Children's home run by ERA Care Limited in Epping Forest

Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 1 SC462951 Registered provider: ERA Care 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 run by an independent provider. It provides care for up to three children aged between 11 and 18 with social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection and one child was spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Good 20/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2022 Full Good 17/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. Seven children have moved in since the last inspection and five children have moved on from the home. One child spoke to the inspector during this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are very comfortable in the company of the staff team and have built positive relationships with them. Children said that they can talk to staff if they are worried or upset. Positive, warm and nurturing interactions were observed between the children and the staff. These relationships have contributed to the progress that the children have made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in activities that they enjoy and are positive about these. One child has been to the seaside, attends a gym, goes horse riding and volunteers at a local farm. When asked if they would change anything about the home, one child said, ‘I wouldn’t change anything; they really care about you here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. They encourage children to persevere with their education. When children face challenges or setbacks in education the staff and manager proactively advocate for them. Staff also support children to develop age- appropriate independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and liking. However, one child’s bedroom had plates, cups, rubbish and clothes on the floor that remained there for two days. The inspector raised this on the first day of the inspection. However, this was not rectified until this was raised again on the second day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from professionals and families is positive. A social worker said communication is great and they [the staff] are quick to respond to any issues.’ A parent said, ‘I can’t thank them [the staff] enough for the care and support they provide for my child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When safe and appropriate, the staff work hard to ensure that when children see their families, this time is meaningful. This means that children can maintain links with those who are important to them.

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

Staff have undertaken the organisation’s safeguarding training. Staff are confident in their roles of reporting and escalating any child protection concerns and they understand the whistle-blowing policy.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children and risks posed to them. They are sensitive in how they approach and support children to identify and understand these Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 4 risks. External professionals said that they are happy with how their children are safeguarded and had no concerns with the staff’s response to safeguarding matters.

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

Missing-from-care incidents are managed well. There have been no allegations made against staff. One complaint made by a child has been responded to effectively in order to resolve the complaint.

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

Physical interventions are rare and generally are managed well. However, following interventions staff do not always receive debriefs. This limits the learning opportunities to prevent re-occurrences.

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

Generally, leaders and managers have ensured notifications are made to Ofsted when required. However, Ofsted were not notified of one safeguarding concern. This meant that Ofsted’s capacity to monitor safeguards was reduced on this occasion.

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

The children’s guide is child-friendly and gives children a sense of what it is like living at the home. The guide contains information to help children understand who to speak to if they are worried or if they need support outside of the home.

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

The children are protected by the organisation’s safe recruitment practices. Staff are assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of the children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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

Overall, staff do keep children safe, and they take action to ensure that children are protected. Wider professionals are positive about the care being provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager holds a relevant level 5 diploma and is a good role model for staff. The manager is supported by a competent and qualified deputy manager. The registered manager was present during this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations for the staff. The staff are happy and fulfilled in their roles. They benefit from regular, purposeful supervision sessions and annual appraisals. The staff feel listened to. Staff said that the best thing about working at the home is the access and availability of management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is energised. She speaks with commitment and dedication about the children. She is ambitious for children and has a good understanding of their needs. The staff are child centred and regularly spend quality time with the children. One child said that they would talk to the manager if they had any worries because they trust the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the manager is dissatisfied with the response from wider professionals, they advocate on behalf of children and challenge external agencies. This is reflected in the feedback from professionals. For example, a social worker said the manager is their child’s biggest advocate. The manager regularly consults with children, professionals and Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 5 parents. However, she has not ensured that the children’s most up-to-date local authority plan is held at the home for reference.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some staff hold a relevant qualification or are working towards this. However, there have been delays in some staff completing the qualification within the specified time frames.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective management systems are in place. Records are of a good standard and provide information about the care that is provided to the children. Regular audits take place, with actions to address any shortfalls or learning. Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 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

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 signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the 2 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 7 date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff obtain a relevant qualification within specified time frames.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. In particular, ensure that Ofsted are notified when there has been a serious incident at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)  The registered person should ensure children are provided with care that meets each child’s needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account the child’s previous experiences. In particular, ensure that children’s bedrooms are clean, well maintained and provide a safe and homely personal space. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)  The registered person should ‘seek to involve’ the placing authority that places a

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Recommendations

looked-after child in the home, which in practice means working primarily with their statutory social worker. In particular, ensure that there are no delays in obtaining updated care plans from the local authority after children’s care review meetings have taken place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.5)

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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: SC462951 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 3a, The Maltings, Station Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9JX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Francis Williams

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC462951 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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