Children's home run by EJ Childcare Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638783 1 Registered provider: EJ Childcare Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for one child who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 23 January 2024

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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: 2638783 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638783 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed into the home by staff who are sensitive to their needs. The staff meet each child before they move in and arrange visits for them to see where they will be moving to. The child’s voice is considered, and staff help them feel reassured and involved in the decision-making. Welcome packs containing information and items linked to the child’s interests help to ease confusing emotions during the move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff helped the child currently living in the home to access advocacy services when they felt their voice wasn’t heard. Consequently, the child was successful in challenging the placing authority so they could remain at the home until they felt ready to move. This gave the child a sense of control over their own future, increased their confidence and gave them time to practise the skills that they will need in adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has increased their school attendance and engagement. This is because the staff have liaised with the school and encouraged the child to attend. The manager arranged home tutoring, which then led to a local school placement being offered. The collaborative work between the home and school to support the child resulted in the child being able to sit their exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff ensure that the child has their physical and mental health needs met. The staff liaise with health services and encourage the child to attend their appointments. Because of this, the child has been able to develop strategies to manage their emotions and make informed decisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Time for children to spend with family and friends is actively promoted by staff, who understand the importance of these relationships. One of the child’s parents said that they now have a relationship with their child and feel part of their life. The child is able to invite their friends to visit the home and have sleepovers. This promotes a sense of inclusion among their friendship group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has not been able to build stable relationships with staff in the home. The whole staff team has moved on, and new staff have arrived during the child’s time at the home. Consequently, the child has not been able to form secure and trusting relationships with those who are caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is not appropriately clean, and there are several outstanding repairs. The child’s bedroom furniture does not match, and their blinds are fixed in the open position. The property had been empty for some time, and the manager did not ensure that this was addressed before another child moved into the home. This does not provide a suitably inviting home that helps children to feel valued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638783 4

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

A restorative approach and natural consequences are used to help the child learn how to manage their own emotions and behaviour. The staff promote resilience and help children to understand and solve their own problems. The child told the inspector, ‘I needed to learn, and now I think for myself.’ This shows that the child is developing self- awareness and self-control.

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

When children go missing from the home, the staff act quickly to ensure they are returned as safely as possible. The staff help children learn how to make informed choices that keep them safer. The manager evaluates information from return home interviews to learn from incidents to ensure that staff understand why children go missing. This helps to inform plans and strategies to minimise the number of times children go missing from home. This practice is successful in reducing missing-from- home episodes and the vulnerability of the child

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

The staff understand child’s needs and associated risks. Assessments and safety plans target those areas of concern that impact the child most. The work staff do with the child to address those concerns has had a positive impact over time and reduces the risks they face.

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

Fire safety equipment is kept behind a locked door and could not be accessed because the keys were with a member of staff who was not in the home. In the event of a fire, this equipment could be crucial in helping the child and staff to exit the building safely. This places the child and staff at risk of avoidable harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work well with professionals and agencies to promote positive outcomes for the child. The staff have taken direction from health professionals to create a safe and stable environment. The feedback from child and adolescent mental health service identifies this as the foundation of the work they have been able to undertake with the child. As a result, this work continues as the child prepares to move on to their next home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers provide effective supervision that supports staff in their role and reflects on the progress of the child. Supervision records are thorough, and actions are identified in line with staff roles and responsibilities. The conduct of staff and their performance is monitored closely, and any issues are addressed quickly and appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff ensure that information about the child is recorded with care and sensitivity. The documents are written to the child, who has access to them when they want. The child said, ‘There is no difference in how you speak about me even if I’ve been naughty.’ This demonstrates the manager and staff’s commitment to the therapeutic approach to caring for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638783 5 New employees are checked and vetted in line with safer recruitment practices. The staff undergo an appropriate induction and training programme. When new or emerging needs are identified, the staff undergo additional training to ensure they are suitable to care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monthly audit of the home does not include a thorough review of the child’s file. Documents that are important to the care of the child have not been received, and the manager has not identified this. As a result, it is not clear if the staff are working to the most up-to-date plans as agreed with the local authority or health professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638783 6

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)) 2 October 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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(d)(e)(h)) 2 October 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. It should be a homely, domestic environment. This should include the home being clean and well maintained. (‘Guide to The Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2638783 7

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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: 2638783 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: EJ Childcare Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: EJ Childcare Services Ltd, Foxhaven, Easington Road, Hartlepool TS24 9RE

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Inspector

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638783 9 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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