Children's Home run by Responsible individual: Emma Collison-Ani in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2864779 1 Registered provider:

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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 private provider and provides cares for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, one child was living at the home, and they were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This was the first inspection of the home since it registered on 19 January 2026.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2864779 2

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Summary of findings

The home provides a warm, nurturing and trauma-informed environment for children. Staff consistently deliver child-centred care and work effectively with partner agencies to ensure coordinated and responsive support. Leaders and managers are reflective, supportive and committed to continuous improvement, with a clear focus on staff development and the delivery of therapeutic practice. Safeguarding arrangements are both proactive and responsive. While some shortfalls were identified in relation to recording consistency and governance oversight, managers have demonstrated clear insight into these areas and are taking appropriate and timely action to strengthen monitoring and oversight systems.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide consistent, nurturing and child-focused care, using their strong understanding of the child’s emotional needs, lived experiences and vulnerabilities to respond sensitively and appropriately. Through warm, respectful and natural interactions, they build trusting relationships that help the child feel safe, valued and secure in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff adapt their communication effectively to meet the child’s emotional needs and learning style, using approaches such as visual prompts, collaborative discussions and child-friendly key-working sessions. They actively encourage the child to express their wishes, feelings and frustrations, listening and responding in ways that promote emotional expression and support regulation. As a result, the child feels understood and respected, is increasingly confident in sharing their views, and benefits from a calm, relational environment that promotes their emotional wellbeing, stability and sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is clear evidence of progress since the child moved into the home. The child is increasingly able to seek support from adults and is more open in discussing self-harm thoughts and handing over harmful objects to staff. Incentives, praise and structured routines are used effectively to reinforce positive behaviours and support emotional regulation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s identity, individuality and interests are well promoted. Staff actively encourage their participation in meaningful activities, including music, karaoke, baking and football. These activities support emotional expression, strengthen relationships with staff and contribute positively to placement stability. The child’s bedroom is personalised, homely and reflective of their interests and personality, helping them to feel valued, secure and settled in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2864779 3 Education is clearly prioritised in the home. Staff and leaders demonstrate strong advocacy for the child, working proactively with education providers to promote attendance, support emotional regulation and ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place. Communication between the home and the school is effective and collaborative, underpinned by regular meetings and joint planning to reduce risk and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

enhance educational engagement. The development of blended educational provision reflects a flexible and child-centred approach, tailored to respond to the child’s evolving needs and vulnerabilities. In addition, staff are supporting the child to explore future aspirations and interests, including consideration of GCSE options, engagement in performing arts and participation in alternative educational opportunities, such as horse riding and art.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved into the home during the inspection period. One child’s move was not well considered, and they had to move out of the home quickly. Leaders and managers were open and transparent about lessons learned and have strengthened their approach to children’s moves-in moving forward.

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is responsive and child focused. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and risks, and paperwork is detailed and regularly reviewed.

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

Positive relationships between staff and the child support effective de-escalation during periods of heightened distress. Staff understand the importance of reassurance, emotional validation, offering space and maintaining consistency in their responses.

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

Episodes of the child going missing from care are managed proactively and appropriately. Staff follow procedures consistently, including searching known locations, liaising with police and relevant professionals and completing welfare checks. Multi- agency communication is effective, and there is continued evidence of strong partnership between staff and other agencies to reduce risks and strengthen safeguarding responses.

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

The home also recognises the need to continue strengthening preventative strategies in relation to episodes of the child going missing from school and to persist in escalating concerns regarding delays in accessing specialist therapeutic support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are reflective, child focused and committed to delivering trauma- informed care. The manager and responsible individual have created a warm, nurturing and therapeutic culture in the home, underpinned by strong relational practice and a clear understanding of children’s emotional needs and lived experiences. Their approach focuses on consistency, emotional containment and positive relationship building, which is having a positive impact on outcomes for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2864779 4 Leaders and managers know the child well and demonstrate a strong understanding of their risks, triggers, strengths and vulnerabilities. They advocate effectively and challenge partner agencies appropriately when additional support or safeguarding action is required. Leaders have worked proactively with schools, child and adolescent mental health services, police and social care professionals to strengthen safeguarding

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

arrangements, improve educational engagement and support the child’s emotional wellbeing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is clear evidence of positive leadership and management oversight in the home. Staff describe managers as approachable, supportive and reflective. Supervision arrangements are regular and meaningful, focusing not only on performance management but also on emotional wellbeing, reflective practice, safeguarding, professional boundaries and staff development. Team meetings are purposeful and provide opportunities for reflection, learning and discussion about safeguarding themes, consistency of care and professional conduct.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home demonstrates a strong commitment to staff development and learning. Staff are encouraged and supported to complete professional qualifications and progress within their roles. Leaders have also invested in their own professional development to further strengthen safeguarding practice and therapeutic approaches in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular safeguarding training and demonstrate confidence in whistleblowing procedures and escalation pathways. However, there was one incident where there was a delay in consulting with the local authority designated officer and notifying Ofsted following an allegation against the manager. Leaders were appropriately reflective regarding this shortfall and demonstrated a willingness to learn and improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2864779 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 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the majority of recent children’s placements ending by the provision giving notice to the placing local authority and ensuring that children’s matching processes are robust. 30 June 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63, paragraph 14.13) Inspection report for children’s home: 2864779 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: 2864779 7

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Registered provider:

Responsible individual: Emma Collison-Ani

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Inspector

Theresa Kambani, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2864779 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. 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 . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the

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Inspector

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 .

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Inspector

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

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