Children's Home run by Leighview Children's Care Limited in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Registered provider: Leighview Children’s Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home offers care for up to three children who have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 20 May 2025 at the same time the home opened.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspection started on 11 November 2025. The inspector returned on 24 November 2025 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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inadequate

Since the home opened, two children have moved into the home. Both children were present during the inspection and spent time with inspectors. Following Ofsted’s initial inspection, one child moved on as the placing authority felt that staff could no longer meet their needs safely.

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inadequate

There are significant failures in the leadership and management of the home. Shortfalls in leaders and managers’ decision-making, monitoring and oversight of care, combined with poor safeguarding practice, have increased the risk of harm to children. This has resulted in an overall judgement of inadequate.

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inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that planning arrangements for children moving into the home are suitable. Assessments lack depth and do not adequately evaluate whether staff can meet the individual and combined needs of children. There is also a failure to assess locality risks in relation to children’s specific vulnerabilities. This poor planning has contributed to staff being unable to provide effective care.

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inadequate

Staff and managers lack the necessary skills to engage effectively with children, obtain their views and respond appropriately. Weekly feedback sessions are not monitored by leaders and managers, and staff provide limited support to help children express themselves. Furthermore, one child does not have access to an independent advocate. The manager failed to challenge the absence of advocacy in accordance with the child’s entitlements.

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inadequate

Leaders and managers used external closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring in the garden to manage an emerging risk for a child without obtaining the necessary consent from social workers. They did not review the effect of this measure on children’s privacy. This monitoring was removed during the inspection.

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inadequate

Areas of the home are well decorated. However, some areas are sparse and lack resources to support children’s stimulation. Furthermore, damage to the walls and utility cabinets has not been repaired promptly. These issues detract from what is otherwise a welcoming environment.

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inadequate

Staff support children’s health needs, including accompanying them to primary healthcare appointments and making referrals to specialist teams to support a child’s substance misuse. Children who have previously experienced difficulties and gaps in their education have been supported to establish positive routines and receive home tutoring. Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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inadequate

Children have been supported to participate in a range of activities that meet their interests and hobbies.

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

Leaders and managers compile detailed risk management plans. However, the monitoring and review of the guidance set out for staff has been poor. Staff have not consistently followed agreed strategies to respond to a child’s substance misuse. Other strategies have been ineffective. Consequently, one child’s vulnerability to exploitation has increased.

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

During the inspection, a child raised several concerns and allegations of harm against staff. The child felt that staff would not address these concerns. Leaders and managers responded appropriately in line with safeguarding procedures. A referral was made to the local authority designated officer (LADO), and investigations are currently underway.

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

On one occasion, leaders and managers did not follow safeguarding procedures when responding to an allegation of harm. Although a referral to the LADO was completed, leaders and managers investigated and concluded staff practice concerns without receiving external guidance. This could potentially hinder the effectiveness of multi-agency responses and the reliability of the resulting investigation.

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

Staff do not have an effective understanding of the home’s safeguarding policy in respect of reporting practice concerns against the manager. These failings mean there is potential for staff to use incorrect routes to report safeguarding concerns.

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

There have been several incidents of a child going missing from the home. In most instances, staff responded appropriately. However, on some occasions, it is unclear to what extent staff searched for the child. Leaders and managers’ monitoring has not identified this shortfall. Furthermore, when the child returned, an independent return interview has not always been offered. Leaders and managers have not challenged the placing authority to undertake these important interviews to gain a better understanding of any safeguarding risks associated with the child going missing.

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

Leaders and managers’ monitoring of health and safety arrangements is generally appropriate. Daily checks are completed. However, during the inspection, a fire escape route was found to be locked, and not all staff had access to a key. Leaders and managers acted immediately by removing the lock, recognising that this posed a risk to children and staff in the event of a fire.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is working towards an appropriate qualification and is supported by a deputy manager and the responsible individual. The manager oversees care in another home within the organisation and is overstretched. Consequently, effective oversight of this home has been significantly reduced. Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures in the leadership and management of this home. Leaders and managers have not complied with the home’s conditions of registration. The needs of the child currently living at the home fall outside the agreed conditions set at registration. There are significant shortfalls in the assessment of staff’s skills to manage the combined needs of children and in the decision-making in relation to the arrangements for care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Although some training has been completed by staff, leaders and managers have not ensured that all staff have the necessary skills to meet the individual needs of children. There have been delays in staff receiving training aligned with the home’s model of care. Further gaps have been identified in training related to children’s alternative communication methods. Staff do not consistently demonstrate the depth of knowledge required to support structured learning and the development of communication skills for children with disabilities. Training gaps in supporting sensory integration and managing risks associated with children’s online safety have also been identified. Given the general inexperience of the staff team, this training is essential to enable them to provide effective care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers’ monitoring systems are weak. Internal monitoring has not identified gaps in staff’s recorded response to a child who was missing from home. There has been limited review of the effectiveness of strategies outlined in children’s risk management plans. One staff member’s Disclosure and Barring Service check was not adequately verified before they were deployed, which increases the potential of unsuitable people working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision of their practice. However, the quality of staff supervision is poor. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure there is appropriate review and reflection of children’s needs and staff’s continuous development. Furthermore, during a crucial period following the home’s registration, the manager received unsuitable support and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have completed internal placement plans that are detailed and identify children’s individual routines and preferences. However, important planning documents from placing authorities have not been obtained or considered. The manager has not escalated their concern in respect to delays in receiving these documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Professional feedback is mainly positive. Although social workers acknowledge that some individual staff practice has been poor, they also recognise that staff have responded appropriately to emerging risks and challenging circumstances. Social workers said that support for children’s routines and education has been a strength in the care provided. Both social workers and a police constable confirmed that communication with staff and the manager has been effective.

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 5 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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 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

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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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

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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff attend effective training in alternative communication approaches, sensory integration and managing online safety. Leaders and managers must also ensure that all staff complete all playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy (PACE) modules in accordance with staff’s training plans and the model of support adopted at the home. 7 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must review completed incident records and ensure that any gaps or issues relating to staff’s practice are quickly identified and followed up with the staff concerned;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must review and ensure staff follow guidance and risk reduction strategies set out in children’s risk management plans.

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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

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.(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand the safeguarding procedure in respect to reporting any concerns against the manager;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that internal investigations into allegations of harm against staff are completed following guidance from the LADO. 7 January 2026

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 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. 16 January Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must implement a more effective system to assess and understand the individual and combined risks of children living together;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must escalate concerns to placing authorities when statutory plans and documents are not provided or shared in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(iii)) 16 January

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 16 January Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 8 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff receive good-quality support and supervision that enables appropriate reflection of children’s needs and their own professional development.

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a consistently good level throughout the accommodation. Any damage sustained should be promptly repaired. Leaders and managers should also ensure that fire safety escape routes are fully accessible. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that written consent is obtained from the placing authority before CCTV is used in the home. Any use of surveillance must be subject to regular review to ensure it remains necessary and proportionate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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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: 2823258 9 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leighview Children’s Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Leighview Social Support, Unit 3, Kingfisher Court, Pinhoe Trading Estate, Venny Bridge, Exeter EX4 8JN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sibangani Mswelanto

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Inspectors

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Amy Groom, Social Care Inspector Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2823258 10 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspectors

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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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