Children's Home run by Educare Support Limited in Enfield

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 1 Registered provider: Educare Support Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home. The home provides care for up to five children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2021 and the manager registered in July 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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. The inspector 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: 2569345 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

Children’s needs are met well by the manager and staff. Staff encourage the children to lead healthy lifestyles, attend medical appointments, and follow recommended medical treatment plans. Staff ensure that children receive appropriate support, such as from the child and adolescent mental health service, to improve their mental health and well-being.

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The care of children

Children who are new to the home have settled in well. One child who has recently returned to live at the home is not consistently engaging with their education plans or with the staff. The manager has raised concerns about care planning with the placing authority and is collaborating with them to address this emerging pattern.

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The care of children

Children have good opportunities to share their views about the home and their experiences. Staff conduct individual key-work sessions regularly. Children rarely raise complaints and prefer to address any issues that arise directly with staff. One child said, ‘I can say anything I want.’

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The safety of children

Staff identify and understand the impact of the risks that children face. Risk assessments are detailed and relevant, and include strategies that help to reduce risks to children. Risks of self-harm and going missing from the home are managed well. However, staff do not consistently keep full and detailed records of all missing- from-home incidents.

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The safety of children

There has been one allegation made against a member of staff recently. Managers dealt with this appropriately and promptly. The communication with other professionals, such as the designated officer and allocated social worker, is regular and effective.

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The safety of children

Staff only use physical restraint when it is necessary to safeguard children and others. Following incidents of restraint, children receive good support, which enables them to reflect on their emotions. However, staff do not consistently keep full and detailed records of these incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager manages the home. The home has recently used agency staff from a placing authority. Staff and Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 3 managers report that these staff have regular catch-up sessions to monitor the quality of the care that they provide. However, records are not kept of these sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager and staff work effectively with children’s professional networks and parents. Managers raise concerns, where relevant, with the placing authority when agreed plans are no longer supporting the progress of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have successfully addressed most of the shortfalls raised at the last inspection. However, full and detailed records of room searches are not consistently kept, and this requirement has been restated. The local area risk assessment is yet to be updated. This recommendation is restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have started a programme of refurbishment to enhance the homeliness of the home. For example, they have replaced the flooring in the home and are due to refurbish the kitchen.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/07/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 4

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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 registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

if the child dies before attaining the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of the child’s death;

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Requirement Due date

in cases not falling within sub-paragraph (a), for 75 years from the child’s date of birth;

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to keeping full and detailed records of room searches in line with the home’s room search policy.

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 17 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that notes of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions in the form of ‘catch-ups’ are kept and that both the person giving the supervision/catch-up and staff member have a copy of the record. Specifically, this relates to ensuring that good records of the content of supervision/catch-up sessions are maintained for the purposes of staff development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that full and accurate records of restraint are kept. This should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records (regulation 36) are kept up to date. This refers to ensuring that full records are kept of missing-from-home incidents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Educare Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 453 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex IG2 6EW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher O’Nions

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Inspector

Jayshree Pillay, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 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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