Children's Home run by Next Generation Care Essex Ltd in Essex

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2726013 1 Registered provider: Next Generation Care Essex Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a small organisation and provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. One child is currently placed at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2726013 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this inspection one child was living at the home. This child was spoken to during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has positive relationships with staff. Staff show a keen interest in the child’s hobbies and interests, such as horse riding, paddle boarding and ice skating. The child seeks out the staff to share details of their day and is comfortable expressing their views and feelings. Staff respond to the child with emotional warmth.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection the child has been enrolled with a local school. The child has already chosen their career path. To help the child achieve their wishes staff have found them a volunteering role at a local horse stable and helped the child to join the police cadets.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff prioritise their time to talk and listen to the child. The child responds well to staff approaches and said, ‘The staff talk to me but not too much which is just how I like it’. This approach is clearly recorded in the child’s plans and has helped the child to talk openly about how they feel.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is consistently involved in making decisions about their activities and experiences. The child is involved in planning their week. This helps them with routine and reduces their anxiety. Staff spend time talking with the child and helping them to make healthy decisions. As a result, the child has started taking their medication more routinely which has helped with their mental health.

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Findings from the inspection

The child talked positively about the support that they have received from staff. The child has competed targeted on-line courses to learn about how to keep safe. Staff spend quality time with the child to help them talk and learn about safety. The child said that they feel safe living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is well decorated, spacious and comfortable. All internal CCTV cameras have been removed since the last inspection. The manager advocated for their removal with the child’s social worker, and this was agreed because of the progress the child has made in keeping themselves safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities and how to respond. This is helped by the child being involved in writing their own safety plan. In the child’s own words, this information helps staff identify when the child feels low, what will help and what will make things worse. Staff consistently follow this plan, and this has contributed to the child becoming safer. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2726013 3 There has been one physical intervention since the last inspection. This was used as a last resort to keep the child safe. There was good management oversight. The child and staff were debriefed after the incident. This helped the child talk about their experience and staff to consider alternative options.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has not left the home without permission. Despite this, there are clear plans in place if the child chose to leave. When the child is in the community, they require high levels of staff support to keep them safe. Staff sensitively balance the support required and the child’s need for independence meaning the child enjoys going out with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Quality assurance and monitoring systems have been reviewed. Additional areas of practice have been included that focus on improving the progress and experiences of the child. The manager and responsible individual both spoke positively about the difference this has made to their oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager holds regular supervision and team meetings with staff. The manager uses these meetings to improve the quality of care and ensure staff understand what is expected of them. As a result, there have been improvements in how staff consistently make certain the environment is safe for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff continue to undertake the organisations mandatory training. Staff complete child specific training to help them further understand the complex needs of the child. Staff are either qualified to or working towards the relevant level 3 qualification in timescales. Staff who would like to advance their career in management are also offered the opportunity to undertake the level 5 qualification.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help the child to learn through the use of consequences. While the manager has evaluated the effectiveness of staff’s actions, this is not always completed within the agreed timescales. This was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff record the child’s experiences daily. However, some of the language used to describe the child are child blaming. This means if the child chooses to read their file, they may feel a sense of shame and guilt. This was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has taken action to comply with five requirements and one recommendation. One requirement and one recommendation have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2726013 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2726013 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, 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

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 September

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that information about the child is always recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.3) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2726013 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Next Generation Care Essex Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 1 Newlands End, Laindon, Essex, United Kingdom SS15 6DU

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Inspector

Mandy Start, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2726013 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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