Children's Home run by Shalamar Children Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 1 Registered provider: Shalamar Children 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 provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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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: 23 September 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/12/2023 Full Good 02/08/2022 Full Good 23/09/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived at the home for over a year and is making some progress from their individual starting point. Overall, the risks for the child have reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to have fun, and they plan activities around the children’s interests. Children have enjoyed visits to safari parks, club nights and been to a beauty salon. This helps children to take part in activities and builds their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are listened to. Staff hold regular community meetings where children can discuss their wishes and views. Advocacy arrangements are in place for children when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop the skills needed for adulthood. Children are supported with budgeting, organising appointments and a range of household tasks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are being met. Children are registered with local health services, and staff have supported them to attend routine health appointments. Relevant referrals to health professionals support children with their emotional well-being. Because of this support, one child no longer requires mental health support from external services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their families in line with their care plans. The children benefit from friendships and time with friends. This helps children to sustain relationships with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard, providing a welcoming and homely environment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational progress is limited. Various alternative education options have been explored. However, the children spend an excessive length of time in their bedrooms. There is an inconsistent approach from staff to provide clear and predictable routines.

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

When children have struggled with their emotional well-being, staff have responded by providing reassurance and support. Children are supported by staff to explore and use positive coping mechanisms. This approach has helped episodes of self-harm to significantly reduce for children. One professional said, ‘There has been so much progress for [child’s name], particularly in the last few months; their emotional resilience and windows of tolerance have really increased.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 4 There have been some instances where children have gone missing from home. When this happens, staff attempt to locate the child, who is encouraged to return. Relevant professionals are contacted. When children return home, the staff welcome them and speak to them about the reason for their absence. As a result of these approaches, there has been a reduction in missing-from-home episodes. This has contributed to children

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

Behavioural incidents have significantly reduced since the last inspection. Staff use de- escalation strategies and have supported children to identify alternative strategies to manage their emotions. Children and staff are spoken to after incidents. Learning from these conversations is shared and implemented to better support children.

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

When there have been allegations against the staff, these have been taken seriously. The manager investigates them in consultation, and with advice from, external professionals. When learning has been identified, it has been addressed with staff. This helps staff to ensure that children are receiving safe care.

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

Physical intervention has been used on one occasion since the last inspection. This intervention was used pre-emptively. The child’s individual background and presentation were not properly considered by staff. This resulted in staff calling the police to assist with a behavioural incident.

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

Regular discussions are held to gain the views of children. However, these do not always explore topics associated with risks, such as safety in the community, the dangers of alcohol and stranger danger. This helps children to learn how to manage situations and keep themselves safe.

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

Children’s risk management and care plans are not detailed. Specific guidance for staff is not always included or reviewed. This limits the staff’s knowledge of how to provide children with consistent care that meets their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by a permanent and suitable manager. Leaders and managers are reflective and open to guidance on the areas for the home to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision sessions. They are used as a safe space for staff to talk about children’s needs. These sessions help the manager to support the staff to think about their own feelings and responses to children. This provides staff with the opportunity to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the manager. When there have been some concerns around staff practice, staff have been challenged effectively by the manager. This helps to ensure that staff practice is safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 5 Managers ensure that training is up to date and relevant. There is a comprehensive training package available for staff. This equips staff with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular team meetings. Team meetings are used to improve professional practice and provide clear guidance to staff in relation to children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has working relationships with the wider network of professionals. However, these have not always been used to provide good support and guidance when challenges and concerns have developed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s oversight of records has failed to identify poor recording, with many documents varying in quality. This limits the manager’s ability to identify potential patterns and trends to improve the quality of care offered to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 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

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 18 July 2025

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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

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. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)) 18 July 2025

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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

promotes their welfare. 18 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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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 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, 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. (Regulation 5 (b)(c)) 18 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand what key-work sessions are and what should be included. Key-work sessions should be meaningful with accurate records that demonstrate the voice of the child is being heard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person must ensure that staff follow guidance outlined in regulation 20 for the purposes of using methods of restraint: preventing injury to any person (including the child who is being restrained); preventing serious damage to the property of any person (including the child who is being restrained); or preventing a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.48) Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 8

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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: 2526435 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Shalamar Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 63a, Thames Industrial Estate, Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, Essex RM18 8RH

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Inspector

Naomi Starbuck, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2526435 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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