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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 1 H

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Registered provider: Leighview Children’s Care 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 offers care for up to 3 children who have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at the time of this monitoring visit.

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Information about this children’s home

Leaders and managers have submitted a variation request to Ofsted to amend the home’s conditions of registration.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at its full inspection on 11, 12, 13 and 24 November 2025. This was the home’s first inspection since registration.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the progress made to meet the compliance notice set following the last full inspection. The compliance notice was made in relation to Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’. This monitoring visit was also undertaken to review compliance with a restriction of accommodation notice issued following the full inspection. At this monitoring visit, the home was compliant with the restriction of accommodation notice, with no other children admitted to the home.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home as the placing authority felt that staff could no longer meet their needs. One child was present during the inspection and spent time with inspector. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 2 Arrangements for leaders and managers’ monitoring and oversight have been revised and strengthened. This oversight, combined with one child moving on and no additional children moving in, has enabled a period of improved stability.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have improved their review of incidents. This provides a better system for monitoring, reviewing and identifying learning from these interventions.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have completed a review of the quality of care provided. However, the manager has not read the report. This means opportunities to further develop the home have not yet been recognised.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans have been reviewed, with clear strategies to help manage risks. The child’s plans include some information on how the child’s needs relating to neurodiversity are supported and how best to communicate with them. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to help the child.

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This monitoring visit

A programme of staff training has been scheduled. However, there have been further delays in staff receiving training identified at the last inspection. Consequently, staff’s knowledge and skills have not yet been improved. This means staff may not have the necessary skills to understand and meet the individual needs of the child. Staff require training relating to the home’s model of care and to the child’s specific needs. Given the general inexperience of the staff team, this training is essential to enable them to provide well-informed care.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s statement of purpose details how staff should deliver specific care to the child. However, staff are yet to attend identified training. The updated statement of purpose has not been shared with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Professional feedback is positive. Professionals said that staff provide effective and child-focused care.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have responded effectively to issues raised by a child at the last inspection. Leaders and managers have made referrals to the local authority designated officer and investigated these concerns. Some learning has been embedded in staff practice. Staff have a clear understanding of the safeguarding escalation processes and feel confident to raise concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Other requirements previously set were not reviewed and have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 3

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Inspection judgement

Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 4

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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.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff attend effective training in alternative communication approaches and sensory integration. Leaders and managers must also ensure that all staff complete all PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) model of care modules 24 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 5 in accordance with staff’s training plans and the model of support adopted at the home.

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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.

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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. 16 January 2026

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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

ensure that staff— 16 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 6 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

(Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv) (b)(iii))

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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.

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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 on children’s needs and their own professional development. 16 January 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a consistently good standard 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) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 7

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leighview Children’s Care Limited

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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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Inspector

Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2823258 9 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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