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

Inspection report children’s home: SC462951 1 SC462951 Registered provider: ERA Care Limited 5921904 Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a small group of homes that are run by an independent provider. The home is registered to provide care for up to three children aged between 11 and 18 who cannot live with their own families, and require support and help in order to manage their emotions and behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection, the same three children have continued to live together at the home, and are benefiting from this stability and continuity. The children continue to make good progress. One child continues to engage with the education tutor who visits the home daily, which is an achievement for this child. The registered manager and the staff encourage the children to attend education and the children make some positive progress in this area. However, the team could go further towards understanding the barriers to ensuring that every child participates meaningfully in learning.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints or allegations about staff. The registered manager has made steady progress in advocating for children with other agencies to ensure that Inspection report children’s home: SC462951 2 children’s plans receive attention. Communication with the virtual school headteacher and the police is good. The registered manager works proactively to ensure that referrals made for structured mental health support are progressing. Feedback from placing local authorities is consistently positive about the experiences and progress made by their children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One of the children is preparing to leave the home. The approach to helping children to develop the required skills for leaving care helps children to a certain extent. One of the children has regular contact with the local authority personal advisor and receives money in hand at the beginning of the week to purchase food. However, written plans do not yet go far enough in demonstrating how staff engage with every child to achieve effective transitions to independence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is doing a good job. He has met the requirements that were set at the last inspection. The windows in the children’s bedrooms that were seen during this inspection have adequate coverage. One quality standard recommendation relating to the statement of purpose is repeated because the revised document has not been sent to Ofsted. This has no impact on children’s care or experiences.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are extremely supportive of the children, and ensure that the children see their families and friends. Time and consistency of approach enable the staff to build excellent relationships with the children. The registered manager’s highly creative solutions for managing behaviour help the children to make better choices. Children do not go missing. The intensity and the frequency of incidents in the home are reducing. Damage caused inside the property is repaired. The hallway was being painted on the day of this inspection. Good maintenance and presentation encourage the children to take pride in their home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Requires improvement

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the statement of purpose is developed and kept under review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) Include written information about promoting independence. Inspection report children’s home: SC462951 3  As the home will have a day-to-day understanding of young people’s capabilities and needs, children’s home’s staff will have a valuable contribution to make to the pathway-planning process. They should actively seek to make the fullest contribution, working with other relevant persons. For further information see ‘Children Act 1989: Transition to adulthood for care leavers’. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.28)  For some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it

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Recommendations

may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or education, health and care plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ERA Care Limited 5921904 Inspection report children’s home: SC462951 4 Registered provider address: Unit G22 Allen House, Station Road, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire CM21 9JX

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Inspector

Rosie Davie, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC462951 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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