Children's Home run by Heartwood RSW Ltd in Redbridge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461865 1 SC461865

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted on 8 November 2013. The current manager registered with Ofsted on 12 April 2025. The registered provider has appointed a new responsible individual and Ofsted is currently assessing their suitability.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Inspection date: 3 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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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: SC461865 2

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Findings from the inspection

This visit was conducted to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

The child said that they felt safe living at this home. They know how to make a complaint and can talk to staff and managers when they have concerns about their care. Staff are warm in their interactions with the child, and show appropriate understanding of the child’s life experiences and how these impact on their behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child to share their wishes and feelings through regular conversations. The child’s choices are reflected clearly through their care planning and staff are strong advocates on their behalf. Staff complete meaningful individual sessions that are focused on the child’s needs, previous experiences and worries. These sessions are sensitively recorded and reflect the child’s lived experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers work well with the child’s professional network. Feedback from the child’s independent reviewing officer is positive regarding the quality of care provided and the communication from staff. There is a shared approach from all professionals to provide the child with good-quality care and support.

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Findings from the inspection

The systems in place to review the quality of care provided to the child are effective. Leaders and managers show appropriate understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. They conduct regular audits to evaluate the quality of care and the child’s outcomes. They respond appropriately to external scrutiny, including the independent person’s reports and recommendations from their visits.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff update the child’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans when there are significant events or incidents affecting them. They identify appropriate strategies and further work to help keep the child safe, including individual sessions. However, the lone working risk assessment is not specific to the child in the home. It does not identify the specific strategies for potential situations such as the child leaving the home when only one person is working, or what staff should do if there is a medical emergency.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers report safeguarding concerns promptly to the relevant agencies and take effective action to ensure that the child is safeguarded. However, not all staff demonstrate good knowledge of the policies and procedures relating to the management of allegations against staff. Two staff members did not demonstrate adequate safeguarding knowledge and how to escalate concerns. This compromises safeguarding practice in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff say they feel well supported and have regular and effective supervision. They complete a range of relevant online and face-to-face training. New staff talk about a Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461865 3 robust induction programme that is regularly reviewed to ensure that all the required learning is completed and that learning needs are identified to support personal development. This helps to support positive practice and addresses poorer performance.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff show appropriate understanding of the child’s health needs. They support the child to attend all their routine health appointments and complete individual sessions to help them understand appropriate, healthy lifestyles. Specialist help and support are sought when necessary. However, staff have not yet received appropriate permission to administer non-prescription medication from a person with parental responsibility despite keeping it in the home for emergencies.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has met the requirement raised at the last inspection. One recommendation was not reviewed on this inspection and has been repeated. One requirement and a recommendation have been made as a result of this assurance inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461865 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2025 Full Good 26/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/08/2024 Full Inadequate 20/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461865 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that lone working risk assessments are sufficiently detailed, with clear strategies for staff to follow during emergencies to ensure that children receive the most appropriate care.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that all staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities when protecting children from harm. 25 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461865 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that supervision and team meetings take into account the progression, risks and views of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that permission is obtained before administering any non-prescribed medication from a person with parental responsibility. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.14) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461865 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9JX

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Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461865 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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