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 who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with two of the children.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are passionate in their care of children. They know the children well and tailor their support to meet each child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move into the home in a planned way. The registered manager considers the needs of the children who already live at the home before agreeing that a new child can move in. However, some children’s records do not hold all essential information when they first arrive. For example, due to delays in securing information, staff do not have access to children’s background information.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their starting points in their education. Staff support children to attend school. Staff ensure that they communicate with school staff and attend meetings. When children struggle to attend school, staff are there to help.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to learn life skills. For example, they have supported children in making their own GP appointments. Staff use reward tokens so that children can celebrate their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to stay in touch with their family, friends and other people who are important to them. When it is safe to do so, staff have advocated for children to help them to have more time with their friends and family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have strong relationships with the children and ensure that every child has positive experiences. However, records do not capture these relationships or memories. As a result, important events in the child’s life are not captured.

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

Children have detailed risk assessments, which staff are required to follow. These documents are updated regularly and discussed in daily handovers, monthly meetings and staff’s individual supervision sessions.

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

Staff understand the complex needs of the children. They are professionally curious. They explore triggers and ways to best support children during and after incidents. Staff manage boundaries by encouraging children to talk through difficulties as they occur. This promotes open communication and supports children to develop new ways of managing their emotions.

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

There has been no restrictive practice in the home. Children rarely go missing from home. When this occurs, staff and the manager take appropriate action to safeguard the child. This includes sharing essential information with the relevant local authorities and the police. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 4 Protocols for managing allegations are not fully understood by staff. This means that when a child makes an allegation, this is not always managed in line with agreed procedures. For example, on one occasion, the local authority designated officer was not informed in a timely manner so that an independent investigation could be carried out.

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

The home environment is well maintained and decorated to a high standard. Health and safety checks are routinely carried out.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the children well and is invested and committed in ensuring that high standards of care are maintained. The manager leads with warmth and empathy, which has a positive influence on the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the registered manager. They comment that she is supportive. The manager creates an open culture in the home. As a result, staff morale is high, and they enjoy their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision sessions and team meetings. However, there is a shortfall in the development plan on processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve their induction and probation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager supports all staff to achieve their level 3 diploma in residential childcare. Staff receive a range of training that helps to inform their practice. However, there are some gaps in training. For example, not all staff have received training in understanding autism or child exploitation. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to informing the local authority designated officer. 26 August 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they support staff to acquire the skills and experience to enable them to actively support each child. Specifically, they should ensure that all staff understand and can meet each child’s needs by receiving training in understanding autism and child exploitation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce- related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction and probation and include the process for managing and improving poor performance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent

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Recommendations

a significant contribution to their life history. Staff should keep and encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them to record significant life events. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 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: 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

Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 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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