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

Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire 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 provides residential care for children with complex needs. The home is registered to provide care for up to 3 children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home and they spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children's home

There is no registered manager or responsible individual in post. A manager has recently been appointed and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children are not protected, their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 3

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Summary of findings

Leaders, managers and staff have failed to understand and meet children's needs. Poor planning, inconsistent care and ineffective risk management has exposed children and others to serious risk of harm. Children's experiences of living at this home are poor and their progress has been hindered.

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Summary of findings

There is a lack of management oversight and support, and learning from the inspections of the provider's other homes has not been applied effectively. As a result, there is a pattern of repeated concerns and vulnerabilities. Staff do not have the skills and experience that they require to meet children's needs and help them to stay safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the last inspection, one child has moved to the home to live alongside the child who was already living there. Subsequently, both children were involved in a significant incident that placed them and others at serious risk of harm. Leaders, managers and staff failed to keep children safe. Following this incident, the child who had recently moved in went missing from the home. The local authority made the decision to end the child's care arrangements, and they are no longer in the care of the provider.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not feel always feel listened to by staff and some say that they do not like living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children's needs are not well understood by staff. The care provided to the child who has now moved out of the home was poor and did not adequately consider their individual needs. Staff failed to demonstrate an awareness of how to care for younger children. As a result, routines and boundaries were not appropriately tailored to the child's age.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The care of the child who continues to live in the home is inconsistent and ineffective. Some aspects of the care the child receives from staff are detrimental to their health, and they are not appropriately supported to make healthy lifestyle choices. The care of the child is not in line with their care plans, and their health needs remain unmet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child is encouraged to develop the life skills that they will need in the future. However, staff have failed to help the child to understand the importance of these skills and have not supported the child to embed them into their daily routines. Staff’s ineffective strategies have resulted in the child only completing these tasks when they are financially incentivised, which is not sustainable into adulthood and does not support the child to develop a healthy relationship with money.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child attends school regularly and says that they enjoy it. They are working towards qualifications to support their progression into further education. However, their education plans have not been reviewed or updated and now present a barrier to their Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 4 continued education. Leaders, managers and staff have failed to effectively challenge partner agencies to ensure that the child receives the support that they need to apply for their chosen course of study.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the child who is living at the home moved in, the restrictions and high levels of staff supervision that they were initially receiving have reduced. This has enabled them to spend time in the community with their friends and have a mobile phone. While this suggests that the child has become more able to stay safe, their recent involvement in a significant incident demonstrates that they remain vulnerable to external influences.

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

There has been a significant incident at the home that placed children, staff and others at serious risk of harm. Staff's responses to the children were ineffective and resulted in risk escalating. Children were able to access remove items from the office such as medication, money and car keys. Staff failed to intervene to prevent children from accessing the home's car and driving it onto a public road. The incident was only ended when the on-call manager and the police arrived.

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

Staff failed to take action to recover the medication and money that was taken from the office. Staff did not swiftly undertake an audit of medication so they could identify what medication was missing to help them ensure the safety of the children. The following day, one child informed staff that they had consumed the medication resulting in them needing medical attention and extra checks from staff to ensure their welfare. The money that was taken from the staff office remains unaccounted for.

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

There are repeated concerns about children accessing the office and removing items that place them at risk. Leaders, managers and staff have failed to take the necessary action to safeguard children and protect them from harm.

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

Leaders and managers minimised the risks that were associated with the child moving to the home. They did not fully consider the child's views and they were overly optimistic in their assessment of staff's ability to mitigate risk. Although some strategies to reduce risk were identified, they were not consistently or effectively implemented. As a result, children have experienced instability and have been exposed to significant risk of harm.

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

Staff do not consistently encourage children to reflect on their behaviours and develop safer ways to express themselves. Similarly, leaders and managers do not always support staff to reflect on their practice and what they could do differently in the future to promote more positive outcomes. In some instances, staff's responses to children are confrontational and abrupt. On at least one occasion, a member of staff provided age- inappropriate guidance to a child. There is a lack of management oversight and concerns of unhelpful responses and inaccurate advice to children have not been identified or addressed.

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

Staff help children to identify harmful relationships, both online and offline. Staff regularly talk to children about their relationships and online risks, which helps them to Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 5 stay increasingly safe. However, when a child reported being the victim of online bullying and harassment, staff failed to take effective action to prevent it from continuing. As a result, the child was left at ongoing risk of harm.

