Children's home run by Essen Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 1 Registered provider: Essen Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 3 children and may provide care and accommodation for children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The privately run home registered on 30 December 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, there were 2 children living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2024 Full Good 02/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and welcoming. Staff create warm environments that allow nurturing discussions to take place, helping children to feel happy and safe with the staff around them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusted relationships with children, ensuring they feel listened to and valued about things that are important to them. Children refer to the registered manager as their fairy godmother, as they believe she is someone who helps, guides, and keeps them safe when they need support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with opportunities to develop extra-curricular interests, such as boxing in the home. The home’s communal areas allow children to come together to play video games and engage in natural conversations. Staff and children attend national sporting events and take trips outside the home, which the children enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress. The registered manager seeks services and resources to develop children’s education to help them fulfil their potential. Staff support and advocate for children in times of need by attending appointments with them, which helps children feel heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff acknowledge children’s achievements and reward them with things they look forward to. The home’s reward system encourages children to develop autonomy, independence, and skills for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s health needs by consulting and sharing information with professionals and external support services effectively. This helps to monitor children’s overall wellbeing and respond appropriately when needed. The home has an effective record-keeping system in place.

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

Staff have a clear awareness of risks for children. They have good knowledge of emerging concern plans and liaise with professionals regarding children’s safety and wellbeing. Staff seek advice from the registered manager when needed.

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

Staff discussions and regular handover meetings enable staff to share information appropriately. Staff keep risk assessments and daily records up to date, providing current information to share effectively with children’s professional networks. Staff involve children and invite them to discuss their own safety plans in meetings that concern them, promoting a child-centred approach.

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

One child who has since left the home continues to keep in regular contact with the registered manager, demonstrating a trusting relationship and ongoing connection Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 4 with the home. The registered manager shares important information appropriately with the local authority, helping to keep the children safe.

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

Staff detail children’s missing from home records clearly and include a full chronology of events and correspondence. Staff seek return home interviews through the local authority. However, protocols for missing children are not always consistent, and staff do not always report directly through the local authority online hub.

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

The registered manager and most staff are aware of procedures to report concerns, including whistleblowing to external safeguarding professionals. However, one member of staff was not fully clear about who to escalate concerns to outside the home’s management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has developed plans to evaluate the home effectively and improve practice, with clear timescales in place. Prompt action is taken when issues arise, in line with policies and procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly staff supervision identifies individual development plans. Supervisions focus on children’s progress, as well as staff wellbeing. Timescales and targets support staff in addressing and improving practice effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held monthly, helping staff to discuss children, safety plans, and risk assessments as a team. Leaders and managers identify areas for further learning through other professionals, who support them in teaching staff about emerging risks in the community. This demonstrates an active response in equipping staff with an improved understanding of children and the world around them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager adheres to safer recruitment practices, with good procedures in place to ensure children are cared for appropriately by staff. The registered manager and responsible individual provide comprehensive mandatory training for all staff, which is delivered through a mix of online and face-to-face methods. Specific training is sourced to meet the individual needs of children, supporting staff to develop the knowledge and skills needed to safeguard and support children effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s whistleblowing procedures. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 43, paragraph 9.15)  The registered person should take into account the views of appropriate local services and have regard to police and local authority protocols for responding to missing person incidents in the area where the home is located. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 45, paragraph 9.29)

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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: 2638730 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 10, Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 0NE

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Inspector

Andrea Ulett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638730 7 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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