Children's home run by Cocoon Children Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 1 Registered provider: Cocoon Children Services Ltd

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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 is registered to provide care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were no children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was subject to a restriction of accommodation following a monitoring visit on 11 December 2024. This meant that no child or young person could be accommodated at the children’s home unless the child or young person was living there at the time the notice was served. This was imposed because inspectors found significant concerns Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 2 about the conditions of the children’s home and the safeguarding practice of managers. Following a monitoring visit on 10 February 2025, managers demonstrated sufficient improvements and the restriction was removed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the monitoring visit, which was carried out by Ofsted in February 2025, two children have moved into the home and three children have moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have benefited from the stability and routine provided by staff, even during short stays. The children speak to staff about their challenges, and staff provide appropriate advice and support. One child was helped to overcome differences with their foster carer before returning to live with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is promoted by staff. The children have been involved in education that is appropriate to their needs and circumstances. Staff facilitated transport out of the local area to ensure that one child was able to maintain their school placement, while another child was helped to complete home learning while they were briefly away from school. Staff creatively supplemented one child’s alternative provision with education activities outside of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to learn important life skills. The children have learned to cook, clean their bedrooms and do their own laundry. One child has also made significant progress in looking after their own self-care needs. As a result, their confidence and self- esteem have improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to have enjoyable experiences and are encouraged to participate in hobbies and clubs. For example, the children have been to zoos, theme parks and horse riding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage the children’s moves into the home well. They help the children to settle in quickly and provide sensitive care to ensure that the children have the support they need, especially when moving in urgent circumstances. Managers fully consider the training and skills of staff before agreeing to the children moving in. This means that the children are helped by staff who can meet their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the children move on from the home, this is thoughtfully planned by staff in consultation with the children and important people in their lives. Staff continue to maintain appropriate contact with the children once they have left, demonstrating the strong relationships that the children have built.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and know how to report any concerns within the organisation. They know the process, including how to report to partner agencies when needed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 5 Staff understand the risks that using the internet may pose for the children. They take reasonable steps to reduce risks for the children when they speak to others online. They talk to the children about these issues and work with them to help them understand the risks.

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improvement to be good

When the children experience feelings that lead them to harm themselves, staff are skilled at responding sensitively. They work with other professionals, such as a consultant psychotherapist, to ensure that the children’s plans are regularly reviewed. This means that the children receive appropriate care. Staff work with the children to find strategies that work for them. This has led to a recent reduction in self-harm for one child.

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improvement to be good

When the children make allegations of harm against staff, managers take appropriate action to keep the children safe. The manager works with other safeguarding professionals and external agencies to investigate concerns. However, records of allegations do not clearly demonstrate the actions taken to protect the children or the managers’ rationale for their decisions following investigations into staff practice.

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improvement to be good

When the children are missing from home, staff respond quickly to ensure that the children return safely. They take action to notify other agencies, such as the police, and help to locate the children to bring them home. When the children return, staff seek to understand the child’s motivations so that they can try to prevent recurrence. However, plans that guide staff practice have not been updated to include useful information and changes to the children’s details. The effect of this is minimised by a consistent staff team who are familiar with their responsibilities.

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improvement to be good

The managers’ safer recruitment practice is not yet robust. They have not always obtained complete references or sought to confirm the reasons why some staff have left roles with children or vulnerable adults. On one occasion, managers were unable to obtain a valid overseas police check prior to one member of staff starting work. The manager has not assessed the risk for the children while the member of staff provided care to them.

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improvement to be good

Staff only restrain the children when necessary to keep themselves and others safe. However, on some occasions, the manager has not spoken to staff or the children about the use of restraint. This means that the manager has missed opportunities to identify further learning and seek the views of the children about their experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate about delivering quality care to the children and is ambitious about the progress that the children can make. The manager has a good understanding of the current strengths and challenges in the home and have plans to further improve monitoring systems. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 6 The manager clearly understands the progress that the children have made. Families say that the manager knows the children well, even when they have only lived in the home for short periods.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the training and skills to meet the needs of the children they accommodate. The manager has recently provided enhanced training, which has improved the skills and knowledge of staff. Staff speak confidently about how this training has improved their relationships with the children and helped them to reduce risks for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides regular supervision for staff and use this as an opportunity to check on staff welfare. Staff say that supervision is reflective and meaningful. Staff feel well supported by managers. As a result, staff retention has improved, which improves the consistency of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promptly notifies Ofsted and other relevant professionals when a serious event occurs. The manager and staff work collaboratively with partner agencies to enhance the children’s opportunities and outcomes. Feedback from them about the home is complimentary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Health and safety matters are, generally, well managed by staff. The children live in a safe environment. However, one child’s bedroom contained damaged furniture and had not recently been cleaned. Action was taken during the inspection to rectify the issues identified. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 7

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(b) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that records of allegations against staff clearly demonstrate how children have been protected following the allegation and the actions that are taken to investigate concerns. Records should demonstrate when managers have engaged with partner agencies and their rationale for decisions made following investigations. 30 June 2025

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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 spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(b)(i)(c)) 30 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission, and how staff should support the child on return to the home. These plans should be kept up to date and regularly reviewed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. The manager should ensure that all relevant checks and any required risk assessments on new staff are fully carried out and well documented. (‘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 damaged furniture is promptly replaced, and that staff establish routines for children’s bedrooms to be cleaned regularly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

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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: 2730667 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cocoon Children Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Astra Close, Hornchurch RM12 5NJ

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Inspector

Glen Strowbridge, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2730667 10 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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