Children's Home run by Eden Children Services Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2825137 1 Registered provider: Eden Children Service Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in March 2025 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2025 and holds a leadership and management qualification at level 5.

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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: 2825137 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from well-planned, personalised care that addresses their needs effectively and contributes to changes and improvements in their lives. Children have made good progress from their starting points in relation to their education and social development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager understands the importance of carefully considering the needs of new children moving into the home alongside children already in residence. However, one child’s impact risk assessment contains inaccurate information and fails to include the views of the staff and the other children currently living at the home. This means that the needs of all children are not considered before they move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of education for children’s futures. They actively encourage children to engage in their education and continue to do so even when children are reluctant. As a result, they support children in their education and provide them with every opportunity to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have clear health plans and are registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. Children understand the importance of good health and are encouraged by staff to attend physical and psychological health appointments. Medication is stored safely, and arrangements for the administration and recording of medication ensure that children receive their prescribed medication safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to stay in touch with their families. Staff work with families to keep them involved in their children’s care. This helps the children to have a sense of belonging and enables them to have positive experiences and maintain links to significant people in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff carry out key-work sessions to help review children’s needs and areas of risk. These sessions give children the opportunity to reflect on their behaviours and discuss any concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that the home is generally maintained to a good standard. Overall, the home provides children with a pleasant and welcoming place to live. However, one child’s bedroom is extremely untidy, with dirty plates and empty packets and bottles on the floor. This shortfall detracts from children having a homely environment to live in and enjoy.

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

Individualised risk management plans are in place for each child. These plans help the staff safeguard the children by identifying their risks and vulnerabilities and setting out strategies to minimise them. Plans are reviewed and updated as required. Inspection report for children’s home: 2825137 3 The manager ensures that staff comply with locally agreed protocols for children who go missing. When children go missing, staff liaise with the police and keep detailed records of actions taken and appropriate individuals contacted. Children have access to an independent person to speak to when they return. This provides information that may help in preventing them from going missing again.

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

Staff are trained in the appropriate use of physical restraint but only ever use this as a last resort, preferring to use de-escalation techniques. Staff have not used any restraints since the home opened, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.

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

When appointing staff, the manager follows safer recruitment practice guidelines. This means that only those deemed suitable are allowed to work with children at the home.

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

Regular health and safety checks, along with routine equipment servicing, ensure that the home is kept safe for children, staff and visitors. Staff are trained in fire safety procedures, and they ensure that children participate in fire evacuation drills so that they understand how to leave the home safely in the event of an emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. He is well supported by a team of staff who report feeling supported in their roles and share his commitment to improving children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not ensured that the independent person’s reports have been submitted to Ofsted. This does not provide Ofsted with a current view of the home’s operations and arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have good access to training opportunities to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the diverse needs of the children in their care. All staff are qualified or are working towards a level 3 diploma in residential childcare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are well attended and occur monthly. They cover topics that are relevant to the current issues arising at the home. They are used as a development opportunity for the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have formed positive relationships with a range of agencies, including police, teachers and social workers. This collaborative approach ensures that children’s diverse needs are fully met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2825137 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the environment in one child’s bedroom. 9 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to impact risk assessments and includes consultation with others as part of the assessment process. 9 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— 9 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2825137 5 if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that independent visitor reports are submitted to Ofsted.

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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: 2825137 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Eden Children Service Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 85 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7LT

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2825137 7 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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