Children's Home run by Next Chapter Children's Care Limited in North Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 1 Registered provider: Next Chapter Children's Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. The home can provide care for up to 4 children who may experience emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

Since the last inspection, 2 children have moved into the home. The home is currently caring for 4 children, who all spoke to the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There has been a change of manager. The new manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The responsible individual's post is vacant but there is an application in progress.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 9 December 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/12/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Staff provide good care to children and help them to stay safe. Children trust staff and have positive relationships with them. Staff promote education. Children are helped to attend school and sit exams.

p.3

Summary of findings

Staff understand people who are important to children and help them to maintain relationships with them. Staff talk to children about their emotional wellbeing and help them to access support.

p.3

Summary of findings

There has been a change of manager since the last inspection. The new manager understands areas of strength and development for the home. Development plans have been implemented to further improve the systems surrounding children's care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is presented to a high standard. Children choose and personalise their bedrooms. Children spend time both in their bedrooms and in the communal areas of the home. A gym has been created at the request of one child who likes to exercise. They have had an input into the equipment that has been purchased based on their preferences. One child has damaged their bedroom, and repairs have been completed in a timely manner. A punch bag has been purchased, and the walls have been reinforced to prevent damage from occurring again.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff talk to children about their feelings. Children have talked to staff about their experiences before living in the home and how this impacts them now. Staff have responded with kindness and have helped children to accept referrals for therapeutic support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Families and friends visit the home to spend time with children. Children are encouraged to invite friends to the home and have sleepovers. Family members visit the home and are made to feel welcome. One family member's birthday was celebrated by children and staff when they visited. Staff communicate effectively with family members and take children to visit important people in their lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are aspirational for children. Children are helped to access education and think about their futures. Staff help children to understand the steps needed to achieve their career goals. As a result, children are being supported to take GCSE and functional skills exams. Children who have not been to school regularly before moving to the home are being helped to return to education. When children do not attend school, staff ensure that there are opportunities for children to learn in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 4 Children enjoy spending time with staff. Children spend time in the home and enjoy going on drives with staff. One child has been to a concert to see their favourite band, which the child described as 'the best day'. Activities are rarely planned in advance, and children currently do not engage in any hobbies.

p.3

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

Children identify staff who they trust. Children are confident in asking staff for help and know that they will receive a helpful response. There has been a significant change in the staff team since the last inspection. Long-standing staff have helped children to develop trusting relationships with newer staff members. Staff communicate with each other about the care needs of children to provide a consistent approach.

p.4

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

Children's behaviour support plans are clear and personalised. Staff use their relationships and de-escalation skills effectively to manage challenging behaviours in the home. Physical interventions have not been used to manage behaviour.

p.4

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

Staff are knowledgeable and aware of the risks for children. Staff are responsive and know what actions to take to help children. The risk assessments do not reflect recent events or changes for children and lack detail.

p.4

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

When children go missing from the home, there is a proactive, timely response from staff. Staff look for children when they go missing and work with agencies and family members to help children return safely. Staff talk to children about the reasons why they have been missing. Staff offer children alternative strategies to reduce the risk of further missing-from-home episodes. The records when children go missing are unclear about the timings of events, and information is stored in multiple places.

p.4

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

Staff remove items from children that could cause harm. There are plans in place for the safe storage of sharp items, which children understand. The removal of vapes in line with children's plans is not consistent. When items are removed, staff talk to children about the reasons why and have meaningful conversations about safety.

p.4

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

On one occasion, a child brought alcohol into the home. This was removed by staff when they became aware. There was a high level of supervision of children after they had consumed alcohol, but medical advice was not sought on this occasion. Key-work sessions were completed with the children about the impact of drinking alcohol.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change of management since the last inspection. The change in management coincided with a change of IT systems, new children moving in and staff leaving. This meant that staff have felt the impact of change, and they are now starting to regain a sense of stability. There has been a change in the independent visitor. The manager uses the feedback from the reports to shape the care of the children. The Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 5 manager clearly communicates expectations with the team and explains the reasons for changes being implemented effectively.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home and has completed an audit to help create a workforce development plan. All staff have accessed a new training system to develop a consistent baseline knowledge across the team. Staff development has been continued through team meetings, where expectations and important learning topics are discussed with staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children well and works effectively with their care team. Children talk to the manager about their plans. The manager collaborates with social workers to make decisions about managing appropriate risk-taking for children. The manager encourages staff to make day-to-day decisions about the children's care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a significant change in staff in the home. For a period, a large number of agency staff were used alongside core staff. Where possible, consistent agency staff were used, who have good relationships and are knowledgeable about the children. The manager has addressed the staffing shortfall through the recruitment of new staff. When new staff are recruited, safer recruitment practices are not robust. The statement of purpose does not reflect the current staff team. Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 6

p.5

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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the receipt and verbal verification of written references. 1 July 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.6

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to records and plans being updated and accurate following events and information when children go missing from the home. 1 July 2026

p.6

Recommendations

Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 7  The registered person should keep under review a "Statement of Purpose" (regulation 16 and schedule 1). The review should include the current staffing structure and reflect the skills and experience of staff. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should help staff to identify and provide appropriate opportunities for children to develop themselves in accordance with their wishes and feelings and as part of the home's plan for their care. Each child's talents and interests should be understood and nurtured, with children selecting activities based on their personal preferences and abilities, so far as is reasonable. Staff should also support children to try activities that are 'new' for them, where appropriate. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 31, paragraph

p.7

Recommendations

6.4)  The registered person should ensure that, in line with the home's ethos, children are offered advice, support and guidance on their health and wellbeing. Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to help children understand and, where necessary, work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and wellbeing, such as vaping or alcohol misuse. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', pages 34 and 35, paragraphs 7.10 and 7.18)

p.7

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: 2835038 8

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider: Next Chapter Children's Care Limited

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Little Houghton House, 53 Bedford Road, Little Houghton, Northampton NN7 1AB

p.8

Inspector

Ali Owens, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2835038 9 regulates and inspects 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.

p.8

Inspector

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 .

p.9

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the 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 .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9