Children's home run by ERA Care Limited in Epping Forest

This monitoring visit

The full inspection from 20 June 2016 resulted in a judgement of requires improvement. The reason for this visit is to monitor the progress and experiences of the children living in the home. Incidents of going missing continue and have increased. Both current children were not in the home for this inspection because they were with the police, for respective reasons. One child was in custody and due to attend court for breach of an order, which means that he is unlikely to be returned to the home. One child, refusing to return to the home following a period of going missing, has told the police that he may cause harm to himself if forced to return. The registered manager had been given notice on the placement by the placing local authority. As a result of this latest incident of going missing, the registered manager did not expect the child to return to the home. He contacted the placing local authority to say that the placement could not continue, recognising that the

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This monitoring visit

home could no longer meet this child’s complex emotional and mental health needs. On the same day, but following the conclusion of this visit, the registered manager contacted Ofsted to say that the child had returned to the home with a risk management plan and waking night arrangement. The result is that Ofsted continues to monitor the progress and experiences of this child. The registered manager and responsible individual are working to address some of the other regulations raised. For example, the registered manager is now fully aware of the details of the complaint made by one child. This means that he can address the issues. In addition, the manager is introducing a new format to record discussion from one-to-one session with children. This means that there is an improved system to help the managers to see the information that staff capture should children raise issues, for example, in relation to bullying.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements and recommendation made at the full inspection not looked at on the day of the visit, have been repeated. Ofsted will continue to monitor the service.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home is one of a small group run by the organisation. It provides care and support for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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

10: The health and well-being standard In order to meet the health and well-being standard, with specific reference to gender identity, the registered person must ensure that staff help each child to— (2)(a)(iv) understand and develop skills to promote the child's well-being. 31/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard In order to meet the positive relationships standard, with specific reference to incidents of bullying in the home, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(viii) strive to gain each child's respect and trust; (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. 31/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, with specific reference to risk assessments, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(i) actively 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. 31/08/2016 The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 31/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the requirements for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 are complied with in respect of the home, with specific reference to the frequency of fire drills. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 31/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must fully implement the home's policy for considering complaints made by children. (Regulation 39 (1)) 31/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI without delay if there is an incident relating to a child, which the registered person considers to be serious, specifically acts consistent with attempts of suicide. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 31/08/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that staff support children to try activities that are 'new' for them, where appropriate ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 31, paragraph 6.4).  Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, that the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 45, paragraph 9.30).  Ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on

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Recommendations

themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 46, paragraph 9.38).  Ensure that all staff receive supervision which allows them to reflect on their practice and the individual needs of the children assigned to their care ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2).

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. in the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about "Ofsted" which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234 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,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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