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

Staff's immediate responses to self-harm are mostly appropriate and in line with training. Children are encouraged to access support from medical and mental health professionals. However, staff do not explore the underlying reasons for self-harm effectively. In addition, the information that is gathered from children is not always shared, which limits staff's ability to provide a coordinated and well-informed response to support children's emotional health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure effective oversight and support of the home. The registered manager and responsible individual posts are vacant, and the interim management arrangements are not sufficient to provide good-quality care to children and keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders have failed to apply the learning identified from inspections of the provider's other children's homes. As a result, vulnerabilities in care planning, practice and management have not been addressed, which has resulted in repeated shortfalls in the care and protection of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The decision to move a child to the home was made despite there being insufficient staffing numbers. As a result, safe staffing ratios have not always been maintained. At times, children have been supported by agency-employed staff or staff from the provider's other homes. This has compromised the continuity of children's care, as children have not been cared for by a consistent team who know them well. These factors contributed to the recent significant incident at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Although staff complete a range of training courses to help them to meet children's needs, they do not consistently apply their learning to their practice. Staff do not have the skills and experience that they require to meet children's needs and keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not have a clear understanding of children's experiences and what it is like for them to live at the home. Monitoring systems are ineffective, and leaders and managers do not have sufficient oversight to enable them to identify and address the vulnerabilities in practice that are impacting children's care. Independent monitoring systems, such as the monthly visits from the home's independent person, are also ineffective. Consequently, opportunities to help staff to develop their skills and knowledge are missed, and care is not delivered in line with the home's statement of purpose. Children do not receive good quality care and they have not made sustained progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have completed a review to identify the shortfalls and learning from the recent significant incident that placed children and others at serious risk of harm. Although this is a positive step, it does not negate the impact that the shortfalls Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 6 have already had on children's lives. Inaccurate and vague records are also impacting leaders' and managers' ability to evaluate the care and support that is offered to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Professionals say that leaders and managers have not delivered the care and support to children that was agreed before they moved in. This has resulted in extremely poor experiences for both children in the home. One professional reported that staff lack confidence in making decisions about children's day-to-day care, which has further hindered their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new manager has recently started to work in the home and they are currently completing their induction. They have submitted their application to register with Ofsted, and they have created an action plan to facilitate improvements to the quality of care that is provided to children. However, it is too early to assess the manager's capacity to manage the home safely and make the changes that are required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to the significant concerns that have been identified during this inspection, a notice restricting the accommodation has been issued. In addition, 2 compliance notices have been issued under regulations 6 and 13. Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 7

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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 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

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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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to 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; and

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the quality of care provided to children is overseen by managers who have 26 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 8 the necessary skills and experience. When staff practice is not in line with the home's approach to care, leaders and managers must support staff to improve their practice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the systems for the recording, reporting and monitoring of incidents are effective in helping children to stay safe. Leaders and managers must support children and staff to reflect on their behaviours so that learning is identified. Children and staff must be supported to understand what they could do differently in the future to achieve more positive outcomes.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff are supported to develop the skills and knowledge that they need to meet children's needs and keep them safe. Leaders and managers must ensure that consistent care is provided by staff who understand the children's needs and how to protect them.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must undertake an urgent review of the care that is provided to children. Robust action must be taken to ensure that children's needs are met, they are protected from harm and are supported to have positive experiences and make progress.

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Requirement Due date

* The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background; 26 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 9 help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child's relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(vi)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have a strong understanding of the home's statement of purpose and how to apply it to their role. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the skills and experience to deliver care and support that is consistent with the home's statement of purpose and the overall aims and outcomes it seeks to achieve for children. This includes supporting children to make healthy lifestyle choices and to achieve in education.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff support children to develop the skills that they will need in adulthood. Staff must help children to understand why these skills are important and how they will help them in the future. Staff must encourage children to hold high aspirations for themselves and support them to achieve their goals.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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; 31 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 10 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and experience required to meet children's needs and help them to stay safe. Staff must have a robust understanding of their roles and responsibilities and take effective action to protect children from harm.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child's relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children's care and support is planned effectively, meets children's needs and protects them from harm.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that before children move into the home, their care needs and the associated risks are robustly assessed and understood. Leaders and managers must use this understanding to determine whether there are sufficient numbers of staff who have the necessary skills and experience to meet children's needs and protect them from harm. 31 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 7 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 11 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(xi)(xiii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff help children to express their thoughts and feelings in safe ways. Children must be supported to develop socially aware behaviours, understand risk and make safe choices.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff support children to withdraw from harmful relationships and respond to bullying behaviours, including when online, effectively.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child's placing authority effectively in the child's care, in accordance with the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs; and

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)) 30 June 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 12 In particular, the registered person must ensure that barriers to children's continued education are identified and resolved swiftly. When support from external professionals is delayed, leaders and managers must use escalation procedures to ensure that children's needs are met and their care plans are reflective of the support that they require.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with the opportunity to reflect on their behaviours, including after they have been reported missing from home, to ensure that children are protected from harm. Staff must listen to children and review the strategies that they use to help children to express themselves in safer way based on children's reflections.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child's wellbeing. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff provide children with healthy and balanced diets. Staff must help children to understand the importance of healthy and balanced diets and the impact that unhealthy diets can have on their physical and emotional health.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to understand the health risks of smoking and vaping. Staff must support children to make healthy lifestyle choices. 31 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 13 The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

the independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (5)) 31 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2812467 14

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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

Martin Brown, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2812467 15 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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