Children's Home run by Rubycare Services Ltd in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2829276 1 Registered provider: Rubycare Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to three children with complex needs who require specialist support.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted when the home opened in May 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: 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: 2829276 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There was one child living at the home at the time of inspection. The child did not take part in the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s move into the home was carefully planned. Leaders and managers carried out a comprehensive matching assessment. This assessment reflected the child’s needs and explained how staff would meet them. Before the move, staff met with the child, and the child visited the home. This helped the child settle into the home and develop relationships with staff. The child was able to bring their pet cat with them. This has given the child comfort and a sense of stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the child well and speak warmly of them. They are proud of the child’s achievements. Staff have supported the child to ensure their cultural needs are met and celebrated. Before the child moved in, staff showed them local shops and how to purchase items that supported the child’s cultural needs and preferences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and regular routines for the child. Leaders and managers worked with the virtual school to secure an education provision for the child. They advocated for a tutor, as this was better suited to the child’s learning needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with primary healthcare services and attends routine appointments. When they moved in, there were concerns about their mental health. Leaders and managers arranged private therapy. As a result, the child has access to the specialist support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to the child’s wishes and feelings and act on their views. Staff emphasise rewarding positive behaviour and celebrating the child’s successes. Staff worked with the child to create an incentive system using rewards of their choice. As a result, the child has been able to attend important appointments and access the support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have created a homely and welcoming environment that helps the child to feel settled. The child experiences a sense of family life, rather than feeling they are in care. They have been involved in choosing how their bedroom is decorated and how other areas of the home should look. This helps the child to create a sense of belonging. The home is clean and tidy. However, there is no outside bin for household waste. Bags of rubbish left outside could attract animals and create an unhygienic environment.

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

Staff understand the child’s individual needs and risks. The child’s risk management plan is detailed and regularly updated by staff and managers. This gives the staff clear guidance to follow. As a result, risks are reduced, and incidents are well managed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2829276 3 Staff use de-escalation skills during incidents. They take the time to understand the child’s triggers and behaviours. Managers provide consistent and effective oversight of incidents. Debriefs take place with both staff and the child. Learning is used to improve practice and reduce the chance of the incident happening again. The social worker said that they are kept updated and that incident records are clear.

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

There have been occasions when staff have used physical intervention to reduce risks of harm. These have been necessary and used as a last resort. Records are clear, and managers have monitored these interventions with staff and the child.

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

Staff help the child learn about personal safety. They hold regular planned one-to-one sessions. These sessions cover topics such as healthy relationships and substance misuse. They also support the child to build coping skills and manage their emotions. As a result, the child is supported to make better decisions in daily life. This reduces incidents in the community and helps them build positive relationships with others.

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

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from home. The missing-from- home protocol does not provide the same level of detail as other risk assessments and behaviour support plans. Although the risk is low, staff need clear instructions that reflect the child’s individual needs.

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

Safe recruitment procedures are followed. Most required checks are completed for staff before they begin work. However, in one case, gaps in employment history were not explored. This means leaders and managers cannot be fully assured of the suitability of all staff working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably experienced and qualified manager. The manager takes pride in the achievements of both the child and staff. This supports a positive culture at the home. Both the manager and staff are aspirational for the child. They show high expectations and give positive support to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about working at the home. They feel well supported by leaders and managers and their contributions are valued. Staff are happy in their work and proud of this. Supervision sessions and team meetings confirm that staff are appreciated for the work they do. Staff said the team feels like a family. This positive and supportive culture helps staff to provide consistent, high-quality care. This benefits the child and encourages good well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions are detailed and reflective. Staff find these helpful and can request extra sessions if needed. Some staff have said that they do not always feel confident using physical intervention. In response, managers have arranged refresher training sessions to build their confidence. This helps to ensure that staff are prepared to act when necessary to keep the child safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2829276 4 All staff have received training relevant to the child’s needs. Before the child moved in, leaders and managers thought carefully about what training staff would need. This means staff have the right skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective care. As a result, the child receives consistent support that reflects their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. These meetings ensure that important information is shared consistently. Team meetings are child centred and give staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice and develop their skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals are positive about the support that staff provide. They said that staff share information consistently and that leaders and managers work well with other agencies. This helps to ensure that the child’s needs are met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2829276 5

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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. In particular, individual plans for children should be clear about what specific actions staff are to take when children are missing. These actions should be reflective of the child’s individual needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. In particular, ensure that household waste is stored in a safe, hygienic way when outside of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that as set out in regulations 31-33, the

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Recommendations

registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that during recruitment a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment is provided in writing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2829276 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rubycare Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 85 Lethe Grove, Colchester CO2 8RQ

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Inspector

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2829276 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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