Children's home run by Essen Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 1 Registered provider: Essen Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022 when the home registered.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The overall quality of care and the impact on children’s progress and experiences are good. The quality of care provided to children has supported them to make measurable progress since moving into the home. One child, who has experienced several moves, is now settled and feels a sense of permanence and belonging, which has led to them wanting to remain living in the home until adulthood. Children told the inspector that they feel safe and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by suitably skilled, nurturing and caring staff who help them to develop their independence and social skills. Children’s individual plans reflect their needs and desired outcomes. Children’s interests are actively pursued by staff, so children have opportunities to participate and engage in a range of activities outside of the home. Staff attend children’s reviews and share information about their progress to inform their care plans. A placing authority said, ‘The staff update the social work team accordingly and are readily available for discussions and meetings.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Ambitious and responsive staff work collaboratively to ensure that children reach their potential. This has helped children to secure further education placements. Some children who previously struggled to attend healthcare appointments have been encouraged to attend and now attend on a regular basis. Personal healthcare is commissioned for children when there are long waiting lists, so children do not have to wait for treatment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed trusting, purposeful and meaningful relationships with managers and staff. This helps children to share their concerns and worries, which supports them to feel less frustrated and has reduced the likely impact of this on their behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff providing clear, consistent and appropriate boundaries and routines that are relevant to the children’s needs. This ensures that children feel safe and live in a stable and secure environment that reduces feelings of uncertainty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s weekly meetings and key-work sessions provide opportunities for children to influence their plans and decisions about their care. Key-work sessions also support children to understand what safe and acceptable behaviour is. This helps to reduce consequences for children, such as losing their privileges.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is actively encouraged and facilitated. This is supervised by staff if required to promote family time in a safe environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have created a calm, welcoming and homely environment that is furnished and maintained to a high standard. Children are provided with a small allowance to Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 4 personalise their bedrooms.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children receive effective help and support from staff who understand their vulnerabilities and needs. Children feel safe in the home and have individualised risk assessments that are updated to reflect emerging risk and need. Children also have activity risk assessments when they access events and activities in their community. This encourages autonomy and independence skills and promotes safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have individual behaviour management plans that clearly record their vulnerabilities and the potential impact on their behaviour. Staff understand children’s triggers and work effectively to reduce behaviours through effective and appropriate intervention strategies.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All staff are trained in restraint techniques, and restraint will only be considered to protect the child and others from harm. Since living in the home, none of the children have been restrained. A restorative approach through key-work sessions is preferred to address any conflict.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All incidents and debriefs provided to staff and children are recorded. However, Ofsted has not always been informed in a timely manner of serious incidents in line with requirements. Positive behaviour is encouraged through rewards of vouchers for children, in addition to their pocket money. Children know how to make a complaint. An independent advocacy service is available for children; however, this is not widely known to children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are supported by relevant professionals to reduce risk and need. For example, a prevention officer has helped a child to reduce potential risks associated with behaviour that might be harmful to others.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand child protection and whistle-blowing policies and who they need to speak with should they have concerns. This includes referrals to the local authority designated officer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are effective in providing good-quality help, protection and support to children living in the home. Staff are supported by an efficient and skilled registered manager who is responsive to feedback from the independent visitor to improve services.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aspirational for all the children and ensures high standards of care. The responsible individual and manager have a vision for the service and work collaboratively to develop their ambitious plans for the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the children well and understands their vulnerabilities and the progress that they are making to achieve their potential. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 5 Leaders have created a nurturing calm environment so children can flourish and feel cared for and safe. This is reflected in the progress that children have made. Children told the inspector they like living in a calm home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment processes are robust and in line with safe recruitment processes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a comprehensive induction and development programme to ensure that they meet the needs of the children living in the home. This includes specific training to meet children’s needs, such as training on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers provide staff with regular supervision that presents opportunities for staff to reflect on their work with children and receive feedback on their progress. Career progression is supported through providing training and leadership opportunities for staff to develop into their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who were spoken to during the inspection described leaders and managers as very helpful, approachable and always available to provide support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 6

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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, The 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 31 August 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are supported to understand what support is available through the independent advocacy service. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 10, Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 0NE

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Inspector

Nicki Shaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 8 and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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