Children's Home run by Elite Children's Care Group ltd in Bexley

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2657553 1 Registered provider: Elite Children’s Care Group Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private children’s home provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 8 February 2022. The registered manager post has been vacant since 26 April 2022. An application is in progress for the registration of the new manager.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection, and they spoke with an inspector.

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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(s) 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: 2657553 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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s social, emotional and health needs. Staff have helped the only child currently living at the home to settle. They have received training to meet the specific identity needs of the child.

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The care of children

Staff develop positive relationships with children. The child living at the home was able to name the staff they like, and inspectors observed positive engagement with staff. Staff acknowledge the challenges in working with traumatised children and can describe the progress that children make, however small.

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The care of children

Staff ensure that children’s wishes and feelings are ascertained, for example through key-work sessions and house meetings. Children’s views are sought by staff about activity planners, weekly menus and house rules, such as keeping their bedrooms tidy. The child currently living in the home has limited engagement with staff at times, but staff work to provide them with every opportunity to express their views, wishes and feelings.

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The care of children

Managers and staff have reflected on the quality of recent unplanned endings for children leaving the home. This resulted in managers and staff providing a positive transition for a child who recently moved to another setting, with good preparation of the child and effective liaison with the responsible authority and the new setting.

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The safety of children

Leaders and managers have addressed the shortfall in staff’s understanding of the risks for children. Staff know the risks for the current child living in the home and the strategies to use to reduce harm to the child.

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The safety of children

The child said that they feel safe. Their social worker has no current concerns regarding the safety of the child.

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The safety of children

The staff team has a wide range of knowledge, experience and confidence in responding to the needs of children who display challenging behaviour due to early adverse childhood experiences. However, although staff have had training on managing challenging behaviour, this was not evidenced by the provider or in training records during the inspection. Additionally, staff have not yet had face-to- face first aid training, which compromises the effectiveness of staff responses and potentially places children at risk. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2657553 3 Staff know what action they should take if children go missing from the home. Staff follow children if they leave the home without permission and encourage them to return. However, leaders and managers have not routinely contacted the responsible authority to request return home interviews for children when they do go missing. This is a missed opportunity for staff to take account of any information coming

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The safety of children

from the interviews that may help them to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have addressed the shortfalls in leadership and management that were identified at the last inspection. Progress has been made in relation to transitions for children from the home and ensuring that staff understand the risks for children and how to keep them safe. Management oversight has developed following a review of monitoring and audit processes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have been successful in recruiting more staff to provide an effective level of care to children. New staff receive a comprehensive induction and introduction to the home. Staff receive appropriate supervision and support to carry out their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers respond appropriately to address areas of concern relating to the care of children, such as the conduct of staff and working with responsible authorities and external agencies to ensure that children’s welfare is promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers value the role of Ofsted and the independent visitor in providing guidance in respect of improving the quality of care provided to children and adhering to the Children’s Homes Regulations and quality standards. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2657553 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2657553 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose provides accurate information about the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)  The registered person should ensure that all staff complete essential face-to-face training in first aid within reasonable timescales and demonstrate that staff have had training in managing challenging behaviour. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that when children go missing from the children’s home, the responsible authority offers the child a return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that all essential looked after children documents, such as care plans, are available on children’s files. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 10, paragraph 2.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2657553 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Elite Children’s Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor, 120 Baker Street, London W1U 6TU

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Inspectors

Colin Bent, Social Care Inspector Amena Begum, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2657553 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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