Children's Home run by Next Chapter Care Group Limited in Havering

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751095 1 Registered provider: Next Chapter Care Group

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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 five children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

No children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager were registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

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Information about this inspection

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: 2751095 2

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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. Leaders and managers have made progress on the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is warm and welcoming and presents a family atmosphere that helps children to settle. There are no children currently living at the home, but plans are well underway for a child to move in. All required information has been requested from the placing authority, ensuring that the child’s needs can be assessed effectively. Care and consideration have been given to preparing the child for the move. The child has been able to visit the home and to meet the staff in advance. They have also been able to choose their bedroom. The senior leadership team has decided not to accept any further children in the home until good practice is embedded, to ensure that a high standard of care is achieved and maintained.

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Findings from the inspection

Although there are no children currently living at the home, records show that children who have recently left the home had good routines that encouraged their engagement in activities and educational pursuits.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments have improved and now include all known risks and vulnerabilities that the children face. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to safeguard children. There is learning from previous incidents, and staff training has been aligned accordingly. Leaders and managers recognise that training needs to be consistent and that previous records have not always been kept up to date.

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Findings from the inspection

A new responsible individual has recently been appointed and has developed an action plan that includes updating training for staff. Staff have recently received face-to-face training in medication administration, and a new medication audit process has been introduced.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are making good progress in improving their monitoring systems. A quality assurance lead has been appointed, who regularly reviews records and ensures that they are up to date.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have recently introduced a new record management system and staff are being trained in its use. However, children’s records have not been consistently updated, including risk assessment records for one child. This could lead to staff not having access to current and important information about children and could impact on their ability to support children effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

Requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have largely been addressed. However, the behaviour management plans lack guidance for staff to help them to understand children’s personalities and what actions may cause them Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751095 3 to become distressed. The strategies within the plan are not sufficiently developed to support staff in encouraging positive behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been recent changes to the management team. Despite this, staff feel supported by the team and have not been significantly impacted by these changes.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have increased the frequency of supervision for staff to promote the embedding of good practice. However, supervision is not sufficiently reflective and the progress of children is not consistently discussed. This is a missed opportunity to promote child-centred care and ensure that staff are well supported in their roles. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751095 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751095 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, they should ensure that all behaviour support plans include triggers to children’s behaviours and individual vulnerabilities, and the strategies to support each child. 30 January 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all supervision takes into account action points set at the end of supervision sessions, and review these actions before the next supervision session takes place. The registered person should ensure that supervision is reflective and reviews the progress of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751095 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Chapter Care Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Carlton Terrance, Great Cambridge, Edmonton N18 1LB

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Inspector

Angela Reid, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2751095 7 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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