Children's Home run by Educare Support Limited in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for children’s home: 2808723 1 Registered provider: Educare Support Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children who experience behavioural and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager have been registered with Ofsted since November 2024. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2808723 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has built a positive relationship with staff. Staff have carefully considered how best to support the child. For example, the child is engaging in various activities in the community. This is helping them to make progress in relation to their social and emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have worked well to understand the child’s educational needs and have worked closely with relevant external agencies to ensure that the child has access to a suitable education placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of working in partnership with children’s families. Staff carefully plan family time so that the child has positive experiences with their family. A family member commented that staff have worked incredibly well with the child and that the child has ‘turned a corner’ in the short time they have been in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a robust risk assessment process to ensure that children’s moves into the home go as smoothly as possible. Before a child moves in, their needs are carefully assessed so that they have the support that they need to feel safe. The child is actively involved in formulating their care and support plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide consistent, reliable support that helps the child to understand the boundaries that exist to keep them safe. Staff are also supporting the child to learn how to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of promoting healthy eating. They have helped the child to develop a healthy meal plan that is practical and easy to manage. The child enjoys doing recreational activities that improve their health outcomes. They enjoy using the gymnasium equipment that has been installed in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are helping the child to learn important life skills, such as how to cook and how to maintain hygiene in the home environment. Staff provide opportunities to learn this through individual sessions and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a diverse staff team with embedded values and principles about treating everyone equally. Staff help the child to understand the importance of acceptance in the diverse community that they live in.

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

Staff carry out key-work sessions with the child, and these help to address their specific vulnerabilities. Risk assessments clearly describe to staff how to keep the child safe. Risk assessments are updated when the child’s needs change, and they show the child’s progress towards becoming increasingly safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808723 3 Staff respond proactively when the child goes missing from the home. Staff work collaboratively with external agencies to ensure that the child is returned home safely as soon as possible.

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

Staff are aware of the risks associated with child criminal exploitation and work with external agencies to ensure appropriate safety strategies are in place to protect the child.

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

Staff understand and implement effectively the plans that are in place to manage risks related to the child’s use of social media.

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

When the child is struggling to manage their emotions and is demonstrating this through their behaviour, staff make effective use of de-escalation techniques. As a result of the positive relationships enjoyed between the child and staff, physical restraint is not used.

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

Safer recruitment practices are understood and implemented by managers. All necessary checks are in place to ensure that children are protected from unsuitable people working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have received training that equips them to meet the needs of the child. This includes training that helps staff to understand the child’s attachment style and the impact this has on the child’s experiences. As a result, the child is being cared for by well-informed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have worked diligently to create a team of staff members who work well together. The result is a secure and supportive environment that promotes healthy relationships among adults and between adults and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager makes good use of team meetings to discuss the child’s progress. Additionally, the team considers whether any changes need to be made to the child’s plans and risk assessments to improve the child’s experiences. Staff are encouraged to be reflective about the support that they offer the child, and this helps them to understand the impact the quality of care is having on the child’s outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervisions in line with company policy. Supervisions are reflective and support staff to feel confident about working with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders and managers are not always involved in care-planning decisions made by the placing authority. Additionally, on one occasion, managers did not advocate for the child when a decision made by the placing authority was not in the child’s best interests. These shortfalls have not had a negative impact on the child’s safety and well- being but have the potential to do so. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808723 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they and their staff engage proactively with the placing authority to contribute fully to the relevant plans for the child’s care on an ongoing basis, including challenging (under Regulation 5(c)) any placing authority for a complete and current relevant plan. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraphs 11.3 and 11.5)

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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: 2808723 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Educare Support Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nielsens Chartered Accountants, 453 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG2 6EW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher O’Nions

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Inspector

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2808723 6 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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