Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a partnership with a placing authority to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted. However, their suitability for the role has not yet been assessed by Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 15 October 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: An assurance inspection was carried out on 27 November 2025. The inspection found serious and widespread concerns in relation to the leadership and management of the home, the protection of children and how children are supported to develop positive relationships. Consequently, on 3 December 2025, compliance notices were issued under Regulation 11, ‘The positive relationships standard’, Regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’, and Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’. In addition, a notice restricting the accommodation of the home was issued.

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Information about this children’s home

On 15 January 2026, a monitoring visit took place to determine the progress that leaders and managers had made to address the concerns outlined in the compliance notices. The inspector found that the compliance notices had not been met. On 19 January 2026, a further compliance notice was issued under Regulation 13 and a further notice to restrict accommodation was issued.

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Information about this children’s home

A monitoring visit was completed on 16 February 2026. The inspector found that the compliance notice had been met. However, on 23 February 2026, due to ongoing concerns about the leadership and management of the home and the skillset of staff Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 2 a notice to vary the conditions of the home’s registration was issued limiting the number of children the home can care for to 1.

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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: 2719389 3

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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

Since the last inspection, 1 child has moved into the home and has settled well. However, further improvements in relation to leadership and management of the home are required to provide assurances that the safety and needs of children who live in this home will be met.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders and managers have not completed robust oversight and monitoring of the home. Audits of practice that have been completed have a limited scope, particularly following the admission of a child. There has been no action to ensure that essential planning is in place to ensure that the child’s needs are met. Planning to address the deficits that are identified in reviews and audits lacks analysis and does not provide managers with the guidance that they need to support them to rectify concerns. Additionally, senior managers made the decision that visits by an independent visitor were not required during the three-month period when no child lived in the home. This is not conducive to a reflective and learning environment that strives to meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has limited experience of children’s residential care. Their induction plan does not consider the gaps in their knowledge and understanding or how these will be addressed. Similarly, planning to support the deputy manager to develop their skills has not been prioritised. As well as managing their own comprehensive workload, the deputy manager is providing extensive levels of guidance and support to the manager to support their learning. Both managers are seeking guidance and support from individuals outside of the home. Supervision for the managers does not outline the extent of the learning that is required. It includes limited learning, reflection on practice, safeguarding and team management. Consequently, this provides limited assurance that the managers have the skills and knowledge to oversee the home effectively or that they are being adequately supported to do so by leaders.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality of managers’ supervision of staff practice remains a concern. Managers focus on staff wellbeing and staff feel able to raise concerns with managers. However, supervision sessions do not adequately reflect on the child’s needs and safety. There is an inconsistent focus on safeguarding. Observations of staff practice aimed at monitoring the development of staff do not focus sufficiently on the child’s experiences or on how staff practice can be improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff attend regular team meetings. These meetings aim to support staff learning and embed their training. Managers and staff reflect on their practice experiences and how they are meeting the child’s needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 4 When considering whether the home is right for a child, leaders and managers have acknowledged the lack of practice knowledge and experience within the staff team. This has led to the admittance of a child who is felt to be at lower risk and staff are therefore more able to meet their needs. Planning for the child to move in was child focused and child led. The assessment of known risks considered how they could be managed or mitigated. However, it did not consider whether staff had the experience and skills required to do this effectively. There was no evaluation of the overall decision-making to determine whether this is the right home for the child. As

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Findings from the inspection

a result, there are no assurances that processes to determine whether this is the right home for children are robust.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are beginning to build positive relationships with the child. They have supported the child to enjoy activities and to think about their aims and goals. They engage the child in appropriate conversations about important topics, including education, risk, behaviour and day-to-day life. When concerns arise regarding the child’s behaviour, staff intervene at an early stage to prevent an escalation. This has supported the child to feel settled and cared for within the home.

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Findings from the inspection

One external professional spoke positively about the home and the care provided to the child. They have confidence in the manager and that staff can meet the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality of management oversight of practice within the home has not improved. There continues to be a lack of critical reflection and analysis. At times, the need for additional or ongoing work with the child is identified. However, there is no planning or mechanisms to monitor whether this work is completed or what the outcomes are for the child. This raises concern that the child’s needs are not being met.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is subject to restrictions and monitoring within the home. Managers have not considered whether these are appropriate or in the child’s best interests. There is no planning in place to review or reduce these restrictions or to consider what impact they may have on the child. This does not provide assurances that the child is not subject to unnecessary restrictions or monitoring.

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Findings from the inspection

Due to the ongoing concerns identified during this inspection, a further notice to vary the conditions of the home’s registration limiting the number of children the home can care for to 1 was issued. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2024 Full Good 18/07/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 6

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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;

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they provide staff with clear guidance and planning on how to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that the aims of the child’s placement are clear and directive.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that robust evaluation and analysis of all available or required information about children and of staff’s ability to meet a child’s needs is completed before a decision is made for a child to move into the home. 19 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 19 July 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 7 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is effective monitoring and oversight of the quality of care children receive and take immediate and effective action, when needed to bring about improvement.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers have sufficient knowledge and understanding of their role and responsibilities in running the home and in protecting children.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that managers and staff receive practice-based and child-focused supervision.

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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— that staff—

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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; 19 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 8 help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the use of restrictions and monitoring is regularly reviewed and that planning is in place to reduce the need for restrictions.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 19 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Black Country House, Rounds Green Road, Oldbury B69 2DG

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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 10 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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