Children's Home run by Illuminate Care Group Limited in Lincolnshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 1 Registered provider: Illuminate Care 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 home that provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 4 children living in the home and were spoken with as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, 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. Inspectors have 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: 2842571 2

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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

This visit was carried out in response to concerns raised directly to Ofsted including an increase in incidents, staffing arrangements and the ability to meet the needs of the children living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, 1 child has come to live at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

When planning for the child to come and live at the home, managers considered the child’s needs alongside the needs of the children already living in the home. The manager met with the local authority as part of this process.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have highly individualised care plans and safety plans. Records are all sensitively written to children. For 2 children, these require updating following recent incidents in the home to reflect current risks and needs. The manager has created a peer risk assessment which has been shared with the 4 local authority social workers for the children. This is in response to an increase in children accessing each other’s bedrooms and associated risks around bullying, harm and damage.

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Findings from the inspection

Some children are not in good day time and nighttime routines. This impacts on other children in the home. Staff have not always been consistent in setting and adhering to boundaries. The manager is currently meeting regularly with the placing local authority for the 4 children to reaffirm boundaries in the home and review progress and agreed actions.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and senior leaders have contingency plans in place to adjust staffing or the home environment should the need arise.

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Findings from the inspection

The door to the living room has been locked at night times. This restriction of movement is without evidenced rationale or review and is not a proportionate response to manage some behaviours that staff may find challenging. A requirement was set at the previous inspection and is reinstated.

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Findings from the inspection

Some staff have left since the last inspection. Managers have worked to ensure new staff have been recruited. Managers have worked shifts and completed sleepovers in the home to ensure staffing levels are maintained and to ensure children and staff feel supported.

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Findings from the inspection

External professionals and family members speak highly of the communication with the manager and leadership team. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 3 Appropriate action is taken if children are missing or require medical attention which is promptly sought. Two incidents which were reviewed on inspection were not notified to Ofsted and a requirement has been set.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager was reflective on the areas for development and was developing plans during the inspection to address these.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is beautifully presented and reflects the children who live there. Any areas of damage or wear are addressed promptly to maintain the homely feel.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to access activities in the local area, including the gym. One child has been supported to join a local football team which has given them a sense of pride.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to spend time with people who are important to them. Managers and staff advocate for children’s wishes to inform their care planning and will challenge other agencies appropriately. Children have access to external independent advocacy.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers understand the importance of education for children to help them achieve now and in the future. At the time of the inspection, some children are not accessing their education placements in line with their plans. Managers advocate and work with the multiagency partners to promote their attendance and address any barriers to learning. One child has successfully sat exams and moved on to a new college placement and is making good progress.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection are restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection. A further requirement has been set at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2026 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 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, 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

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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that known risks associated with children such as missing from home, alcohol, and medication are clearly recorded in risk assessments, with clear actions of the steps staff should take.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the registered person being assured that the needs of children in the home can be met and that staff are consistent in setting boundaries and following risk assessments and care plans in place. 18 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 6 This also relates to the need to reassess risk assessments for children following emerging or changing risks, such as when serious incidents have happened in the home and make effective changes. Children accessing each other's rooms and children being effectively monitored to reduce risk of bullying or harm.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to children being supported to have routines to help them in areas they are struggling in and to structure their days and night times.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children's home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to restrictive practices such as locking doors and restricting children's access to areas of the home. 18 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the matter; 18 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 7 the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)

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Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person ensuring that Ofsted are notified without delay in respect to any aspects outlined in Regulation 40.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ILLUMINATE CARE GROUP LIMITED

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Castlegate, Tickhill, Doncaster DN11 9QU

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Inspector

Caroline Hose, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2842571 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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