Records to capture physical intervention have been developed for staff. However, they have not been used, and therefore their effectiveness is yet to be tested.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, 4 requirements have been met, and 2 have been restated. One recommendation has been met, and one has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments identify known and potential risks for each child.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 30 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 6 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independents person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (4)(b) (5)) 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, supportive, homely and domestic environment that meets children’s needs. The registered person should seek, as far as possible, to maintain a domestic rather than ‘sterile’ impression to provide children with a sense of belonging and ownership. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that measures used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves and other children and ensure this is recorded clearly in reports. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lightshine Children’s Home Ltd

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Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2820889 9 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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