Children's home run by Hestia Homes for Children

Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 1 Registered provider: Hestia Homes for Children

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns the home. It is registered to provide care for up to five children with learning disabilities. Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2025 Full Good 19/04/2023 Full Good 25/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a home where they receive nurturing care, which enables them to have happy and fulfilled lives. They build secure and trusting relationships with staff, who make them feel cherished and loved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are cared for by the staff in the home, who are thoughtful in their approach to meeting their individual needs. The relationships between the children and the staff support the children to flourish. Staff speak enthusiastically about the children, and they are proud about their contribution in helping the children to succeed. Staff have a meticulous understanding of each child and how to tailor the support needed to meet their individual needs. Providing children with high-quality and consistent care allows the children to feel loved and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Careful consideration is given to children who come to live in the home. Arrangements for moving in are individualised and carefully paced. Children who have recently moved into the home are already making very good progress. Diligent planning and joint working with other professionals have ensured that these children have settled seamlessly into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make excellent progress, and there is clear evidence of the positive impact that their time at the home has had on their lives. Children participate in activities that promote their sense of achievement, confidence and self-worth. They are given opportunities to engage in a range of activities. For example, they go swimming, rock climbing, visit trampoline parks, go shopping and go on holiday.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to grow and develop in accordance with their needs. They are consistently supported to develop their independence and self-autonomy. This means that the children thrive and take great pride in learning new skills to keep themselves safe and that also promote their independence and wellbeing. For example, staff have supported one child with a useful list of questions and phrases that they can use to initiate conversations on their phone, enabling them to chat with their friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is a safe environment where children build trust with staff and where they can take appropriate control of their lives. For example, children who were previously isolated now live with other children and have been out to the park and swimming.

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

Safeguarding processes are clear and transparent. The registered manager and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that they work together with other professionals. Incidents are well managed and necessary actions are taken to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. Safeguarding records are clear and comprehensive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 4 Staff understand children’s risks and manage them meticulously. They support the children to understand dangers and the impact that their behaviours may have. Any concerns or worries are swiftly identified, and care plans are adapted to meet the ever- changing needs of the children.

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

Staff anticipate children’s needs quickly. This has led to a reduction in children becoming upset and frustrated. Staff consider all aspects of children’s needs. This results in bespoke safety plans, which fully consider each child’s environment, relationships, experiences and resources.

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

Staff have high-quality strategies to help to keep the children safe. These are clearly set out in individual positive behaviour plans and risk assessments, which are reviewed frequently. Children are supported to identify and talk about things that might make them anxious or upset and to influence how staff can support them to feel safe.

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

Recruitment processes are effective. This ensures that only appropriately vetted individuals work at the home and provide care for children. The registered manager is aware of their responsibilities to ensure that effective health and safety processes are in place. However, there have been significant delays in modernising the kitchen, a noted concern at the last inspection. Additionally, bathrooms have not been fully redecorated following renovation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is passionate, enthusiastic and visible. Their presence means that the children feel comfortable to seek them out and share affection and laughter. They model good practice, ensuring high expectations of care for the children. The ethos, aims and strategies in the statement of purpose are fully embedded across the home. Consequently, children experience consistent and high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The devotion of leaders models a culture of mutual respect that staff and children embrace. The atmosphere is that of a family home, where children are central to planning for the day and long term.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The highly motivated team of staff are managed by leaders who have extensive skills, training and experience. This means that the children receive care of the highest standard. Staff benefit from high-quality professional and personal support. They value the support that they get from leaders and they receive regular supervision. Staff are supported to develop their skills through training and experience, and they skilfully provide guidance and support to each child in accordance with their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Joint working with partner agencies is a particular strength, ensuring that children have the support and services that they need to thrive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the bathrooms and kitchen are maintained and decorated to a suitable standard. 27 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: 2670636 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hestia Homes for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Cottage, Emerys Farm, Beckfords, Upper Basildon, Reading RG8 8PB

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 7 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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