Children's Home run by Skylight 21 Homes Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children's home: 2870977 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Skylight 21 Homes 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

This multi-build children’s home is operated by a private company to provide care in 2 properties for up to 6 children who may require support with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The setting and manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Information about this children's home

The registered provider has appointed a responsible individual and Ofsted are checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this children's home

Two children were living in one property and one child at another property at the time of the inspection, and their views were sought.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The multi-build children’s home was inspected on 18 and 19 May 2026 and was judged inadequate. As a result, several statutory requirements were set, and compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12 and Regulation 13. Inspection report children's home: 2870977 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice to ensure that no further children were admitted given the identified shortfalls.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was completed on 24 June 2026 which identified that sufficient progress had been made within Regulation 12 and Regulation 13 and, therefore, the compliance notices were considered met. The restriction of accommodation notice was lifted. Inspection report children's home: 2870977 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report children's home: 2870977 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Summary of findings

Children receive care from staff that is warm and welcoming. Children feel safe and valued. Children who move in and out of the home are well supported, which means that they are able to settle and make progress. Staff develop positive relationships with partner agencies which supports children’s health and educational needs. Individual risks for each child are known and understood and staff provide consistent responses which helps to keep children safe. Leaders and managers have strengthened their oversight and responses to safeguarding incidents and provide clear direction and oversight, promoting positive outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in two warm, welcoming and well-maintained homes. The environments are spacious and furnished to a high standard. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, allowing them to express their individuality and feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out. Notably, this move was well managed and included detailed information sharing and a planning period in which the child was able to visit their new home and meet the people who would be supporting them. One professional said, ‘we do not usually receive so much information, support plans, strategies used, all staff have read and have been able to continue the provide the support [the child] requires which has helped them to settle’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection a new child visited the home in preparation for moving in. This move is being planned in detail and has provided a good opportunity for the child to meet their peers and staff and to complete fun activities before moving in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff prioritise children’s education. The manager identifies barriers to education and advocates for each child, sharing relevant information and planning to support each child in accessing appropriate education opportunities. As a result, each child has a suitable provision identified and planning for their transition into full-time education, in the upcoming school term, is underway.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs and emotional well-being are understood and promoted by staff. Staff work closely with children to ensure that any medical needs are recognised, and appropriate support is identified promptly. Where barriers to children’s appointment attendance or well-being are identified, the manager and staff work proactively with the wider network and make appropriate referrals to external agencies and support services. This ensures that children’s emerging physical and emotional needs are recognised and responded to in a timely way, so that children have the right support in place, at the right time. Inspection report children's home: 2870977 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

Staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities for children in their care. Children sometimes go missing from home. This is responded to appropriately by staff. However, not all serious events have been notified to Ofsted in line with regulatory requirements.

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

Risk assessments and protocols record actions for staff to take and staff follow these plans consistently. Assessments of risk and support plans are made in collaboration with the wider professional network and are regularly reviewed. Furthermore, the plans are appropriately balanced between keeping children safe and allowing them to take age- appropriate risks.

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

Staff use physical restraint appropriately and proportionately when necessary to safeguard children and others from harm. All incidents are recorded in detail, and the manager reviews every incident to evaluate whether the intervention was necessary and proportionate. Following an incident, staff ensure that the child has an opportunity to talk about and reflect on the incident. Staff also routinely debrief following incidents and any learning is taken and shared with the wider staff team.

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

Partnership working within the multi-agency network strengthens safeguarding practice. Information is shared promptly ensuring that care planning remains dynamic and reflects the children’s changing needs. This means that safeguarding partners maintain clear oversight of children’s experiences. One professional said, ‘I can't emphasise how much we appreciate the home and how they are supporting [the child]’.

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

Children know how to raise concerns or make a complaint when they are unhappy about their experiences. Staff listen to children and take their concerns seriously. The manager undertakes timely investigations and liaises with the local authority designated officer when this is required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are committed to improving standards of care for children. Managers have a detailed understanding of each child’s needs as they are involved in care planning from the outset. Leaders and managers have developed strong relationships with children and staff, ensuring effective guidance and support is available.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s oversight of the care provided to children is good. She reviews incidents and all care records, ensuring that standards of care continue to improve. However, external scrutiny from the independent visitor does not always support the manager effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff undertake safeguarding training alongside specific training in relation to the children’s individual needs and the providers preferred model of care. This means that staff feel confident in delivering consistent care to children. The manager has recognised that additional support is required for staff to complete online training in their working Inspection report children's home: 2870977 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

hours and as a result, has changed the induction process to allow appropriate time for this to be completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall staff are happy in their roles and say that they are well supported. One member of staff said, ‘I feel supported in my role and value being part of a team that is committed to the wellbeing, safety and development of the children in our care’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive support and guidance through regular team discussions and individual Supervision sessions. Staff supervision has recently been adapted to improve the quality of discussions and expand the ability for staff to reflect on their practice, however this is a new development and is not yet embedded. Inspection report children's home: 2870977 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 26 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

The independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent visitor suitably assesses each area progress and care provided to children and provide appropriate recommendations to improve the quality-of-care are documented. 26 November 2026

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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 children's home: 2870977 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Skylight 21 Homes Limited

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Inspector

Caroline Coop, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2870977 9 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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