Children's Home run by Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 1 Registered provider: Northamptonshire Children’s Trust 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 operated by a children’s trust on behalf of a local authority. It provides care for up to 6 children with autism and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant. An acting manager has begun the process of submitting their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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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: 2616670 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2025 Full Inadequate 23/09/2024 Full Good 25/10/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 3

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Summary of findings

The home was inspected in July 2025 and was judged ‘requires improvement to be good’. At this inspection, the home is judged as ‘good’ overall. The inspector found improvements in several areas of practice, including seeking the views of children and more regular communication with families. The provider has taken steps to strengthen the leadership and management of the home. However, there remain areas for development and improvement. The 2 children who live at the home are progressing well with their health and education, and for the older child, independent living skills. Staff are now better able to seek the views of children, and this practice is becoming stronger.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home. The inspector spent time with both children and observed their daily routines and interactions with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children positively respond to rewards and consistent encouragement. Staff help children to make choices about what they want to work towards, and staff set targets that are achievable and relevant to their age and stage of development. All achievements are celebrated. Staff know that this builds children’s self-esteem and strengthens confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled and trained in using a wide variety of sensory communication tools and aids. Staff organise regular sensory interaction sessions with children. Children value these sessions. This provides opportunities for the building of strong bonds between children and staff using touch and sensory communication methods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health outcomes have improved, and children are being supported to rectify any shortfalls in their health. Children are encouraged to widen their choice of meals, which has supported a healthier lifestyle. Some children are becoming more confident in using their voice. This means that there are more opportunities for children to make their views, wishes and feelings known.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities for children match their aspirations. Children have been away on a holiday overnight for the first time. Good planning by staff meant this was a great success. There is a further plan for a child to travel abroad, and to go on a plane. Planning has already begun to work towards this goal.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s education remains a priority for the team. Children are supported to engage with school, with excellent attendance through positive reinforcement, praise and routine. When children are new to the home, they have remained at their existing school. For older children, there is an increased focus on learning independent living skills. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 4 The updated children’s guide is yet to be in a format that is accessible for all children in providing information about the home.

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

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have shown that they are following safeguarding procedures appropriately. They have referred to safeguarding agencies and have undertaken investigations. When identified, lessons are learned to improve safeguarding practice and in keeping children safe.

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

Risk assessments and behavioural management plans for children provide staff with clear guidance and they are updated on a regular basis. Children are helped to manage their feelings and feel safe to express themselves freely. Staff are highly effective in identifying raised anxiety in children and use strategies to reduce incidents. Children live in a low-stimulus environment that meets their sensory need for calm and stability.

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

Children have regular opportunities to make their views known to staff, including making a complaint. Some children can speak to staff if they have worries or concerns. Other children who do not use speech have opportunities to take staff to a communication board which is easily accessible. Staff are strong advocates, and children trust staff to know when they are unhappy.

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

Children are not going missing from this home. Because going out independently is not realistic for the children due to their complex care needs, staff help them access the local and wider community. With guidance from clear risk assessments, some staffing ratios have reduced. This means that children can enjoy activities that lessen any stigma attached to living in care.

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

Staff are confident in their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding processes, including whistleblowing. Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive regular safeguarding training.

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

Leaders and managers have ensured that children are only looked after by adults who have been through a robust safer recruitment process. This means that only staff who are assessed as safe to care for highly vulnerable children are employed at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has been no registered manager in post since December 2023. Since the last inspection, there have been 2 new managers. The most recent manager started their role in January 2026. They are currently in the process of applying to be registered. A delay in this process has meant that the manager has gone beyond the usual timescales for registration. The manager is supported by a newly appointed senior manager who is currently in the process of applying to be responsible individual. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 5 Professionals who are responsible for the children are overwhelmingly positive about the care they receive at this home. Multi-agency working is strong. There is a shared understanding of goals and progress. This means children, and staff, have a clear understanding of the immediate and longer-term aims for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have regular opportunities through formal supervision and team meetings to speak about the children, to celebrate successes and discuss any worries or challenges. This means that the children are looked after by staff who are supported and trained, and have had their competence checked by a manager, or senior staff, on a regular basis. Staff now have an annual appraisal of their care practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are developing a stronger series of checks and quality assurance of care to support their oversight of the home. While these checks are generally positive, there are areas of the home that may impact on the overall experience of children who live here.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

At the last inspection, 4 staff members had not achieved their level 3 qualification within the expected time frame. At this inspection this has improved; however, some staff continue to be out of the time frame. Nevertheless, an appropriate number of staff currently hold the required level 3 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers’ internal monitoring continues to provide an appropriate level of scrutiny to drive forward improvement and to identify areas for development. The timescales for the provider’s most recent internal review had not been met. This was rectified at the time of the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home produces a children’s guide. This must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)  The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role have the qualification in regulation 32 (4) within the relevant timescales listed in regulation 32 (5). (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from internal monitoring (including under regulation 45)

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Recommendations

to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2616670 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1ED

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 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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Inspector

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