Homes2Inspire welcomed our Chief Operating Officer, Shelley Southon, for a two-day visit across Nottinghamshire on 9 – 10 October 2025, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to quality care and strong partnerships with local authorities.
Shelley’s visit began with a tour of Addison House, a six-bed children’s home in Nottingham City, followed by lunch at Rupert House, a three-bed home. Shelley then met some new recruits who were completing their Safe and Sound training as part of their induction at the new Mansfield office.
Later in the day, Shelley visited Autumn House, a two-bed home, meeting the team and two rabbits the young person had adopted. A key engagement included discussions with Beth Downing, Group Manager for Placements and Commissioning at Nottinghamshire County Council, and Councillor Penny Gowland, highlighting collaborative efforts under the new block contract launched on 1 October 2025.
The evening concluded with networking over dinner with members of H2I’s Senior Leadership Team discussing the challenges and opportunities in the area.
The second day featured visits to Layton House, where Paul from the Education Team joined discussions on academic progress, followed by tours of the Brambles and Lantern House, both Department for Education-funded homes and finally an impromptu visit to School House. These visits highlighted the dedication of the H2I teams in providing tailored support, care and education for the children and young people in our homes.
Achievements
- Strong Partnerships: Positive feedback from commissioners and social care teams on the new contract implementation.
- Education Success: Of 39 children placed with Nottinghamshire CC, 38 are in education or employment.
- Quality Assurance: Recent Ofsted ratings for the homes visited are Good with Brambles awaiting their inspection.
- Community Engagement: Conversations with local leaders reinforced shared goals for improving outcomes for children in care.
Challenges and Opportunities
Recruitment remains a challenge in certain areas, alongside managing complex referrals. However, H2I continues to demonstrate resilience through internal progression and proactive collaboration with commissioners.
Shelley’s quote at end of article:
“My visit to Nottinghamshire showcased the passion and dedication of our teams, the strength of our partnerships, and the fantastic progress being made across our homes. A huge thank you to Matthew Earnshaw for coordinating such a successful and insightful two days and to the H2I teams for welcoming me and showing me the great work you do each day!”
