Children's Home run by Kisimul Group Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report children's home: 1277726 1 Registered provider: Kisimul 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 8 children with severe learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 8 children were living at the home. All children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 15 October 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1277726 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2025 Full Outstanding 16/09/2024 Full Good 17/10/2023 Full Good 06/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1277726 3

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Summary of findings

Children thrive in this home. They are supported by deeply committed staff who want to enable children to achieve outstanding outcomes. Children have opportunities to enhance their daily living skills and there is a clear focus on them being as independent as possible now and in the future. The manager has been creative in developing life experiences for the children. Children are encouraged to be involved in the community and participate in activities that help them build confidence and a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff provide children with truly exceptional care, placing them at the heart of everything they do. There is a meaningful connection between the staff and children, built on trust, understanding and consistency. Staff know the children exceptionally well and have a thorough understanding of each child’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children are actively encouraged and supported to participate in decisions that affect their day-to-day living arrangements. When necessary, staff help the children to use the most appropriate communication methods to make their views, wishes and feelings known. This means that children are fully involved in the decisions made about their lives, empowering them to grow in confidence and improve their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The progress of children living in this home is exceptional. Most of the children have lived at the home for a long time. This combined with a stable and consistent staff team, has created a strong sense of security and belonging. This has been instrumental in helping children to build secure, meaningful relationships with a team of staff who children know, trust and rely on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff place a strong focus on supporting children to have fun, explore new opportunities and have fulfilled lives. Staff go to great lengths to include children in the wider community. For example, some children attend clubs regularly, others have baked and delivered food to emergency services. This outstanding practice encourages children to explore their interests and participate in enjoyable activities. As a result, children are proud of their achievements and grow in self-assurance. This is a significant strength of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s time with their families is planned, encouraged and supported where this is in their best interests. Communication between the team, family members, and external professionals is excellent. Staff are creative in adapting family time when needed, ensuring that children experience meaningful, positive, and child-centred time with those who are important to them. Parents spoken to during the inspection were overwhelmingly positive about the staff team, their exceptional communication and the support their children receive. Inspection report for children's home: 1277726 4 Staff have high aspirations for children, supporting them to develop age-appropriate life skills that prepare them for adulthood. The nature and extent of their disabilities is well understood by staff. This enables staff to set realistic but also challenging goals for each child. The goals are continually monitored to ensure that children are fully supported to

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

There have been 2 allegations made by a child. When these have occurred, staff have responded appropriately and informed the manager promptly. The manager took the necessary action, alerting the relevant professionals and ensured that both the child and staff were spoken with about the incident. In addition, the manager arranged for the child to have access to an independent professional to speak with, ensuring their views were heard.

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

At times, children experience difficulties in managing their emotions, which has led to incidents. Despite this, children respond positively to the consistent, caring, and nurturing approach used by staff. The investment of staff to building strong relationships with children is the foundation of this progress. Staff understand and implement strategies from the child’s behaviour support plan. This helps children to manage their emotions more effectively.

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

There have not been any medication errors since the last inspection. Staff responsible for the administering medication receive appropriate training and have their competency rigorously assessed before they are authorised to do this. In addition, a monthly audit is undertaken to provide further assurance that all medication has been administered safely and effectively.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of the risks identified for each child. Comprehensive support plans outline the actions staff need to take respond to children in specific instances, ensuring children receive consistent and safe care.

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

The manager has ensured there is an effective safer recruitment process. These measures help to ensure that only those adults who have been assessed as safe and suitable to work with children are employed in the home.

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

Children living in the home have complex needs. At times staff must physically intervene to keep children safe. When physical interventions have occurred, holds are proportionate and the least restrictive measures have been used. There has been one occasion where a child hit their head and medical advice was not sought, nor was the home’s head injury protocol followed. When the child communicated that they were in pain, staff did not fully consider that the child could be experiencing discomfort and not have any physical indicators of harm. Inspection report for children's home: 1277726 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager excels in their role and is highly ambitious for children to achieve exceptional outcomes. He combines high expectations for children with a strong commitment to supporting staff to perform effectively in their roles. The manager is supported by an equally dedicated deputy manager and together they strive to provide children with the highest standards of care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team have invested time in developing the skills and knowledge of the staff team. This includes providing child specific training and role related learning opportunities that enhance staff competence and confidence. In addition, the manager has focused on empowering staff to take greater responsibility for their practice, encouraging accountability and professional growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are held every month. The management team use this as a valuable opportunity to ensure that all staff are aware of operational issues, reflect on learning from incidents and to discuss the children, including any updates on their care. This ensures that staff remain well informed about children’s progress, needs and plans, enabling them to provide coordinated and effective care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and high-quality supervision. This provides dedicated time to reflect on their practice, explore safeguarding matters and consider areas for professional development. In addition, staff participate in regular reflective sessions with members of the therapy team. These opportunities help staff to maintain high standards of care, strengthen safeguarding practice and deliver exceptional care that enables children to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak with genuine pride about the home and enjoy their work. They value the time they spend with children and are committed to enriching their experiences. Staff have confidence in the manager, recognising how the home is being positively driven forward and continues to go from strength to strength. Inspection report for children's home: 1277726 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected

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Requirement Due date

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; (Reg 12(1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager needs to ensure that staff seek medical advice and follow their own protocols if a child is harmed in any way. 31 August 2026

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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: 1277726 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kisimul Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Vicarage, High Street, Swinderby, Lincoln, LN6 9LU

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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1277726 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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