Children's Home run by Essex County Council in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 1 SC044975

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Registered provider: Essex County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties. It provides a solo placement for one child and shared provision for up to four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2025.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged to be inadequate at the last full inspection on 6 August 2025. Following the inspection, Ofsted served a restriction of accommodation notice and two compliance notices in relation to the help and protection of children and the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of the visit was to monitor the restriction of accommodation and establish the provider’s progress in meeting the steps set out in the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit identified that the provider has taken insufficient action to meet all the steps set out in the two compliance notices, and they have been restated.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation. No children have moved into the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out. This was an unplanned ending as staff could no longer meet the child’s needs. Staff supported the agency in taking over the child’s care for a week while the child was in hospital.

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This monitoring visit

Individual risk assessments are now in place for children. These assessments outline known risks for the children, and the actions staff should take to reduce them. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 2 Leaders and managers review these plans on a weekly basis with the home’s clinical specialist team and team leaders. Regular reviews enable emerging risks to be identified promptly.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers share children’s plans with staff by email and by keeping physical copies in the office. However, there is no follow-up to ensure that staff have read them or understood the actions they must take. This lack of oversight means leaders and managers cannot be assured that staff understand the children’s needs or know what to do to keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to review and monitor incidents effectively. Oversight is brief and lacks reflection or professional curiosity. Follow-up actions for staff are not given to address concerns or reduce the risk of further incidents. The lack of detail in reviews means that the additional support children need is not identified. As a result, learning opportunities are missed and chances to improve staff practice are lost. Children may not receive the support they require, and this may also put their safety at risk.

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This monitoring visit

Supervision sessions remain inconsistent. The line management of team leaders has been divided by senior managers in the home. Staff said they have found this helpful. However, gaps remain in supervision sessions for several members of staff. As a result, this means that staff do not receive regular feedback on their practice or have the opportunity to share their experiences.

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This monitoring visit

There are still areas of damage to the home that were present prior to the last inspection. One child requires additional storage for their belongings to help keep their room clean and tidy. This has not been actioned. The child’s bed is also broken and has not been repaired. The damage and lack of appropriate furniture make these areas of the home look untidy. This does not model what good care and living standards should look like.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have now notified Ofsted of serious incidents. However, these notifications are very brief. They do not provide sufficient detail about the incidents or the actions taken by staff. This limits the effectiveness of Ofsted’s oversight of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have updated the home’s statement of purpose. This reflects the changes in the home’s aims, and the children care is being provided for. Changes to staffing and management have also been reflected. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/08/2025 Full Inadequate 15/10/2024 Full Good 05/12/2023 Full Good 25/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 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 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii) (b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff understand the risks to the children, taking into account their risk assessments, and that effective action is taken to reduce these risks;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that outstanding repairs to the home are carried out; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children’s bedrooms are furnished suitably and well maintained. 24 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 5 *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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must:

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Requirement Due date

review records to ensure that there is a full and accurate record, and that any issues relating to staff practice or issues within the home environment are identified, rectified and followed up with the staff concerned; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all staff receive the support and supervision that they need, in line with the organisation’s policy, to ensure that they are equipped and able to provide safe and effective care. 24 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include sufficient details of the event itself and the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Essex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH

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Inspector

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC044975 8 regulates and inspects 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 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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