Children's home run by Educare Support Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 1 Registered provider: Educare Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children from the ages of eight to 17 with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered at the same time as the home in August 2023.

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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: 2746279 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home, and they had been there since November 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress. They benefit from a calm, nurturing and positive environment in which staff respond in an emotionally warm and playful way. Staff know the child very well and advocate for them strongly. Staff think creatively to find solutions to any issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of family time and respond to this as part of the child’s care plan. Thoughtful introductions and relationship building take place before family time. Staff travelled long distances to ensure that the child spent time with family members over the Christmas period. A weekly report to the child’s parent ensures a positive and collaborative relationship. The child’s parent said, ‘All my worries and anxieties are eased by the weekly report. It’s always sent by the manager, and this is a promise that he made and kept.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experienced delays in accessing education due to their move to the home. The manager and staff were proactive in identifying alternative education and arranging for the child to attend an open day for an apprenticeship. The manager and staff ensured that the placing authority and virtual school were aware of funding for alternative provision. Staff organised a creative and realistic home-learning schedule with a particular focus on boxing classes, health and well-being, exercise and functional skills. One member of staff said, ‘I believe the support and change for the child have already exceeded the expectations of professionals. We have managed to support the child to not only engage with areas that posed as barriers before but in future thinking in regard to a career.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs were assessed and responded to quickly when they arrived at the home. There is strong cooperation with health professionals to ensure that the child receives good healthcare. This cooperation, alongside a focus on boxing and exercise with staff, has had a very positive effect on the child’s health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a weekly meeting to ensure that the child can share and contribute their views. Staff continuously seek the child’s feedback on different topics. Menus are planned weekly, and the child’s likes and dislikes are heard and acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child benefits from living in a very modern and spacious home. There is a large garage with a home gym, which has enabled the child to spend time exercising, which promotes their physical and mental health. Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 3

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

The child is well looked after by a safe and well-trained staff team. Recruitment checks are strong. Staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They are confident to raise concerns to keep children safe.

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

A small number of missing-from-care episodes have taken place. Staff are responsive and manage the situations well. Debriefs and missing-from-home chats are offered by staff and external professionals.

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

No physical interventions have taken place. Staff manage the child’s behaviour effectively through de-escalation. In-house training in physical intervention is comprehensive and ensures that staff are confident to use it when necessary.

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

At the time of this inspection, there were no reports of self-harm or bullying.

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

Highly detailed behaviour support plans guide staff in managing challenging behaviours. Risk assessments are comprehensive, clear for staff to understand and updated regularly. Staff are aware of the risks to the child both online and in the community. They take proactive steps to reduce these risks. Free time is discussed with external professionals, appropriately planned and risk assessed.

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

Rewards, natural consequences and restorative justice are used widely and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is appropriately experienced and working towards a relevant level 5 qualification. He is committed to developing a new staff team. The manager and staff are ambitious for the child and seek to provide the best possible care. They work creatively to ensure that the child makes good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have identified that the staffing arrangements need to be strengthened, and they have plans in place to achieve this. Staff feel invested in and supported to progress in their new roles regardless of their experience and learning needs. One staff member said, ‘Managers open the doorway to progression for any member of staff. They are caring, considerate and kind.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction programme is comprehensive for all staff. One member of staff said, ‘The induction was the best I have received while working in the care sector.’ A combination of online and face-to-face training, alongside team building and a Christmas lunch attended by the whole team and the child, has ensured an open and inclusive culture has been developed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular supervision sessions enable the staff to review and improve their childcare practice in a reflective and professionally curious way. There is a strong focus on staff well-being, work-life balance and identifying training needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 4 Staff are working towards a relevant level 3 qualification within the relevant timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two reports by the independent person were not undertaken within the required time frame The time spent at the home by the independent person is not clear in their reports. This does not provide clarity for the manager on the time spent at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some language written and used to describe the child and the home is not child- friendly. As a result, there are missed opportunities to ensure that language used is positive and caring. Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records relating to children are written in child-friendly language and that language used to describe children is caring. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person’s reports make clear the time spent on site, that an on-site visit takes place every month and that reports are submitted to Ofsted within reasonable timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2746279 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: The Gatehouse, 453 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG2 6EW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher O’Nions

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Inspector:

Emily Stevens, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 7 regulates 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:

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspector:

http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Inspector:

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

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