Children's Home run by Westmont College Limited in Redbridge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 1 Registered provider: Westmount College Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 17 June 2024. A new manager is in place and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector did not meet with the child during this inspection.

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Inspection date: 5 February 2025

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: 2722575 2

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. 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

Leadership and management have been unsettled. The home has not had a registered manager in place since June 2024, and the interim manager left the home in December. A member of the staff team is now managing the home. There is currently no deputy manager in post. The responsible individual, who is also the director, will be working at the home three days a week for the next month. He was not present at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff team is stable and agency staff are not used. Children’s case records reflect their everyday lives and are well recorded. Risk assessments for the child currently living at the home are detailed and have been updated following incidents of concern.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have struggled to build a positive relationship with the child. The behavioural support plan for the child is not effective and expectations about behaviour are not clear. Staff have not established clear and consistent boundaries. On several occasions, the police have been called to manage incidents of concern. Furthermore, staff have not been able to support the child to engage with them, or with other professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s overall progress and experiences are limited. The child is not in school. A tutor visits the home one day a week but the child does not always engage. The child visits their place of worship with staff but does not spend any time with their peer group. The child is reluctant to attend house meetings. Staff seek alternative ways to engage them in sharing their views, wishes and feelings about the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The plan for the child was unclear at the time of this assurance inspection. Leaders and managers gave notice on the child’s placement in December, but at the time of this inspection there was no plan for them to move on. Important meetings such as looked after child reviews and personal education plan meetings have not taken place. There has been drift in planning and lots of uncertainty for the child. The manager recently contacted the local authority to request a meeting to discuss the child’s care plan. However, leaders and managers have not escalated their concerns effectively, or in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are being supported by a consultant. The consultant is mentoring the new manager and has attended a recent team meeting to offer support to the team. The leadership team takes on board the recommendations made by the independent person, who completes monthly visits to the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s physical environment is safe for children. Recent improvements have been made. Further updates to the home’s decor would improve the living Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 3 environment for children. The belongings of one of the children who left the home before Christmas remain in their bedroom, and the room has not been cleaned.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have improved the home’s recruitment procedures to ensure that staff are suitably vetted.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirement made at the last full inspection has been reinstated. Three recommendations have been met. Two additional requirements have been raised at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2024 Full Good 30/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that incidents are reviewed and that staff have the opportunity to reflect on their practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 10 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role,

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Requirement Due date

challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; 10 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 6 and seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that meetings take place when required, that there is clear planning for children and that they escalate concerns to placing authorities.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, 10 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 7 sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (ix)(x)(xi)(xii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff are skilled and able to build positive relationships with children.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children and is decorated and furnished to provide a nice and comfortable place for children to live in. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Westmount College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westmont College, 28 - 42 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BA

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 9 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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Inspector

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