Children's Home run by Heart and Home Living Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 1 Registered provider: Heart & Home Living 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 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

Two children have moved out of the home since the last inspection, and 2 children have moved in. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living at the home, and their views were sought.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2026.

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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 outstanding

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2025 Full Good 22/05/2024 Full Good 20/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 3

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Summary of findings

Staff provide committed therapeutic care and consistently apply trauma-informed approaches to meet children's individual needs. They build trusting relationships, help children understand and manage risks in a child-friendly and non-blaming way, and advocate strongly to ensure children receive the support they need. The manager challenges professionals and escalates concerns when children are not accessing education, ensuring children's voices remain central to planning. As a result, children are making exceptional progress. Risks have reduced, incidents occur less frequently and children are developing greater confidence and resilience. Professionals and family members highly praise the home and the positive outcomes achieved for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress taking into consideration their starting points. Children benefit from strong, trusting relationships with staff. Leaders and staff have extraordinary commitment to maintaining relationships with children. Professionals say leaders have been a pivotal part of children's progress and this would not have been achievable without their persistence and advocacy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Leaders are tenacious in advocating for children's educational needs. They challenge education providers effectively, escalate concerns at the earliest opportunity and work persistently to ensure children have consistent access to education. Through this proactive approach, barriers to learning are overcome and children receive the support they need to succeed. As a result, one child who had been out of education for a significant period is now attending school regularly, making substantial progress, and has developed the confidence to sit their end-of-year examinations. This demonstrates the positive impact of strong leadership and unwavering advocacy on children's outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Leaders carefully plan children's moves into the home. They complete thorough assessments to understand each child's needs, vulnerabilities and the potential impact on the existing group of children. Consideration is given to the dynamics between children and any risks that may arise. Leaders also review staff skills, identify any additional training needs and refresh staff knowledge to ensure they are equipped to meet children's individual needs safely and effectively. As a result, children are welcomed into a well-prepared environment where their needs can be met from the outset, promoting stability, safety and positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff ensure children's wishes and feelings are meaningfully and consistently sought and implemented in practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff explore and celebrate cultures. Children learn about different cultures and are immersed in these celebrations. Diversity is embraced, and differences are valued. Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 4 Children have learned about cultural festivals such as Holi and Dashain. Care is taken to educate children on why these festivals of celebration are important. Children have been able to explore clothing from different cultures and try different foods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who are preparing to leave the home are supported to develop meaningful independence skills that are tailored to their individual needs and future plans. Leaders advocate strongly to ensure children move to the most appropriate homes, providing them with the best opportunities for a successful transition into adulthood. As a result of this advocacy, one child has secured adult accommodation that will provide the ongoing support needed to make their move into adulthood safe and sustainable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff deliver highly child-centred independence work. For one child, they travelled considerable distances to help them become familiar with their new home and local community, reducing anxiety and increasing their confidence about the move. This thoughtful support helps children feel prepared, secure and optimistic about their future.

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

Staff use creative and highly individualised direct work to help children understand their vulnerabilities, risks and emotional wellbeing. They recognise the impact of trauma and consistently use proactive approaches to help children make sense of their feelings and behaviours. For example, staff used the analogy of a plant to explore with a child what is needed to grow and thrive, helping them reflect on the support, relationships and routines they need to feel safe and nurtured. This thoughtful, developmentally appropriate intervention enabled the child to gain a greater understanding of their emotions and needs. As a result, children develop increased self-awareness, emotional resilience and safer ways to manage their feelings and experiences, which has also reduced risks. Incidents of concern are reducing, and children who have their liberty restricted are making significant progress.

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

Staff only use physical intervention when it is necessary to keep children safe from harm. They consistently apply the least restrictive approaches and use their strong understanding of children's needs to de-escalate situations wherever possible. Staff benefit from detailed, therapeutic debriefs following incidents. These sessions encourage staff to consider the child's lived experiences, understand how trauma may influence behaviour and identify more effective ways to provide support.

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

Staff and managers are highly responsive when children raise worries or frustrations. They take time to listen to children, explore their views through meaningful direct work and ensure that children feel heard. Rather than relying on formal complaint processes, staff use child-centred and creative approaches to understand concerns, particularly when discussing sensitive issues. They work closely with therapeutic professionals to ensure conversations are non-blaming, non-shaming and focused on understanding the child's experiences. Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 5 Staff know children exceptionally well and respond proactively when concerns arise. Where children self-injure, staff prioritise their emotional and physical wellbeing, providing consistent support and access to weekly therapeutic sessions. Innovative direct work helps children explore personal boundaries, recognise their achievements and

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

develop a more positive sense of self. As a result, children develop greater self- awareness, confidence and emotional resilience, enabling them to express their feelings more safely and build positive coping strategies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager's tenacity and commitment to children and the staff team are admirable and noteworthy. She knows the children exceptionally well and demonstrates genuine care, warmth and insight into their individual needs. Her strong leadership creates a positive and nurturing culture where children and staff thrive. Staff speak highly of the support they receive and describe the manager as approachable, reflective and child focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have a clear understanding of the strengths and areas for development within the home. They are proactive in identifying improvements and implementing effective solutions. For example, leaders recognised the need to strengthen staff induction arrangements and developed a comprehensive induction programme that includes opportunities for new staff to get to know children and understand their needs. This ensures staff are well prepared and management maintain effective oversight of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A strong culture of reflection and learning is embedded throughout the home. Comprehensive debriefs following incidents encourage staff to evaluate their responses, consider children's lived experiences and identify opportunities to further improve practice. Discussions remain firmly focused on understanding behaviour as communication and recognising the impact of trauma. This culture of continuous learning ensures that practice evolves in response to children's changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Therapeutic input is highly valued and embedded effectively. Staff regularly participate in consultations and workshops focused on trauma, and their records demonstrate meaningful reflection and a commitment to understanding children's experiences. Therapeutic professionals praise staff's openness to learning and recognise the positive impact their work has had on children's lives and outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders actively seek feedback from professionals and families to ensure children are receiving high-quality care. Feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Professionals commend the commitment of the staff team and celebrate the progress children are making. Family members describe significant and sustained improvements in children's wellbeing, confidence and behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings, supervision and reflective discussions are used effectively to maintain high standards of care. Staff regularly reflect on safeguarding matters, celebrate Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 6 children's achievements and consider how best to support children through challenges. Supervision sessions are reflective and supportive, with equal focus on staff wellbeing and children's experiences. Children benefit from a highly skilled, reflective and nurturing team that is committed to helping them achieve exceptional outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 7

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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: 2733224 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Heart & Home Living

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Highbank, Greenbank Crescent, London NW4 2LA

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Laurence Davison

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Inspector

Louisa West, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2733224 9 regulates 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 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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