Children's Home run by Evolve Therapeutic Residential Services Limited in Kent

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 1 Registered provider: Evolve Therapeutic Residential Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in October 2024. A private provider owns and manages this home. It provides care for up to four children who have difficulties in managing their emotions and behaviour.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since February 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Inspection date: 21 July 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 21 July 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 2802269 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of the children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from positive and trusting relationships with staff, who support their well-being and development. Staff have a good understanding of each child’s background and individual needs, and are available and responsive to children. This approach helps the children feel valued and supported in their daily lives.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s views are actively sought and considered by staff in everyday routines and wider decision-making. This includes choices in relation to activities, the home environment, and how they would like staff to respond in specific situations. As a result, the children feel involved in their care and are supported to develop confidence in making decisions and problem-solving for themselves.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children are making good progress because of the care and support provided to them by staff. For one child in particular, progress has been especially notable. This child has experienced a sustained period of stability in the home, something they had previously struggled to achieve. This has also led to a reduction in the level of staff supervision required to help them stay safe, reflecting progress in the child’s ability to manage their emotions more effectively and safely.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have taken steps to create a homely environment for the children. The addition of personal touches throughout the home contributes towards this. The children’s bedrooms are personalised, reflecting their individual preferences and identities. However, some maintenance issues remain outstanding and have not been addressed in a timely manner. The provider has now appointed a designated maintenance person and has given assurance that a clear plan is in place to complete the necessary work.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the risks faced by the children and take appropriate action when safeguarding concerns arise. Where practice has fallen short, learning has been identified and concerns addressed. Staff are provided with agreed strategies to respond to behaviour, promoting consistency in their approach.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The management team has taken steps to strengthen the health and safety culture within the home. There is a clear emphasis on shared responsibility, with all staff actively contributing to routine weekly checks to maintain a safe environment for the children. The manager responded promptly to concerns regarding the condition of one of the doors of a car used to transport children. They suspended the use of the vehicle until the necessary repairs could be carried out.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Although staff have taken steps to address incidents of bullying between the children, their response has not yet been fully effective in helping one child feel safe. Further work is required to provide reassurance and ensure that the child’s emotional well-being is supported. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 3 A commissioned fire risk assessment identified several actions required to improve fire safety. These have either been completed or scheduled for completion. As a result of the assessment, staff now have a clear understanding of their responsibilities in the event of a fire. However, a fire evacuation drill was not completed following a new child moving into the home, meaning the child was not familiar with fire procedures.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There has been a change of manager since the last inspection. The newly appointed manager intentions to register with Ofsted. Several new staff members have also joined the team and staff speak positively about the skills and experience that new colleagues bring, reporting an increase in staff morale.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The staff have made significant improvements to the way incident records are completed and reviewed. Records are now more detailed, and consistently reflect the actions taken by staff. Managers regularly review records to identify patterns and ensure learning.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

There have also been clear improvements in developing systems to monitor the quality of care provided to the children. These developments are beginning to embed and are contributing to more consistent and effective practice.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Some progress has been made in addressing previously set requirements. However, others remain outstanding and have therefore been repeated. Additionally, two new requirements and one recommendation have been made as a result of this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.5

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.5

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”)—

p.5

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.5

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. 8 August 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 6 (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.6

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b) (5)) 8 August 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if— 8 August 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 7 the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(e)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 8 August 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(xi)(xii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the responsible person must ensure that children feel confident that any incidents of bullying are 29 August 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 8 responded to effectively, in order to promote their sense of safety within the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.8

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

p.8

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b)) 8 August 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that information and plans relating to the child’s history and care are up to date and kept on the child’s file. 8 August 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire.

p.8

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 22 July 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 9

p.8

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of children. The children’s home must comply with relevant health and safety legislations; however, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Evolve Therapeutic Residential Services Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor , Innovation House, Discovery Park, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9FF

p.10

Inspector

Kerry Howarth, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2802269 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11