Children's Home, Residential special school run by Kisimul Group Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 1 SC044562 Registered provider: Kisimul Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. At the time of this inspection, the home was registered to provide care for 23 disabled children. However, the registration has been suspended since 16 April 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since November 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection. This is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incidents were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to ensure the provider was complying with the suspension notice issues on 08 July 2026. This suspension notice is a continuation of the original suspension of the home that was issued on 16 April 2026. The home was originally suspended due to cumulative concerns following on from two statutory compliance notices issued under Regulation 12, ‘The protection of children standard’, and Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the inspection, there were no children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home remains unsuitable for children. It is undergoing a period of significant renovation with the aim of completely changing the internal layout of the home. The building is being changed from a communal living home to separate contained individual apartments. In the future, children will have a bedroom and living space Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 2 that is separated from others living in the home. There will be designated communal living areas within the home, where the children will be able to socialise and interact with their peers should they wish to.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager post remains vacant. Senior managers have advised that there is an ongoing recruitment campaign and they are hopeful that they will recruit to this role in the near future.

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This monitoring visit

The home does not have any staff, as they have been redeployed within the organisation. A plan has been devised for the recruitment of new staff for the home. The recruitment campaign will be launched so that staff are in post for when the building is ready for children to move in.

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This monitoring visit

Safer recruitment checks have been strengthened within the organisation and the process updated. There is clear accountability built into the checks being completed with additional management oversight also being part of the process.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders have continued in their work to develop systems and processes for their staff. When changes are made, these are shared with staff and where necessary, extra training is provided. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2025 Full Good 13/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/06/2023 Full Good 23/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 4

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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 with 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;

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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, leaders and managers need to ensure that they have the necessary systems in place to support their oversight of the home and take the necessary actions 19 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 5 required to meet the children’s needs. Furthermore, leaders and managers need to ensure that there is a record of every shift. Senior leaders and managers need to ensure that there are always sufficient staff on duty and that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide good-quality care to children.

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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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and 19 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 6 that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to senior leaders and managers ensuring that they are aware of all incidents in the home and that all necessary actions have been taken by staff so that children remain safeguarded. In addition, risk assessments must capture all known risks and be specific in detail. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand the children’s specific risks and how they need to be supported so they remain safe.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

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

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to leaders and managers ensuring that staff are proactive in their support of children so that positive relationships are developed between staff and children. 19 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 19 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 7 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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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)(v)(viii)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to senior leaders and managers ensuring that children and staff receive appropriate medical treatment after an intervention and that purposeful debriefs are undertaken with both children and staff.

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 19 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 8 In particular, senior leaders and managers need to ensure that children are provided with opportunities to participate in meaningful activities both at the home and in the community

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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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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Inspector

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044562 10 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 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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