Children's Home run by Kisimul Group Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2862279 1 Registered provider: Kisimul Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private company and provides care for up to seven children with learning disabilities. This is the first inspection after registration in February 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by the manager who is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, seven children were living in the home. Their views contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred after the home was registered is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.’

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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: none Inspection report for children's home: 2862279 2

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Summary of findings

There was a warm, friendly atmosphere shared between children and the staff. Staff know the children very well and are responsive to their needs.

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Summary of findings

The manager is driving sustainable improvements across all areas of the service, with a focus on children’s care, experiences and progress. Staff feel supported in their role and are of the view that the manager has been key to the home being such a positive environment for children and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have worked hard to provide the children with a homely environment where they have ample space to relax and play. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect the feedback that children have provided to staff around how they want their bedroom to look. When 2 children recently moved into the home, staff made sure that the children’s bedrooms were of the same style and design as the previous children’s home they lived in. This was to provide the children with a sense of belonging and stability from the outset.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a wide variety of opportunities to express their views, wishes and feelings using different communication methods. These are captured, for example, using social stories, or through what children say. Staff know each child’s expressions and methods of communication and can adapt their response to each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are attentive to the unique needs of each child. By providing tailored support, staff help children develop their skills in a way that suits their personal growth. Over time, this has resulted in children making progress across various areas of their lives. For example, one child is now able to express their wishes using simple words to refuse activities by politely saying, ‘No thank you.’ Previously the child would use their behaviour as a communication tool presenting destructive behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience consistently good care that promotes their health and wellbeing. Children benefit from an external multi-agency network that works collaboratively with the team and therapeutic services provided by the home. This supports families and professionals to maintain regular communication. For example, there are regular circle of support meetings, where those involved in the child’s care, review progress and make decisions to meet their continuing needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with their families is encouraged and supported where appropriate. Effective arrangements are in place to ensure children can spend meaningful time with the people who are important to them. Staff maintain communication and also provide weekly and monthly updates, which include photos to help families stay connected to Inspection report for children's home: 2862279 3 children’s daily lives and experiences. Staff also highlight each child’s achievements and progress, ensuring families and professionals are well-informed and actively involved.

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

Children’s safety is a priority for staff. They are attuned and responsive to the risks that are present for each child. The manager has worked hard to establish an open culture where children are protected from harm and supported to thrive in all areas of their development.

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

The manager works in partnership with relevant external safeguarding agencies and ensures that they are notified when there are any concerns. The manager completes a detailed chronology of actions taken in response to any safeguarding concerns or worries. This keeps the child at the centre of safeguarding practices in the home.

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

Staff use their good relationships with children alongside holistic interventions to reduce the need for physical intervention. If physical intervention is required, staff are trained to use this in a safe manner.

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

Children’s complex health and behavioural needs mean that there are times of upset, distress and behaviour that is challenging for staff. Staff mostly promote positive behaviour. However, on one occasion, they failed to follow their organisational policy to seek medical advice when a child through self-injurious behaviour bumped their head.

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

The children’s relevant plans reflect the needs of the children. They provide staff with information about how to keep children as safe as possible. Children benefit from a sensory profile that outlines bespoke items or responses to help soothe and calm each child in times of distress.

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

Staff safely administer medication to children. All staff who dispense medication have received the appropriate training and have had their competency assessed. As a result of the systems in place, there have not been any medication administration errors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to driving positive improvements in children’s lives. She is visible in the home and has warm relationships with the children. She supports the staff to help children to make meaningful progress and achieve significant outcomes in all areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very proactive, ensuring that staff are attuned to each child’s lived experience and emotional needs. This leads to purposeful, well-coordinated care that meets each child’s specific needs. Staff work closely with the therapeutic team, who are always on hand to offer guidance and support. This means that children benefit from responsive and insightful staff that support children to build their emotional resilience. Inspection report for children's home: 2862279 4 Staff receive individual professional supervision with their supervisor. These sessions provide meaningful opportunities to reflect on their care practice, seek guidance and discuss any questions or concerns. Additionally, these meetings support staff development, skills and confidence. This ensures that staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works in partnership with parents and external professionals to ensure that each child receives the support they need. There is a group of professionals who work with the child and family with a focus on the child achieving good outcomes. One parent when talking about her son moving into the home stated, ‘It’s the best thing that could have happened.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive the training they need to meet children’s needs. This can be in relation to a specific child or a wider safeguarding or focused topic. Staff care practice would benefit from training regarding children's background and cultural needs. This would help staff to have a greater understanding of children’s specific needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2862279 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person 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;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager needs to ensure that staff follow organisational polices and contact external agencies when required. 06 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond to and meet children's background and cultural needs. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 14, paragraph 3.2)

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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 Inspection report for children's home: 2862279 6 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: 2862279 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kisimul Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Vicarage, High Street, Swinderby, Lincoln LN6 9LU

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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2862279 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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