Children's Home run by Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited in Hounslow

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 1 SC409851

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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 children’s home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2010. The manager registered in July 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke with one of them.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged to be inadequate at the full inspection on 19 and 20 August 2025, resulting in three compliance notices being issued under The Children’s Homes Regulations (England) 2015. These related to Regulation 10 (the health and well- being standard), Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard), and Regulation 32 (fitness of workers). In addition, a notice restricting accommodation was issued to limit the number of children who can live in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to assess the progress made in meeting the requirements of the compliance notices. While there is some evidence of improvement, the steps taken to-date are insufficient in demonstrating that the compliance notices have been met. As a result, all three compliance notices have been reissued. A further monitoring visit will be carried out to review continued progress.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has been compliant with the restriction notice restricting accommodation. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 2 Leaders and managers have taken some positive steps to improve the quality of care. They have sought advice from a range of health professionals, including a general practitioner, nurse and occupational therapist, to better understand and respond to a child’s complex health needs. This has had a positive impact on the child’s well-being. However, the absence of a written care plan means there is no clear guidance for staff to follow. Consequently, the consistency and continuity of care cannot be assured, particularly in the absence of managers.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received training intended to help them support children in understanding routines and boundaries. However, this has not yet resulted in improvements in practice. Staff continue to lack the confidence and skills to work effectively with children when they find it difficult to follow routines or understand direction. There remains a significant gap in training around how to respond to children’s distressed behaviours and how to support children safely when they become upset or struggle to manage their emotions. As a result, staff are not consistently able to provide safe and consistent care, limiting children’s opportunities to develop essential personal and social skills.

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This monitoring visit

Supervision arrangements are in place; however, records lack sufficient detail. In most cases, there are no clear action plans to support staff development or monitor progress. This is a missed opportunity to promote improvement in staff performance and practice.

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This monitoring visit

Risks remain due to unsafe recruitment practices. Leaders and managers have not taken effective action to ensure that all staff are appropriately vetted before working in the home. For example, recruitment records for a staff member employed after the last inspection do not include any references. This undermines efforts to ensure that staff in the home are safe and suitable to provide care to children.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of the mealtime experience has improved for the children. Staff now eat alongside the children, modelling positive social behaviours and encouraging engagement. The variety and quality of food provided have also improved, including better availability of fresh fruits and vegetables. One child, who previously struggled with buying food from shops, is now being supported by staff to order ingredients online. This has increased the child’s interest in food preparation and cooking and has had a positive impact on their engagement and confidence. As a result, this part of the requirement has been met.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have improved the timeliness and accuracy of notifications submitted to the regulator. In one instance, managers worked effectively with external professionals to support a child facing legal challenges. This collaborative approach has ensured that the child receives appropriate advice and support. As a result, this requirement has been met.

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This monitoring visit

Despite some improvements, leaders and managers have not implemented effective systems to monitor the quality of care provided to the child living in the home. The Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 3 new record-keeping system remains unimplemented, and management oversight continues to be weak. Consequently, several shortfalls identified at the previous inspection persist. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/08/2025 Full Inadequate 17/04/2024 Full Good 13/06/2023 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 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 with the given timescales.

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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.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(c)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that when considering new children moving into the home, they are satisfied that the staff can respond effectively to the child’s needs. Leaders and managers must ensure that they keep children’s care plans under regular review. 14 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

*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

promotes their welfare. 9 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that experienced and skilled staff are recruited and retained to provide stable and consistent care for children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must have effective monitoring and reviewing systems to ensure that they review the quality of care provided to children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must improve the quality and organisation of children’s records so that they provide a clear and accurate account of children’s needs, experiences and progress so that children can reflect meaningfully on their time in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 7 Leaders and managers must clarify the roles and responsibilities of the registered individual and the registered manager to ensure consistent and accountable leadership.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they promote an inclusive and respectful culture.

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Requirement Due date

*The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being. Children with specific health needs must be supported to manage these needs subject to their age and understanding and along with effective care plans.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders, managers and staff must work with children’s placing authority and relevant health professionals to enable proper and immediate access to any specialist medical support required. 9 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 8 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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 located so that children are effectively safeguarded;

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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)(ii)(v)(vi)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must review the impact of unrestricted Wi-Fi access on children’s routines, safety, well-being and sleep, and ensure that boundaries support healthy development. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff are skilled and able to support children to learn how to keep themselves safe and manage behaviour effectively. 14 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 14 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 9 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; 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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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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)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must improve the quality of the home environment so that it provides a welcoming, safe and nurturing space for children. This includes maintaining children’s bedrooms, including those that are vacant, so that they are suitably furnished and maintained to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 9 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 10 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that safer recruitment practices are in place that meet the requirements of regulation.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. 14 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 11 (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff have an induction to the home, a probation process and training to equip them for their role. Staff must receive regular, good-quality supervision, annual appraisals and opportunities to develop their practice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that there are satisfactory employment conditions that are supportive of staff in order to provide consistency for children.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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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: SC409851 12

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Inspector

Thobekile Bandama, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 13 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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