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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 1 SC462951

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by an independent provider. It provides care for up to three children aged between 11 and 18 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since April 2022. A new manager is in post but has not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection date: 16 and 17 November 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and one child has moved on. At the time of this inspection, there was one child living at the home.

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The care of children

The child has begun to develop relationships with the staff. The staff have a good understanding of the child’s past traumas. The child said that he likes most of the staff, and he can talk to them if he is worried about anything.

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The care of children

The child is starting to engage in education. This is progress, as previously he had not attended education for some time. Attendance in education is sporadic, but staff work closely with the school to identify the barriers to learning to increase attendance.

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The care of children

Staff work with the social worker and the child’s family so that the child maintains relationships with people who are important to him. A grandparent said that the staff support visits. The grandparent said that they have daily communication with the staff and child and feel ‘part of his journey’.

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The care of children

Staff encourage the child to attend a local football club. He recently went on a trip with the club to Scotland, which he said he really enjoyed. He has also joined a basketball club in the local community.

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The care of children

Staff act on the child’s wishes. The child said that staff listen to him.

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The care of children

When damage occurs at the home, staff are quick to repair and redecorate. A member of staff said that this is because they want the child to have the best experience of living at the home, and the environment is an important part of this.

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The safety of children

Incidents of the child going missing from the home continue to be high. Staff work with the social worker and police to put strategies in place. The child’s grandparent said that staff do everything they can to keep the child safe. The social worker said that staff have ‘stickability’, and that the child is as safe living at the home as he would be anywhere.

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The safety of children

Return home interviews are completed and information is shared with the staff. The child said, ‘When I go missing, the staff are always pleased to see me when I come home and ask if I’m OK.’ This shows the child that staff worry about him when they do not know where he is and that they care about him. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 3 Clear, concise risk assessments guide the staff to keep the child as safe as they can. Staff are working with external professionals to understand patterns and triggers.

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The safety of children

The manager has referred allegations against staff to the local authority designated officer and social worker. The manager has informed the child of the outcome in writing, followed up with a key-work session to ensure that he understands and is happy with the outcome.

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The safety of children

Staff manage the child’s behaviour well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager cancelled his registration in April 2022. A new manager has since been appointed and is working with the previous registered manager. The new manager has not applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managerial monitoring has improved since the last inspection. However, the independent person’s reports are not always detailed enough to drive improvements, and the reports do not state whether children are safeguarded or that their welfare needs are being met. A new independent person is due to start visiting the home from November 2022.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff have undertaken the organisation’s mandatory training. They have a good understanding of safeguarding and who to report concerns to. The core staff have an appropriate level 3 or 5 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Partnership working between the managers and other professionals is effective. As a result, the managers and other professionals involved in the care of the child share information between them that enables them to work in the best interest of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say that they feel supported by the managers and that regular supervision sessions help them to work consistently with the child. The manager supervises agency staff who regularly work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers have met four of the requirements raised at the last inspection and one requirement is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2022 Full Good 17/12/2019 Full Good 07/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to 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 person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well- being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 19 December 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3a, The Maltings, Station Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9JX

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 7 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 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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Inspector

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