Children's Home run by D&G Living Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 1 Registered provider: D&G Living 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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may have social or 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. The child provided their views and contributed to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 10 November 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/11/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 3

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Summary of findings

The child has made good progress and benefits from stable, nurturing care that promotes their welfare and development. The child feels safe, valued and well supported, and has developed trusting relationships with staff. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of the child’s needs and provide effective, trauma-informed care that has reduced the child’s risks and vulnerabilities over time. The child is encouraged to engage in education, maintain important relationships and participate in meaningful experiences that build confidence and resilience. Leadership and management are effective, creating a positive culture focused on the child’s needs. Minor shortfalls in home maintenance and routine managerial oversight of key-working records do not detract from the overall positive impact of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living in the home, and they have lived there for 9 months. This is significant, as they had previously experienced multiple changes in placement. Staff have helped the child settle and build positive relationships with staff. The child identified staff they can talk to and said, ‘100% I have got people to talk to.’ The child described living in the home as ‘amazing’ and said, ‘Although there have been some difficulties, I don’t go without. I am cared for.’ These comments reflect the child’s positive experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a warm and welcoming environment for the child. They said, ‘It feels homely, like a family, caring and nice.’ Staff help the child to feel a strong sense of belonging. For example, a large photo of the child is prominently displayed in the lounge, and the child has contributed to decisions about decorating their bedroom. These actions help the child to feel valued and settled. However, some areas of the home, including the child’s bedroom, require redecoration. Addressing this would help ensure that the home continues to provide a well-maintained, comfortable and nurturing environment that reflects the child’s needs and promotes their wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s move into the home was carefully planned. Managers considered the child’s needs and ensured that staff had the skills and experience required to provide appropriate care and support. The child was actively involved in planning their move, and their views, wishes and feelings were considered throughout the move. This helped the child to understand what to expect and contributed to a positive transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Attending college remains a clear aspiration and priority for the child. Staff have been unwavering in their support for the child to re-engage with learning. They have explored a range of educational opportunities and worked collaboratively with several providers to identify the most suitable provision and support. While progress has not always been straightforward, the staff are committed to helping the child overcome barriers to Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 4 education and achieve their educational goals, preparing them for the next stage of their learning journey.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are dedicated to supporting the child’s progress across all areas of their life. They speak about the child with warmth, pride and optimism. Staff actively encourage the child to take part in activities and experiences that are important to them. For example, careful planning and support enabled the child to attend 2 large musical events. Staff balanced potential risks with the opportunity for the child to enjoy positive experiences, helping them to develop confidence, independence and a sense of achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported in maintaining relationships with people who are important to them. When difficulties have arisen, the manager and staff have worked closely with relevant professionals to promote positive experiences for the child. This collaborative approach helps the child sustain important relationships and supports their emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a lack of consistency in the child’s day-to-day routine. Although there are detailed plans, they are not consistently implemented, monitored or reviewed by the manager to ensure their continued effectiveness. With the child due to start college, clear and consistent routines are increasingly important. Effective oversight of the child’s plans would help the child establish healthy daily habits, improve readiness for education and support a successful transition into college.

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

Staff and managers demonstrate a strong understanding of the child’s complex risks and respond effectively to any emerging concerns. Their proactive approach helps reduce risk while enabling the child to participate in positive and meaningful experiences. As a result, the child has made notable progress.

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

One professional reported a reduction in high-risk incidents and observed that the child appears much happier. A family member described the staff as ‘great’ and said that they keep the child safe. This consistent feedback demonstrates the positive impact of the care provided and the trusting relationships established around the child.

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

The manager and staff are skilled and motivated, with an understanding of and response to risk. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the child’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. They work in a trauma-informed manner to support the child’s emotional wellbeing. This approach has been effective in enabling the child to express her views, wishes and feelings openly.

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

Staff are skilled and motivated, demonstrating a strong understanding of the child’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. They respond effectively to risk and provide care informed by the child’s experiences. This trauma-informed approach supports the child’s emotional wellbeing and has helped the child develop trusting relationships with staff. As a result, the child is increasingly able to express their views, wishes and feelings openly. Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 5 When an incident occurs, the manager and staff have a consistent approach to reviewing it, which promotes the child’s safety and wellbeing. The child is encouraged to share their views after incidents, and staff use debrief sessions to identify and share learning. This has informed effective safety planning, which has helped to reduce risks for the child.

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

Since moving into the home, there have been no incidents requiring physical intervention. Staff use effective de-escalation strategies and work sensitively with the child to understand the reasons for their behaviour. This approach fosters positive relationships and supports the child’s emotional wellbeing. A professional said that staff have worked hard to intervene and support the child in other ways, which was very important to the child.

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

The child is subject to a restrictive court order. Through effective multi-agency planning and the child’s positive progress, some restrictions have been eased. As a result, the child enjoys greater freedom and opportunities while continuing to receive appropriate safeguards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong understanding of the child’s needs and experiences. The manager has developed a positive, nurturing culture in the home. Staff report feeling valued, respected and well supported. They consistently describe the manager as approachable, responsive and readily available to provide guidance and advice. As a result, the child receives consistent care from a motivated and committed team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the child raised concerns about a member of staff, the manager responded appropriately and addressed the matter through supervision and support. This demonstrates accountability and a willingness to listen to and act on the child’s views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers provide staff with regular supervision. These sessions encourage reflection, professional development and accountability. Staff report feeling supported and able to raise concerns, fostering a culture of openness and continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings are child centred and reflective. They provide opportunities for staff to discuss the child’s progress, review care practice and consider improvements to the support provided to the child. This helps promote a consistent approach across the staff group and ensures that the child’s needs remain central to decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Key-working sessions occur regularly and provide the child with opportunities to discuss matters that are important to them. These sessions are responsive to the child’s immediate experiences and circumstances, helping staff to understand their views, wishes and feelings. However, the recording and planning of these sessions are inconsistent. As a result, the manager’s oversight is hindered, as is their ability to monitor themes, evaluate progress, identify emerging needs and support more effective Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 6 care planning. This would help ensure that support remains tailored to the child’s changing circumstances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains effective working relationships with the child’s wider professional network. This collaborative approach supports continuity and quality of care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No statutory requirements are raised at this inspection, but 2 recommendations are made. Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is maintained to a consistently good standard. This includes redecorating areas of the home, including the child’s bedroom, to provide a comfortable, welcoming and nurturing environment that reflects the child’s needs and promotes their wellbeing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraphs 3.7 and 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that they are responsible for leading the team that provides high-quality care for children living at the home, ensuring that the team provides continuity of care for children. This includes ensuring that children have planned, structured key-working sessions. The team is to be subject to effective management oversight to monitor themes, evaluate outcomes and ensure that support remains responsive to children’s risks, vulnerabilities and changing needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52,

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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: 2819982 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 34 Nero Avenue, Nuneaton CV11 6ZY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Mr Dieudonne Taleu

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Inspector

Sarah Tilbury, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2819982 9 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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