Children's Home run by Leighview Social Support in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 1 Registered provider: Leighview Social Support

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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 owned home provides care for two children with emotional and social difficulties. One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager left in May 2025. A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, three children have lived at the home. Two children moved out in an unplanned way. Staff felt unable to manage increasing risks between them. It is not clear that the children’s individual needs and how they may impact each other were assessed, understood and planned for by leaders and managers before the children moved in. This meant children did not receive well-planned and consistent care.

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child spoke to the inspector. Feedback from the child was mixed. They felt they had made progress since living at the home. Staff have provided the child with opportunities they have not had before. However, at times, the child has not felt that concerns they have raised have been acknowledged by staff or action taken to address them. This has prevented the child from building trusting relationships with some staff.

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improvement to be good

Despite the child making steady progress, the shortfalls identified at the inspection have reduced the overall quality of care provided. Effective safeguards are not always in place. The management of the home has not been consistently effective. Allegations about staff members have not been reported or investigated properly. These shortfalls fail to demonstrate good care.

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improvement to be good

One child smokes in their bedroom. The child’s bedroom smelled of smoke. Litter had also been left in the child’s bedroom for some time. This detracts from an otherwise warm and homely environment.

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improvement to be good

The child has complex needs, with a history of going missing from home, offending behaviour and vulnerability to exploitation. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s background and lived experiences. Staff have established strong links with local support services and work collaboratively to help provide appropriate support and intervention. This has helped the child to make progress in managing their emotional health, reducing offending behaviour, and building routines and positive relationships with professionals.

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improvement to be good

Generally, the staff are motivated and enjoy working at the home. A therapist visits the home regularly, offering additional guidance and support for staff. This helps staff take a considered approach to how they support the child.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are rarely used by staff. The child has started to benefit from changes made by the new manager, including the use of a high number of positive rewards. This helps the staff reinforce, and the child to recognise, positive behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Staff work effectively with other professionals to provide the child with a variety of bespoke education packages. The child had been out of education for a significant period before moving to this home. Staff have helped to find education provisions in keeping Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 4 with the child’s needs. The child’s attendance has significantly increased in the short time they have been attending their education provision. As a result of staff’s commitment to education, the child has begun to make positive progress, having recently completed exams and applied for college.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand how best to support the child to explore their individual interests. This has helped the child begin to develop their own hobbies, including attending a local boxing club and gym. The child is becoming more confident, independent and sociable.

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improvement to be good

Concerns relating to staff conduct, including two allegations made by the child, have not been recognised, reported on, investigated thoroughly or done so in a timely way. Records have not consistently provided assurance that concerns have been managed in line with the home’s safeguarding policy.

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improvement to be good

Allegations have not been shared with the local authority designated officer or Ofsted. This has meant that the opportunity to add a higher level of scrutiny has been missed. Leaders and managers have not followed up on recommendations made by the child’s social worker, which may reduce the likelihood of allegations being made.

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improvement to be good

In both cases, support staff and managers have concluded allegations made about staff to be unsubstantiated without having investigated them fully. The child has been blamed by staff for telling mistruths. This means that potentially unsafe practice has not been challenged or addressed. This does not help children feel heard or safe, and it questions the culture within the staff team in this home of taking concerns seriously. The new manager has identified some learning points.

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improvement to be good

The child, on occasion, goes missing from home. When they do go missing, staff respond in line with the child’s missing-from-home plans, encouraging the child to return safely. Staff seek to understand ’pull’ factors for the child and share information with various agencies involved in the child’s care. As a result of this multi-agency approach, the frequency of incidents has begun to decrease.

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improvement to be good

Staff regularly discuss the child’s safety plans with the many professionals involved in the child’s care. One professional said, ‘Staff keep me informed, they are present when I visit, the multi-agency approach to care taken by the manager ensures all parties are well informed and work together to find solutions [name of child].’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager was present and fully supported the first day of inspection. She had planned leave for the second day. The responsible individual supported the second day of inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 5 At this inspection, several shortfalls were identified in the leadership and management of this home. This has undermined the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Oversight by leaders, managers and external auditors has, at times, failed to identify and escalate concerns regarding allegations and incidents. As a result, the opportunities to reflect on staff practice and share learning with the wider team have been missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Significant incidents have not been notified to Ofsted in a timely manner. This reduces Ofsted’s level of oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Additionally, the independent Regulation 44 reports are often submitted late to the manager. This has not been challenged with the visitor. This impacts leaders and managers ability to ensure that actions have been followed up in a timely way. Consequently, leaders and managers do not have a clear understanding of areas that require scrutiny.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not consistently recognised shortfalls in reporting and recording. For example, the child’s care and risk management plans hold contradictory information and are not fully reflective of the child’s needs. Information relating to child criminal exploitation, use of the police, assaults to staff and missing-from-home incidents is not always detailed and fully explains actions staff have taken. This has not impacted the child. However, it has the ability to if not recognised and corrected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment processes. Staff say they feel well supported. New staff receive a suitable induction. Staff have not always received ongoing support through supervision from the management team. Some supervisions have been missed and others do not focus on the home or the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The new manager has high expectations for the service. She talks with pride of the achievements the child has made. She has started to make some necessary changes. However, these changes have not yet been fully embedded into practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 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

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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(d)(e)) 19 December 2025

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 7 a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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 12 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 8 and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practise in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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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)(e)(f)(g)(h))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms are checked to make sure that they remain clean and nurturing environments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2783264 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leighview Social Support

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 62 Sandown Avenue, Westcliff-on-sea SS0 9YB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sibangani Mswelanto

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Inspector

Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2783264 10 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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