Children's Home run by Essex County Council in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 1 SC044975 Registered provider: Essex County Council Full inspection 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 was appointed in June 2025 and is currently applying to register with Ofsted.

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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 widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 15 October 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2024 Full Good 05/12/2023 Full Good 25/10/2022 Full Good 19/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

At the time of the inspection, there were four children living at the home. One child was in hospital for the duration of the inspection. Two children took part in the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not planned children’s moves into the home well. They have not considered whether staff have the skills or abilities to support the needs of children. The combination of children living together and how this will be managed has not been considered. Poor dynamics between children have followed. This has led to many incidents occurring and children say that they no longer feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home is very large and has a clinical feel. Children said it feels like a ‘hospital’. It is not warm or homely. Many areas of the home have damage that needs to be repaired. One child showed the inspector marks on the bathroom floor. They said it was blood from where another child had self-harmed, and that staff had not cleaned it. Children’s bedrooms were not clean or tidy. One child’s bedroom had soiled clothing on the floor, which staff did not remove. This does not demonstrate care to the children or provide them with a clean, safe environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The social worker for two of the children gave positive feedback. However, during the inspection, it became clear that they had not been made aware of all incidents at the home. This lack of information has prevented the social worker from maintaining effective oversight of the children in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There have been a significant number of staff changes and use of temporary workers. Children said that they are aware that staff are leaving because they are unhappy with the way the home is run. Children said they are not happy at home and want to move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two children have made some progress with their education. Before moving into the home, they had not accessed formal education for some time. The education lead at the home identified suitable education placements for both children. One child completed the school year and their exams. One child’s placement broke down before the end of the school year, but they are now ready to take exams.

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

Leaders and managers have failed to implement effective risk management. They have not ensured that individual and group risk assessments are in place. Missing-from-home protocols are insufficiently detailed, and one protocol contained the wrong child’s name.

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

Behaviour support plans are not individualised. There are plans that are identical, and some children have moved into the home without any plans in place. These failures mean staff lack the essential information needed to understand risks and respond effectively. This shortfall has resulted in confusion, delayed action and unsafe practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 4 Staff said that they do not have the guidance or confidence to manage risks effectively. Plans for children fail to provide clear, practical instructions. Staff said that they do not receive the information needed to support children safely and do not feel confident intervening in challenging situations. This has led to several police call-outs to manage behaviour, increasing the risk of criminalising the children. Two children have expressed concerns about their safety and well-being.

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

Staffing levels are not consistently sufficient to meet children’s needs. On some days only four staff have been on shift. This does not make it possible to meet one child’s deprivation of liberty order, which outlines that up to four staff supervise the child. Managers and leaders have not assessed when such staffing levels are needed. Staff report that these decisions are based on availability rather than the needs of children. This compromises the safety and welfare of children.

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

Leaders and managers do not respond effectively to escalating risk. One child was seriously harmed during an incident in which their risk had been escalating over a 24- hour period. Handovers lacked sufficient detail, leaving incoming staff unaware of where the child was likely to run to. Leaders and managers did not assess the situation or consider whether additional staff were required to try and keep the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager was absent during the inspection. The deputy manager and service manager led the inspection in the manager’s absence. The manager is supported by the deputy manager and a clinical specialist team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to review and monitor incidents effectively. There are significant gaps in the recording of incidents. These have included when staff have used restraint or responded to self-harm. These failures mean that managers have not identified learning opportunities or addressed staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff feel unsupported and unsafe. Several members of staff spoke with inspectors. They all said that they are unhappy in their roles and do not feel supported by managers High staff turnover has added to these concerns. Staff lack confidence in their ability to keep children safe due to a lack of guidance and support. One child’s plan says that they may need to be held sometimes to keep them safe. Several staff members do not have physical intervention training. There was a serious incident involving a child. Staff feedback does not show how managers have supported them to process this. It also does not show if any learning from the incident has been put into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervision sessions are inconsistent. Staff supervised by team leaders have regular supervision sessions. Staff supervised by the manager and deputy manager have missed several sessions. This limits opportunities for staff to raise their concerns and share their experiences. It also does not provide them with regular feedback on their performance. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 5 Leaders and managers have failed to notify Ofsted of serious incidents. They have not consistently informed Ofsted of serious incidents involving police and ambulance call- outs. Police referred to several incidents that should have been notified. This failure undermines Ofsted’s ability to maintain effective oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not updated the home’s statement of purpose which reflects the changes in the aims and the children they are providing care for. There have also been changes to staffing and management that are not reflected. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 6

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

review the information in the children’s risk assessments to ensure that it is accurate, contains all relevant details and states the actions that staff should take to reduce risks;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the children’s risk assessments are shared with staff and monitor to ensure that staff implement the stated actions;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff understand the risks to the children and take effective action to reduce these risks. 22 September 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 22 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 7 promotes their welfare.

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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

review records to ensure that they are 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure 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 effective and safe care.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect; 22 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 8 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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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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)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 22 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 22 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 9 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: SC044975 10

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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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Inspectors

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Mary Costello, Social Care Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 11 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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