Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company that is owned and operated by a national charity. It is registered to provide care for up to 5 children with emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 5 children were living at the home. All children were spoken to during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/04/2025 Full Good 06/08/2024 Full Good 25/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children living in the home are making progress. Their moves into and on from the home are generally well planned. Staff support children to engage in education, develop independence and take part in activities that reflect their interests. Staff know the children well and spend meaningful time with them, enabling them to build trusting relationships. Children’s views are listened to and valued, and feedback from families and professionals consistently reflects the positive relationships and support provided by staff.

p.3

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers understand children’s needs and work effectively with other professionals. However, the group dynamics of children and staffing pressures have been a challenge. Management oversight of safer recruitment has not identified a shortfall in this area. The registered manager has implemented an improvement plan, resulting in progress being made. Team meetings and supervision sessions are being used effectively to develop staff practice, helping to drive continuous improvement and enhance outcomes for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 4 children have moved into the home and 4 have moved on. Two children also stayed at the home temporarily following a fire at a sister home. At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are well planned. The manager gathers information about children before they arrive and considers their individual needs, risks and compatibility with other children already living in the home. The manager shares key documentation and background information with the team before a child moves into the home. This supports staff to develop their understanding of the child and supports children to settle into the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between children and staff are warm and caring. Feedback from families and professionals is positive about the care children receive and the progress they make. Children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated. They are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and contribute to decisions about the home. Photos of children are displayed around the home, capturing their activities and celebrations. This creates a homely environment. In addition, staff record children’s day-to-day lives in a way that helps preserve memories and reflects each child’s individual journey.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children have experienced prolonged periods out of education. Staff work persistently to re-engage children in learning and identify educational provisions that meet their individual needs and learning styles. The manager works effectively with relevant professionals and is a strong advocate for children, ensuring they receive the support needed to access education. When children find it difficult to attend or remain Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 4 engaged, staff continue to provide encouragement and tailored support. As a result, some children have achieved qualifications and made positive progress towards employment.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and deputy manager are present and visible in the home. The trusting relationships they have built with children encourage them to seek support when difficulties arise. Staff help children develop the practical and emotional skills needed for adulthood, with tailored independence planning that reflects their individual needs, confidence and abilities. This supports children to develop valuable life skills before moving on. One child wrote to the manager and staff after leaving, thanking them for their support and recognising their persistence in helping them.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Changes in the staff team, including the use of agency staff, particularly at night, have affected the consistency of care at times. The home has experienced a challenging period due to the dynamics between children, which has contributed to an increase in incidents for some. At times, children have been negatively influenced by the behaviour of others. Staff have responded through mediation, key-work sessions and regular children’s meetings to address these issues and promote positive relationships.

p.4

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

Children have complex needs and may present significant risks, including going missing from home, self-harm and vulnerability to exploitation. Staff have a good understanding of each child’s individual risks and the experiences that may contribute to these behaviours. Risk management plans provide clear guidance on how to respond to and support children safely and include individual strategies that staff use to support the children. However, staff have not consistently adhered to these.

p.4

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

There have been periods where incidents increased for some children, including more missing-from-home incidents, behaviours that challenge and one child bringing alcohol into the home. The manager responded appropriately, working closely with relevant professionals, contacting local stores to raise awareness that the child is underage, and using key-work sessions to help the child understand the risks and impact on their health. Time was also spent exploring the child’s experiences, identifying triggers and developing alternative coping strategies. As a result, children are better able to understand the impact of their actions and share any worries.

p.4

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

When physical intervention is used, this is both appropriate and proportionate. Following an incident, staff speak to the child to check on their wellbeing and consider how they can be supported in future. Staff are also given opportunities to reflect on how they feel following an incident. All incidents are reviewed by managers to ensure that practice is appropriate.

p.4

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

Concerns about staff conduct, including allegations made by children, have been investigated thoroughly and in a timely way. These concerns are shared with relevant professionals in accordance with the home’s safeguarding policy. The manager reviews concerns as a whole rather than in isolation, enabling themes and patterns to be Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 5 identified. Learning from investigations has resulted in additional staff support measures being implemented, including learning circles, and has been used to improve practice.

p.4

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

The manager ensures children receive their allocated staffing levels. However, staff report that resources can become stretched when children go missing and staff are required to search for them. During these periods, support is provided by other homes to help maintain safe and effective care. Leaders are actively working to reduce the home’s reliance on the use of agency staff.

p.5

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

Safer recruitment checks are completed by the organisation’s recruitment team. However, management oversight of recruitment records has not always been thorough. On one occasion, an inaccuracy in a staff member’s dates of employment had not been identified. This shows a lack of attention to detail.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a qualified and experienced registered manager, supported by a dedicated deputy manager. As the manager prepares to leave her role, the deputy manager has been promoted to succeed her. Leaders have planned for this transition to help maintain continuity for children and staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children well and has a detailed understanding of their needs, risks and progress. She regularly reviews records and uses this information to inform assessments and care planning. External professionals are kept informed of significant events, emerging concerns and children’s progress. The manager’s review of the quality of care is thorough and supports the continued development of the service. As a result, she has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication with professionals is a strength of the home. Regular reports and detailed incident updates are shared, supporting effective multi-agency planning for children. As a result, the manager, social workers and other professionals are able to work together to make informed decisions and develop clear plans for children. Managers also maintain a child-centred approach to the reviewing of plans and assessments, ensuring that children are consulted and kept updated about any changes that affect them.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the responsible individual are strong advocates for children. They challenge other agencies when necessary to ensure that decisions are made in children’s best interests, holding professionals to account when this falls below their expectations.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel well supported by managers and recognise the opportunities available for progression within the team. The manager uses team meetings effectively to promote reflective practice and drive improvement, with records showing a significant improvement in capturing discussions, challenge and agreed actions. Staff supervision has improved and provides a structured opportunity for reflection and professional development. This reflects the manager’s commitment to continuous improvement and the ongoing development of staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

Staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in accordance with children’s individual risk assessments. 26 October 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. 26 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 7 (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that staff always use the therapeutic approach adopted by the home.

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.7

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: 1256367 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kathryn Scoltock

p.8

Inspector

Jibin Vakanil, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1256367 9 and inspects 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9