Children's Home run by Personal Security Service Limited in Essex

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 1 Registered provider: Personal Security Service Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by a private organisation, provides care for up to four children. The aim of the home is to provide children with a safe, stable, happy and comfortable home, and to enable children to build on their confidence, self-esteem and resilience as they progress into adult life.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the organisation in May 2023. An interim manager has been in post since June 2024 and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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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. The inspector has 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: 1258658 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

There is one child living at the home, who has recently moved in. Two children have moved to other residential homes that were better suited to their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

This child has experienced a challenging start. The child moved suddenly from their last home, and has found it hard to settle at the home. The child experiences changes in their mental health and this affects their behaviour. At times, the child wants to cause self-injury. Staff have started to build a positive rapport, which has led to the child feeling safer. The staff have conversations with the child and use humour well. The child’s incidents of self-harm are less frequent and serious.

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Findings from the inspection

Staffing ratios are high, and the local authority recently attained a deprivation of liberty order. Staff understand this well and know when it is appropriate to use it. Staff are committed to the child and clearly care about them.

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Findings from the inspection

There is an education package in place tailored to the child’s needs. The staff support the child to attend education. Staff offer a range of activities to the child but they are not always motivated to take part. Staff are creatively trying to find ways to engage the child in activities. The child is interested in the moon, and as a result, the staff bought a telescope. Leaders and managers have talked about investing in a better telescope as a positive incentive plan. The child loves animals. Staff are working with them to consider the pets that they may be able to have at the home and how this would work.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s plans identify strategies on keeping them safe and what their triggers may be. Managers and staff are aware that sometimes the child can be very unpredictable.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is looking into further training for staff. This is to help them confidently manage the child’s needs and mental health challenges.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has undergone a lot of maintenance and feels much more homely. However, there is a bedroom upstairs that has some writing on the wall and needs to be painted. Additionally, the shed windows need to be replaced.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a new manager in post since the last inspection. She has worked hard to implement positive changes. These can be seen in the day-to-day running of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager challenges staff practice when necessary. She can identify the strengths and weaknesses in the team and is addressing these. She is open to learning and wants to continue to improve the children’s experience. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 3 The manager has undertaken meetings with the staff team in order to reflect on their practice. This began after two children moved out of the home, and was done in order to look at what they could have done better. These accounts were open and honest and show a willingness to learn.

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Findings from the inspection

The feedback received by the manager from staff and professionals was very good. Everyone noted the positive change over the last few months since she has been in post. One social worker said, ‘I need to commend how good she has been; she is very committed to my child.’

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has notified Ofsted of significant events, but these have not always been made within the required timeframes.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has met all the requirements that were raised at the last inspection. One recommendation has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/08/2023 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. In particular, the wall in the upstairs bedroom needs to painted and the windows replaced in the garden shed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Personal Security Service Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Laser Quay, Culpeper close, Kent ME2 4HU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Frederik Booysen

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Inspector

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 7 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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