Children's Home run by Indigo Children’s Care Homes Limited in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children’s home: 2596906 1 Registered provider: Indigo Children’s Care Homes 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 four children aged between 10 and 17 years. The aim of the home is to support children who experience social and emotional difficulties because of their early life experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2596906 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2023 Full Good 12/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/02/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 16/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2596906 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience good levels of care. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. Staff ensured that this happened in a careful and considered manner. The child wrote a positive letter about their experience at the home. Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection. They are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to maintain the home and provide the children with a positive living environment. Senior management bring weekly magazines for the children to read, and children enjoy movie nights with staff as the home is equipped with satellite television.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their choices and identity. Children enjoy activities with staff and have visited theme parks and the cinema, but they mostly like to spend their time socially with their friends and family. One child is supported to bring their brother to the home, and they participate in activities together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are making excellent progress with their education and career planning. Both are undertaking their GCSEs and have plans for their future careers. One child has completed eight of their 11 planned exams. Staff empower the children to feel confident to apply for further education courses, supporting their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is not yet receiving a full education. The child has expressed their frustration and the manager and staff are working with the wider professional network, including the headteacher of the virtual school, to ensure that the child soon receives a suitable education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children get on well. They consider their peers their friends. Leaders and managers have considered the suitability of children and made good decisions to enable a positive group living environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built trusting relationships with staff. Children mostly feel listened to and their wishes and feelings are considered by staff when decisions are being made. When children are anxious about decisions, staff work well with them to help them manage their anxieties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child’s parent said, ‘Things are good and I’m pleased with how [name of child] is progressing at the home, the staff and management, it’s all good.’

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

Children are kept safe. All the children have a history of going missing from previous homes. When children stay out past curfew, staff take all necessary steps to ensure that they are safe by bringing them home safely. They involve outside agencies to provide support where necessary. Inspection report for children’s home: 2596906 4 Staff and the manager support children to develop ways to keep themselves safer. Consequently, missing-from-care episodes have reduced significantly.

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

Some children misuse substances. Staff work closely with outside agencies and make referrals for support, and they have conversations with the children about the risks to their health.

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

Children are supported when they are feeling low. Children who self-harm and express feelings of sadness and despair are offered warmth and reassurance by staff and are supported to meet with outside agencies. Staff are in tune with the children’s needs and take action to keep them safe.

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

Children are aware of how to raise concerns. All children can confidently name people they would approach if they felt they needed to make a complaint. Staff and the manager have created a culture where issues can be shared, and measures are put in place to keep everyone safe.

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

When children raise safeguarding concerns, leaders and managers act on these promptly and appropriately.

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

Staff manage risks to children effectively, and risk assessments are kept under review. Children are provided with opportunities to see their friends and go out socially. Safeguards are in place to promote healthy and safe relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023. Since then, they have made widespread improvements to the leadership. This has contributed to the significant progress in the effectiveness of the running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have the highest aspirations for the children’s education. Coming from a teaching background, the manager is passionate about supporting children to reach their potential and has challenged authorities to support the children’s rights. As a result of the excellent leadership in the home, children are completing many exams.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is innovative and always looking for ways to make further improvements that will make a difference for children. For example, he has implemented a recording tool, using a scale that enables the staff to work with the children to help them reflect on progress in their health, education, relationships, future planning and their independence skills. This has led to children being able to name feelings and emotions, which is excellent progress for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works exceptionally well with families and wider agencies, such as social workers and education professionals. This has significantly contributed to children’s experiences and progress. One education professional said, ‘I wish we could replicate what the manager has achieved at the home across the wider area.’ One parent said, Inspection report for children’s home: 2596906 5 ‘The manager often goes above and beyond for my child… I am more than satisfied with the care that’s delivered in the home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have worked extremely hard to maintain a consistent and dedicated staff team. Staff are experienced, suitably skilled and qualified. The manager also has high aspirations for the staff, supporting them with undertaking further qualifications and training. In addition, members of the staff team are given lead roles in areas such as medication, with advanced training provided to staff to upskill them in their areas of responsibility.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported by a committed manager and dedicated responsible individual to reflect on all areas of their practice. Supervision sessions and appraisals are carried out in a timely manner and are highly effective. When staff are struggling with areas of their role, the manager is quick to implement supportive strategies to reduce staff anxieties. One staff member said, ‘The manager has supported and encouraged me at all times and boosted my confidence and knowledge. I am extremely proud and happy to be part of the team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is creative and inclusive in his approach. He has introduced a system whereby children attend staff meetings. This conveys to the children how important their views and input are. The manager has introduced a measurable system to monitor children’s progress, which enables staff to meet with the children monthly to score and review their progress. These approaches enable a culture where children are comfortable to approach the manager to discuss their thoughts and opinions and share their concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager closely monitors and reviews documents to ensure that progress is captured for the children. Plans are child friendly and reflect where the children are currently. Risk assessments are updated to reflect the progress that children make, and the manager has conversations with the children to receive their feedback on this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2596906 6

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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: 2596906 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Indigo Children’s Care Homes Limited

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Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2596906 8 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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