Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in North NorthamptonshireOfsted inspection, 23 Sept 2026

Inspection report for children's home: 1278708 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited Full inspection 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 provider that has a working contract with Northampton Children’s Trust.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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

Dates of last inspection: 22 and 23 July 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: 1278708 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2025 Full Good 20/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/02/2024 Full Outstanding 13/03/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: 1278708 3

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Summary of findings

The child who lived in the home moved out in August 2026. The home is currently empty; leaders are considering requests for new children to be cared for. There were frequent incidents within the home at certain points in time. Managers have reflected transparently about this, as well as about their aims and vision, going forward. Managers have considered the importance of ensuring that this is the correct home when offering to provide care to any future children. Despite some difficulties, the child made some positive progress in their education and was able to enjoy varied and fun activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders within the home carefully considered the decision to end the child’s time at the home. They did not feel that this was the correct environment in which to keep the child safe on a long-term basis. Managers have reflected honestly and analytically about the factors that influenced this decision. The ending was thoughtful, caring and well managed for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite challenges, staff in the home reflected positively about the child’s progress, aims and ambitions. The child achieved excellent attendance at school and staff were proud of how well they had done. Furthermore, the child was able to attend a careers fair and made such a positive impression that they may be welcome to come back to the company as an intern in adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spoke about the child warmly, with compassion and positive regard. Staff cared for the child and clearly wanted an encouraging future for them. As a result of this approach, the child was able to engage in many trips and activities that they enjoyed. This was detailed in photo albums that the child was able to keep and take with them to remind them of some of the positive experiences they had.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers reflected transparently about the challenges and rewards they experienced with the child who has left. The incidents in the home reduced as time went on. However, the home is not large and, at times, needed high staffing ratios. This created a difficult environment for the child. Managers also reflected that the home’s location was not suitable given some of the risks that surrounded the child. Managers are already planning thoroughly with regard to this for any new children.

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

Shortly after the child’s arrival in the home, a court order was granted to restrict them of their liberty. Feedback from children’s social care about the home’s management of, and transition out of, this order was positive. It was commented that there were some Inspection report for children's home: 1278708 4 encouraging outcomes despite exceptionally difficult circumstances. Leaders have reflected well on the home’s environment and suitability to facilitate these restrictions. This will form an essential part of their transition planning for any new children.

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

When managing physical intervention, staff always used de-escalation first. The use of physical intervention was shared with local authorities and the child was spoken with afterwards. Staff were specific about details of the holds that were used, including the length of time that they were used for. Staff have completed the appropriate physical intervention training as part of their induction, and this is evidenced within their practices.

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

There were many instances of staff working to address challenging behaviour within the home. Staff attempted to engage the child in risk-reducing work, for example in a ‘keeping me safe driving agreement’ and the child having sight of risk reduction plans. Some decisions for the child were made on a case-by-case or dynamic basis. Leaders have reflected on and now understand the importance of these discussions being captured consistently for the benefit of the staff and safety of the child.

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

Allegations against staff were managed appropriately and on a joined-up basis. Managers consulted regularly with the local authority designated officer, on-call managers and children’s social care when overseeing allegations. Internal investigations were completed by independent managers, with learning for staff going forward. These investigations were robust and analytical. Not all discussions surrounding allegations were captured and recorded consistently. Managers in the home have reflected on this, and understand the importance of this for the safety of any children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is no current registered manager, although an application has been received by Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have reflected on some of the challenges and issues within the home and are aware of lessons learned. During a difficult incident with a child, unhelpful and aggravating language was used by a staff member. This was swiftly reflected upon; supervisions were held and the child was spoken with promptly. This is indicative of an emerging culture of reflection and analysis by leaders in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite challenging incidents, leaders and managers continually speak highly of the child. Although the home was not the correct environment for the child, leaders provided a careful, child-led and comprehensive transition into their new environment. This was well planned and child focused. As a result of this approach, the child is still in contact with the home and visits occasionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers in the home understand that the transition for the child into the home could have been more robustly planned for, particularly in terms of the home’s location and associated risks. They were reflective when considering that the experiences of the Inspection report for children's home: 1278708 5 child may have been different had this been considered more thoroughly. There have been detailed and thoughtful lessons learned about this. Managers feel confident that this can be managed safely when welcoming new children to the environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing retention has been an issue for this home. Managers have plans to stabilise the staff team through competency documents which give staff measurable and realistic goals to work towards. This will help to support their growing knowledge and confidence. This is with the aim of retaining a well-rounded and experienced staff team that will have a positive impact on the care provided to children. Inspection report for children's home: 1278708 6

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the home’s size, location and proximity to riskier areas in the community must be considered and mitigated against when considering any new child arriving. 27 November 2026

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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; 27 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1278708 7 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must always speak to children in a respectful way which is mindful of their experiences.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Any dynamic risk assessments should be explicitly recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that children are listened to and are enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Recording should reflect the full conversation of both the child and any subsequent manager discussions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)

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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: 1278708 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Black Country House, Rounds Green Road, Oldbury B69 2DG

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Inspector

Dan Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1278708 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 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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