Children's Home run by The Acorns Leicester Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 1 Registered provider: The Acorns Leicester Ltd

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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. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. They were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed. They are not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 28 July 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 July 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 2

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Summary of findings

The child continues to make progress, with staff supporting their identity and relationships. The child feels listened to and supported by staff. Safeguarding practice is effective. Improvements are needed around discussions with the child, child-specific training and monitoring systems. Staff receive regular supervision to reflect on practice. Progress has been made to meet some requirements raised at the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is making progress across all areas of their development. They recognise and reflect on the progress they have made and express pride in their achievements. Staff acknowledge and celebrate the child’s achievements, providing positive reinforcement that promotes their confidence.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child to maintain and strengthen relationships with people who are important to them. Those close to the child were warmly welcomed into the home to attend a celebration, providing meaningful opportunities to spend good-quality time together. Staff recognise the importance of maintaining these connections.

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Findings from the inspection

The child reports that they feel safe living in the home. They can identify trusted members of staff who they can approach if they have any worries. Staff provide regular opportunities for the child to express their wishes and feelings. As a result, the child feels listened to.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child to explore, understand and develop their culture and identity. Staff have meaningful conversations with the child about their beliefs to ensure that care is responsive to their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a reduction in safeguarding incidents since the last inspection, demonstrating positive progress in the child’s safety. When incidents have occurred, staff have responded calmly and provided the child with support during periods of difficulty. Following incidents, management carries out reflective discussions with staff to evaluate the effectiveness of practice and identify any learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents requiring physical intervention are minimal. When intervention has been necessary, staff have acted appropriately to ensure that it is only used as a last resort and for minimal time. Staff provide the child with opportunities to share their views and feelings following incidents. However, management oversight does not consider whether the intervention was necessary and proportionate. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 3 Discussions with the child to promote their learning and understanding of how to keep themselves safe are limited. Staff do not use everyday opportunities to engage the child in meaningful conversations to support their understanding of safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received mandatory training, including safeguarding training. However, training specific to the child’s individual needs remains outstanding. Management has identified these training requirements and has plans in place to ensure that staff receive the relevant learning opportunities.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring and audit systems are not yet established in the home. A new manager has been appointed but has not yet applied to register with Ofsted. While plans are in place to strengthen management oversight and introduce effective monitoring systems, these are not yet embedded in practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff benefit from regular supervision that provides opportunities to reflect on their practice and consider how they can further improve the support they provide to the child. Safeguarding remains a key focus during supervision, enabling staff to discuss any worries or risks with management.

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Findings from the inspection

Management has taken steps to meet the requirements from the last inspection. Two requirements have been met. Three requirements have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/11/2025 Full Good 06/05/2025 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 5

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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 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff have appropriate training to meet the needs of the children they are caring for, such as training in relation to substance misuse and exploitation. 28 August 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 6 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that oversight is consistent throughout children’s files. The registered person should ensure that there are monitoring systems in place. 28 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 28 August 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 7 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure effective oversight of all physical interventions to review whether they are appropriate. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Acorns Leicester Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 50 Dalby Avenue, Bushby, Leicester LE7 9RD

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Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2783593 9 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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