Children's home run by ERA Care Limited 5921904 in Epping Forest

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, the home was 'not judged' . The home continues to be registered with Ofsted and external monitoring has continued. However, the home has been closed for three months, which means that there have been no children living at the home since shortly after the last full inspection. The registered provider has indicated that the home will not be operational until September 2016. The provider is engaging positively with Ofsted and, should the home decide to accept placements, it is aware that it is required to inform Ofsted of its intention before it does so. One other regulation made at the last full inspection regarding the review of the quality of care continues. This has no direct impact for children. The provider has appointed a manager, which means that compliance is met. The registration process is under way and the new home’s manager is one of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

founding owners of the company. This means that he intends to demonstrate through management and leadership the service ethos and aims, as described in the home’s statement of purpose. The workforce development plan is being formulated, but is not yet complete. An assistant manager with relevant and good experience of delivering effective care to vulnerable children has been appointed. Interviews for new staff are taking place. This means that when the home does reopen there will be a full staff complement.

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Information about this children's home

This home is managed by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for four children, irrespective of gender, with behavioural or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/12/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the system provides for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 30/09/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Devise and implement a workforce plan that can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for each member of staff, to enable delivery of the home’s statement of purpose. It should detail the processes and agreed timescale for staff to receive induction, probation and any core training, and the process for managing and improving poor performance. It should also detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice for all staff performing care tasks, and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while

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Recommendations

working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of all staff. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection, we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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’. 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 the guidance, please telephone 0300123 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children 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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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