Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 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 is run by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant. However, the new manager has applied to register.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Two children were spoken with during the inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2025 Full Good 30/04/2024 Full Good 13/06/2023 Full Good 11/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 3

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Summary of findings

Since the last full inspection, the regulator has received several notifications about the safeguarding of children. This inspection identified that the home has worked effectively with safeguarding agencies, sometimes in challenging circumstances. The provider could evidence progress for all the children living at this home, and at times this was significant.

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Summary of findings

Since the last full inspection, there has been a change to the cohort of children. At this inspection, 3 children were living at the home. One older child is planning a move back to family. Two other children are yet to be fully settled, although progress is being made. There is progress with all 3 children in terms of relationships with staff, engaging with education and activities, and increasing independence living skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

For one child, relationships with families have been central to enabling the child to move back to their family home. Staff have supported the child to spend time with their family. A strong and respectful working relationship has been developed. Families are invited to the home and have enjoyed time together in preparation for reunification.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are resilient. There is very low staff turnover, although there have been periods of challenge for the team. This has meant that the children are being looked after by a stable team of staff that has provided a high level of consistency.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a social pedagogic approach to helping the children learn essential life skills. When children are not in education or waiting to begin a college course, staff engage them in practical activities, often linked to vocational awards. One child is learning how to mend their bikes. Other children have built up flat-pack furniture. Two children have painted a lounge with staff help, and another child has work experience where they are learning employability skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles, although some children are at times resistant. Children learn about healthy eating and cook with staff. They are planning to develop their own garden where they can grow vegetables. Staff support children to take part in a wide range of physical and sporting activities inside and outside the home. These promote improved physical health, self-confidence and skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff capture the child’s voice through regular planned discussions. Children at this home can make their views known. When needed, there are more formal opportunities that children can access. Children know how to make a complaint. When they do, a manager leads on the investigation and children are provided with an outcome. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 4 There is a team around the child approach to supporting children. Managers work closely with external agencies, social workers and refer to organisations to ensure that children have the right support around them at the right time. Stakeholders praise the staff for their enduring and positive approach to engaging children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager is encouraging the children to learn about how different people live their lives around the world. They celebrate diversity. When appropriate, children are mentored by staff who understand their cultural needs. Children enjoy practical activities such as learning how to cook culturally specific meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and support the children to keep their bedrooms and bathroom clean and tidy. On one occasion, staff have not been aware that a child had several vapes in their bedroom. However, managers took immediate action to upskill the staff, and used this as a learning opportunity for the children about the dangers to their health and wellbeing.

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

Some children have a significant history of going missing from home and have been at risk of exploitation. The manager ensures that all relevant safeguarding agencies are notified when it is appropriate to do so. Notifications to other agencies reflect good safeguarding practice. The staff show initiative in their efforts to prevent children from going missing.

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

Missing-from-home protocols are clear and up to date and staff know what to do when the child goes missing, or are at any other form of risk. Managers work effectively with the team around the child to share plans and agree on the best strategies to reduce the risk to children.

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

Safeguarding the children, both within and outside of the home, has required dynamic and constantly evolving planning. Risk assessments are continually reviewed to accurately reflect levels of risk. This means that, when possible, children can experience new challenges and develop new skills while remaining safe.

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

When children are away from the home and staying with friends and family, staff continue to maintain regular daily contact with them and continue to provide the best standard of care they can. Managers work with stakeholders to ensure that children return to the home as soon as possible. Stakeholders are confident with how this team is working in collaboration with families to maintain the safety of the children, often in challenging circumstances.

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

Staff understand the risks posed to children using mobile phones that have access to social media and the internet. Staff undertake individual sessions with children and talk about the dangers of being online and how they can keep themselves safe. Children allow staff to monitor their phones, and this shows how much they trust the staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 5 When incidents occur in the home, staff are proactive in their response. Staff can usually de-escalate situations without the need to physically intervene. After every incident, staff engage with the children to explore their feelings about what happened. The manager oversees all incidents, setting actions or identifying learning opportunities. When new children are planning to come to live at the home with significant health needs, the manager provides child-specific guidance to staff about how to safely care for new

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

children if a physical hold becomes necessary.

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

Children, staff and visitors are protected and their welfare promoted through the rigorous health and safety arrangements throughout the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change in management of the home since the last inspection. An extended handover period from the outgoing registered manager has meant a consistent approach to care. However, within a relatively short time, the new manager has made progress in several areas including developing a stronger focus on relationship-based practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong and effective advocate for the children. When children are not receiving the reasonable adjustments or the equipment to enable them to take their exams in their own way, the manager has been effective in ensuring this happens.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes regular opportunities to meet with stakeholders, including the children’s families where appropriate. Stakeholders share the view that there is a strong team around the child ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strength and a passion for developing their team. Staff benefit from training and are confident in using the skills they have learned. Staff are provided with regular supervision. This process allows for staff’s competence and knowledge of the children to be reviewed. Managers ensure that children are spoken about and staff can share any worries or concerns. In addition, staff are provided with guidance and support that contributes to their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective internal quality assurance systems provide a detailed analysis of the operation of the home. This means that managers have a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Firm plans are in place to drive continual improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff wellbeing is a priority, and this has meant that staff are highly motivated. They love their work with the children and are resilient even through challenging times. The wellbeing team offers overarching and regular support to the team. Children are looked after by a well-trained, safely recruited and motivated workforce. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person is responsible for ensuring that each child’s day-to-day health and wellbeing needs are met. Staff should work to make the children’s home an environment that supports children’s physical, mental and emotional health, in line with the approach set out in home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)

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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: 1256061 7

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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

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1256061 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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