Children's Home run by Inspiration Care Group Limited in Barnsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2846291 1 Registered provider: Inspiration Care 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

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has worked in the home since before the last inspection, and registered with Ofsted in May 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home, and they were spoken with.

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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: 26 January 2026

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2846291 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/01/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2846291 3

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have successfully improved the overall quality of care in this home. The new manager has made positive progress in a relatively short time. He has created a collaborative culture where dedicated staff provide consistent and genuine care to children. There is a balance of safety with a warm, family-like atmosphere in the home. The manager’s child-centred approach ensures that children’s progress, happiness and wellbeing remain the top priorities. Staff and the management team work together effectively, ensuring the home is a supportive, nurturing and safe environment where children thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make positive progress in this home because they are cared for by a consistent staff team. Staff work well together and provide children with warmth, care and stability. Staff practice in the home is child-centred and focused on meeting children’s individual needs. One social worker said, ‘They [the staff] are amazing. The home is completely centred around [name of child]’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out, and one has moved in. Both children have made progress in various areas of their lives. One child is now joining staff for meals out and they are beginning to accept praise from the staff. This progress is notable because the child could not previously manage this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education, and this is consistently promoted by staff even when children are not on roll at school. Children are supported through face-to-face tutoring, online learning, revision sessions and weekend jobs. Staff encourage children to pursue their goals and aspirations. As a result, one child has successfully secured a college placement of their choice in their home area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak and write about children with love and respect. Children’s records are written with care and compassion. If children read these records in later life, they would know that staff genuinely cared for them. Daily records show that children are supported through consistent praise and positive reinforcement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are a real strength of this home. Children are supported to quickly develop trusted relationships with staff. Consequently, children have an increased sense of belonging and improved wellbeing. One child said, ‘Thank you [to the staff] for the love and support you have given me and thank you for making this a home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is clean and tidy. However, some maintenance is needed in the garden to ensure it is a welcoming space for the children to spend time in. In addition, some bedrooms require redecoration before a new child moves into the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2846291 4 Staff complete direct work with children and have meaningful conversations with them. These conversations provide help and support for the children. While one child’s move on from the home was successful and well planned. The planning did not fully consider the emotional impact of moving on from the home, including feelings such as loneliness. Children’s moving-on plans would benefit from both practical and emotional support to help prepare them for their future placement.

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

Children say that they feel safe in this home. This is evident from the progress they make and the relationships they form with staff. One child has been helped to settle into the home quickly. They have formed trusting relationships with the staff and seek out their help and guidance. This demonstrates that children are cared for by staff who help them feel secure.

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

One child’s risks reduced significantly. As a result, Deprivation of Liberty measures were removed, and they spend time in the community safely. This is because staff consistently follow children’s plans to effectively reduce risk. Risk assessments and safety plans are individualised and take account of information from professionals and the child. Safety measures are clear, detailed and specific to each child’s needs.

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

Children do not go missing from this home, despite this being a known risk previously for one child. If a child was to go missing, staff understand the missing-from-home protocols and the action they need to take. Staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities and children are kept as safe as possible.

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

Children are helped to understand why adults may be worried about them. Staff support children to explore topics such as the dangers of going missing, substance misuse, alcohol and energy drinks. Children are also supported to take age-appropriate risks safely, including using mobile phones and accessing the internet. This helps children to develop important lifelong skills and promotes their independence.

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

Children are supported to learn from any mistakes they may make. Staff encourage reflection and learning without placing shame on the child. Children are helped to manage strong emotions and are supported to develop their own coping strategies for the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have worked hard to improve the quality of care provided to the children in this home. The manager has successfully improved the culture in the home. This has created a child-centred, family-like environment where children’s needs, experiences and wellbeing are prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is clearly in the role for the welfare of children, and are his priority. He spends significant time with them, and ensures their voices are heard. When children ask Inspection report for children’s home: 2846291 5 questions or raise concerns, he actively seeks answers for them. He consistently provides feedback to the children. This approach means that children feel listened to, valued and reassured that their views matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development in the home. With the support of the leadership team, significant improvements have been made since the last inspection. These improvements have had positive effects on both staff and children. Staff describe there being a much more ‘positive vibe’ in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the newly appointed deputy manager ensure that children’s plans comprehensively identify their needs. These plans take account of the local authority care plans for each child. Joint working with external professionals is positive and communication is effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

While the staff receive supervision sessions that focus on children’s experiences and progress, there remains gaps in supervision sessions for some staff. The staff value this time and say that the manager discusses their welfare and professional development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2846291 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. In particular, the outside areas should be kept well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are supported to move on from the home effectively; in particular, ensuring the transition is planned to help each child to prepare for leaving both practically and emotionally. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 57, paragraph 11.9)  The registered person should ensure that they have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision sessions of their practice in line with the home’s policies and timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality

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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: 2846291 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspiration Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 123 Wilsden Avenue, Luton LU1 5HW

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Inspectors

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector (lead) Zoe Monaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2846291 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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