Children's Home run by Care2rise Ltd in Redbridge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2734276 1 Registered provider: Care2Rise Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 these inspections, 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: 2734276 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

Leaders and managers have responded well to the outcome of the last inspection. They have implemented an action plan to address the requirements and recommendations made.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left the home. A new manager has been managing the home since 5 June 2024 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has recently left the home, and no children have moved in since the last inspection. Both children are settled in the home. Children have trusted relationships with staff who care for them. Staff know the children well and are responsive to their needs. Children said that they are happy at the home. Professionals working with the children said that staff know the children and understand their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children take part in activities that they enjoy. Children enjoyed a holiday during the summer break, and one child went away with the army cadets to summer camp. The home environment is warm. Children play music and are relaxed in the presence of staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s learning outcomes are improving. Staff help children who do not attend school to engage in online education. If online education is not suitable, staff support children to attend tutoring at the local library. One child now wants to attend school and the new manager is advocating for this to happen. Another child has recently taken GCSE exams and has a place at college.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have been ensuring that consequences and rewards are recorded. The recordings log the reasons for, and duration of, any consequences. Consequences involve supported spending. In key-working sessions, staff discuss incidents that have meant consequences are in place, and children’s views are captured in these moments. This means that children are part of the process and understand the reasons for the consequences .

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have revised the children’s risk assessments since the last inspection. Risk assessments are now colour coded, which helps staff and children to quickly understand the risks. Some risk assessments do not record new risks to children and need to be updated to ensure that there are clear plans for staff to follow.

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Findings from the inspection

Missing-from-home incidents continue to decrease. However, the staff do not consistently follow the protocols when children are missing from the home. For example, return home interviews are not always undertaken, and leaders, managers Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2734276 3 and staff do not follow up with the placing authorities. This was a shortfall raised at the last inspection and the recommendation is restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are positive about the leadership changes made since the last inspection. They said that the team is developing and there is more transparency. Staff said that there are clearer boundaries for children, which make expectations clearer for both children and staff. Staff noted positive support from leaders and managers, which has boosted their confidence and the team’s ability to improve the care they provide to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Recently, leaders and managers began making changes to meet staff’s supervision needs. A new system has been implemented to ensure that supervision corresponds with the expectations in the statement of purpose. Despite this new system being in place, shortfalls were still present. As a result, some staff lacked consistent supervision.

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Findings from the inspection

Two out of three requirements raised at the last inspection have been met, along with two recommendations. Two recommendations from the last inspection were not reviewed at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2734276 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2734276 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 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from harm. Leaders and managers must ensure that all incidents and risks to children are thoroughly evaluated when updating risk assessments and that staff have a clear understanding of the risk levels and strategies to manage identified risks. 23 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2734276 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they are maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, the registered person should ensure that international police checks are undertaken where appropriate and ensure the validity of references. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing or away from home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. The registered person should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s procedures take into account the views of the appropriate local services and have regard to police and local authority protocols for responding to missing persons incidents in the area where the home is located. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.29) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2734276 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 118a Barking Road, Royal Victoria Docks, London E16 1EN

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Josh Harrison-Dring,

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Inspector

Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2734276 8 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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