Children's Home run by Westmont College Limited in Redbridge

Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 1 Registered provider: Westmont College Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023. This is the home’s first inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 2

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences vary in quality and there are some shortfalls in safeguarding practices and in some aspects of management monitoring and oversight.

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improvement to be good

The home has all the basic amenities, although it needs redecoration in the communal areas. The children’s bedrooms are in good condition. The children have helped to change their bedrooms to suit their individual tastes.

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improvement to be good

The home’s approach to behaviour management has been ineffective. Staff did not have the appropriate training to prevent an incident from escalating. This resulted in the police being called and a child’s placement coming to an immediate end.

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improvement to be good

Not all staff are confident in supporting children to understand what is acceptable and positive behaviour. Areas in the home had graffiti on the walls with explicit language for several days. This had to be brought to the staff and manager’s attention by the inspector during the inspection before it was finally removed. This limits the work the home is attempting to undertake with children to reduce and reflect on the use of inappropriate and explicit language in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to express their views and wishes in the home. Regular children’s meetings take place where children can talk about any worries they have.

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improvement to be good

However, one child does not feel confident that their views are being heard. This particularly relates to the current children living in the home, who are struggling to live together harmoniously.

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improvement to be good

Interactions between children and staff are positive. One child said that they liked everything about the home. Staff listen to children and explore their likes and interests. Children enjoy purposeful activities and leisure opportunities that help build their confidence and self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand children’s health needs and ensure that children receive specialist advice when necessary, including health services and the support of an in-house therapist. Children are enabled to engage in their healthcare plans and make progress.

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improvement to be good

Staff are undertaking regular key-work sessions with children. Records of these sessions are detailed and signed by the member of staff and the child. However, leaders and managers are not monitoring the impact of these sessions closely enough to identify any emerging themes and patterns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 3

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are not consistently robust. For example, the gaps in employment history were not explored for one staff member.

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improvement to be good

Staff were not trained to restrain children safely when required, when two children were first placed in the home, despite this being in the home’s statement of purpose. This led to an incident escalating and one child’s placement coming to an immediate and unplanned end. All staff have now undergone the necessary training.

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improvement to be good

There has been a failure to notify Ofsted of a serious event, when a child made an allegation against a member of staff. This limits the regulator’s ability to monitor the management response to incidents that may have placed children at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

The physical environment in the home has posed a hazard to the children. One child smashed his hand through an internal glass door, causing an injury to his hand, due to the internal door not having any safety glass or anti-shatter protection installed.

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improvement to be good

Missing-from-home incidents have significantly reduced for children living in the home. Managers and staff understand the home’s policy and guidance for safeguarding. Staff have access to safeguarding training as part of their induction period. Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing procedures and what to do when an allegation is made.

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improvement to be good

Children know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care. There are internet restrictions and safety features that staff use to keep children safe.

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good

The registered manager demonstrates a genuine commitment to the children in his care. He is creating a culture of high aspirations where staff strive to make a positive difference to children’s lives. There is a stable core staff team in place, providing children with a consistent level of care.

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good

Leaders and managers’ pre-admission risk and matching assessments require further development, to prevent the provider from accepting children whose needs cannot be met in the home. One child previously admitted to the home presented with needs beyond staff’s experience and knowledge.

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good

Management oversight is not robust enough to support the continuous improvement of the home. Leaders and managers are developing plans for the home. These include plans for monthly quality assurance audits, although they are not yet in place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 4 Leaders and managers have not ensured that an independent person has visited the home on a monthly basis since the home has been registered. This has limited the capacity to properly assess the strengths of the home and areas for development.

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good

Staff feel well supported by leaders and managers, who are available and approachable. Staff benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. Staff have access to regular training opportunities and this is helping them to carry out their roles. However, only two members of staff have a first-aid qualification.

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good

Leaders and managers work well with children’s networks and feedback from professionals and families is mostly positive. This results in a shared approach to providing the children with the support they need. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 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, 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) 4 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)) 4 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 4 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 4 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 4 March 2024

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child— 4 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 7 is instigated; or

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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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

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b)) 4 March 2024

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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: 2722575 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Westmont College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westmont College, 28-42 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BA

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Shakmuntazim Hussain

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Inspector

Harby Bashir, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 9 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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