Children's Home run by SV Care Services Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children's home: 2846728 1 Registered provider: SV Care Services Limited

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025 when the home opened.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2846728 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved in since the home opened. Two children moved out in an unplanned way before the inspection due to escalating behaviours. Despite the unplanned ending for these two children, staff did provide them with good support while they were living in the home. Staff are now caring for one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently being cared for by staff is making good progress in the home. Staff have supported the child to engage with boundaries around gaming. As a result, they have developed a healthy sleep routine. This means they can engage with support services and activities during the day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well understood by staff. Staff provide effective support to help children manage their health needs and engage with health services. One child is developing greater independence in managing their specialist health needs. As a result, children are supported to take responsibility for their health. This supports children as they prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to make progress in their education. Some children have experienced time away from formal education. During these times, children have benefited from support from the company’s teaching assistant, who helps children complete educational activities and work towards qualifications at home. This helps children to continue to make progress and maintain engagement with learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported effectively with their mental health. They have access to support from the company’s clinical lead. This has benefited children who have been waiting to access community mental health services. As a result, children are better able to manage their mental health and access the support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff develop positive relationships. Staff speak positively about their relationships with the children. They show a good understanding of children’s experiences and behaviours. Children feel understood, supported and able to engage positively with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with different opportunities to share their wishes and feelings. Children receive written and verbal feedback when they share their views. This helps them to understand how their views have influenced decisions. This also reassures them that adults listen to them and take their views seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children left the home in an unplanned way following a significant incident. Leaders and managers completed a detailed placement review. Learning was taken from this review and actions to improve future practice were identified. The children have had no contact with staff since leaving the home. This means that they have not had the Inspection report for children's home: 2846728 3 opportunity to receive reassurances or repair relationships with staff. This has failed to support them to make a positive start in their new homes.

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

Children have detailed care plans and risk assessments. These plans contain details about children’s needs and their vulnerabilities. Plans provide staff with clear guidance on how to support children safely and effectively. As a result, children mostly receive consistent care that is reflective of their needs and keeps them safe.

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

Incidents are generally well managed and debriefs are carried out with children and staff. These discussions give children and staff the opportunity to reflect on what happened. It also creates an opportunity to identify learning and improve responses in future. Staff follow de-escalation strategies in line with children’s plans. Managers provide effective oversight of incidents, ensuring that follow-up actions are identified. As a result, children are supported safely during incidents and staff are able to respond in a considered way.

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

Staff know what to do when children go missing from the home. Missing-from-home protocols are clear and reflect the individual needs of the children. Staff follow these protocols well. Feedback from professionals was positive about this. They said episodes of children going missing are well managed and that staff take the correct action to keep children safe.

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

Staff understand the risk of exploitation for children and the signs to look for. They are curious about where children are going and who they spend time with. This helps them to identify potential risks. Children are supported to use devices safely and are taught how to stay safe online. Appropriate controls are in place to protect children when they are online.

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

Staff use physical restraint only when necessary to prevent harm. Incidents are well documented and recorded accurately and promptly. During one physical intervention, a child made allegations about a staff member. This was dealt with appropriately, including a referral to the local authority designated officer. Debriefs with the child and staff member identified learning to improve future practice. Managers review each incident to check that procedures were followed and to evaluate the use of the restraint.

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

Staff have used consequences as part of their wider approach to manage behaviour. These are generally logical and restorative. Staff speak to children about these consequences, so they understand the reason for the measures. Managers provide oversight of consequences and evaluate their effectiveness.

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

Regular key work takes place with children. Planned sessions focus on known risks for children. This supports them to understand risk and learn how to keep safe. As a result, children are able to make positive decisions and keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2846728 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably experienced manager who is working towards their level 5 diploma. The manager is supported by the responsible individual and a deputy manager. The management team is aspirational for the children and proud of the achievements of the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feedback has been very positive. They said that managers are approachable, supportive and available when needed. Staff feel valued. They receive regular well-being check-ins and they are offered opportunities for professional development. As a result, children are cared for by a confident, skilled and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are up to date with relevant training. They describe this training as comprehensive, and it helps them feel confident in their roles. Before one child moved into the home, leaders and managers arranged additional training based on the individual needs of the child. This meant that staff felt prepared to meet the child’s specialist health needs. As a result, the child received effective and safe care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions. This gives them the opportunity to discuss any concerns and receive constructive feedback. Staff also receive regular well-being check ins from the company’s development and welfare manager. The development and welfare manager also has a focus on developing staff from within the company. This helps to create a stable and skilled workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work effectively with external professionals. Feedback from professionals was positive. They said that communication is good and furthered their understanding of the children and their needs. Leaders and managers challenge external professionals when necessary to make sure children’s needs are met. This collaborative and accountable approach helps ensure children’s best interests are prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s moves into the home have been well planned to support them with settling in. However, children living together and how their individual needs may impact each other was not fully considered. Leaders and managers have not evaluated whether children could safely live together and not considered additional support that may be required. Inspection report for children's home: 2846728 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 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure they effectively assess children’s needs as recorded in their relevant plans and fully consider the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned and help each child to prepare for leaving, both practically and emotionally. 2 March 2026

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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: 2846728 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SV Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 85 Great Portland Street, First Floor, London W1W 7LT

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Inspector

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2846728 7 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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