Children's home run by Edmar Recruitment Services Limited

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 1 Registered provider: Edmar Recruitment Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection. The child spoke to the inspector and contributed to the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in, and one child has moved out. The child had a well-planned move to a semi-independent provision. Leaders and managers ensured that the child had a positive move at a pace that was comfortable for them. The manager and staff organised a football match and picnic and gave the child a memory book before they left. Staff contacted the child following the move to check in. This helped the child to feel valued and know that they were held in mind by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is supported by a stable staff team. Staff provide the child with continuity of care that helps them to develop and sustain positive relationships. The child feels able to seek support from the staff and the manager whenever they need.

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Findings from the inspection

When children need to be held to prevent harm to themselves and others, the staff act appropriately. This practice is used as a last resort. Debrief sessions take place with the staff in a timely manner. Staff spend time discussing incidents with the child. This helps children to reflect on their behaviour and learn how to better manage their emotions in the future. Staff use reflective conversations to identify how their practice can improve.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers advocate for the child. One child was going missing from the home frequently to see their friends. The manager worked with other agencies to arrange for the child to see their friends in the community and at the home. These incidents have since reduced.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers understand the value and importance of education. Staff communicate daily with the school and tutors have been supported to visit the home. The child is unable to access Wi-Fi at the home during school hours when they do not attend school and as a result the child’s school attendance has improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers did not carry out a proper assessment of risk before the child moved into the home. The child had a history of frequent missing-from-home episodes, consistently travelling to the same area. The home’s location has nearby public transport providing a direct route to this area, and the child has continued to go missing.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is clean and, in some parts, homely. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their liking but is without suitable furniture following damage to some items. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 3 Areas of the home have information and signage displayed on the walls that provide an institutionalised feel. Educational information on display is not appropriate for the age of the child. Leaders and managers acknowledged this during the inspection and took steps towards ensuring that the environment meets their individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s plan is individualised and demonstrates the voice of the child. Leaders and managers have not ensured that all the information recorded in the child’s plan is accurate and relevant to that child. Factual inaccuracies and misinformation fail to provide staff with a clear and accurate understanding of the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s fire-risk assessment was updated by an external professional in July 2025. The recommendation is that the fire doors are not propped open. Leaders and managers have not adhered to fire safety advice. At the time of this inspection a fire door remained propped open. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 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.

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a thorough and robust assessment is undertaken before a child moves into the home to determine if their needs can be met. 1 April 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children's homes complies with relevant health and safety. In particular, ensure that matters identified in the fire risk assessment are rectified without delay and that fire doors are not propped open. 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that all records are clear and detail the information in a concise and factual way. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the children's homes is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with

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Recommendations

relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 6 doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. In particular, fire signage should not be a prominent feature of the home. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 15, paragraph, 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Edmar Recruitment Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 164 Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK42 8BH

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Inspector

Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2789927 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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