Children's Home run by Independence-Development Ltd in Medway

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2781121 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: INDEPENDENCE-DEVELOPMENT LTD

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care and support for up to 5 children. The home cares for children with emotional and emotional difficulties linked to past trauma. There were 4 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

This visit was undertaken to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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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. The inspector has 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: 2781121 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

Children living in the home say they feel happy and safe. They describe staff as kind and supportive. Staff have established positive, trusting relationships with the children, and interactions are consistently warm and nurturing. As a result, children are making progress in the home, supported by the strong relationships staff have built with them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff say they feel well supported by their colleagues and describe a positive team dynamic. They confirm that staffing levels are sufficient to meet children’s needs and promote consistent care.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff work closely with external professionals to promote effective multi-agency collaboration. Professionals report no concerns regarding the quality of care provided to children. Where concerns do arise, staff share these promptly and appropriately with relevant professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff actively promote education, and all children regularly attend school. When children are reluctant to attend, staff seek to understand the reasons behind this and provide support to help them return promptly. Staff maintain effective communication with education professionals and respond appropriately to any concerns that arise.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health and wellbeing are actively promoted. They have access to nutritious, balanced meals, and staff support them to understand the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene. Children are assisted in accessing medical care when needed and are supported to attend health appointments promptly. When a family member raised historical medical concerns for one child that staff were previously unaware of, staff acted swiftly by arranging a health assessment to ensure that no underlying medical needs had been overlooked.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering high-quality care for children. She advocates effectively on their behalf and maintains positive, trusting relationships with them. The manager has clear oversight of the home and is well informed about each child’s individual circumstances. She is working closely with an external consultant to further develop her knowledge and enhance her practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive comprehensive training that equips them with the skills and confidence needed to support the children in their care. This training enables staff to continually develop their knowledge and inform their practice, ensuring that children benefit from high-quality care. Inductions for staff are effective. The manager takes on board feedback from staff around how inductions can be improved. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2781121 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate strong commitment to their roles and take pride in supporting the children in their care. Some staff also work in other homes within the organisation. However, there have been occasions where staff have worked significantly beyond their contracted hours due to insufficient communication between managers across the homes. This has resulted in staff feeling overworked and undertaking extended hours at short notice without prior agreement. The manager recognises this issue and has plans in place to address and resolve this shortfall.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all the requirements and recommendations were reviewed during this inspection and have therefore restated. One new requirement has been made following this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2781121 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2781121 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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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)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff do not work excessive hours outside of their contracted hours without prior agreement or at short notice without agreement.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that workforce development plans are up to date, and staffing information included in those plans reflects the staffing information included in the statement of purpose. 26 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all children have positive endings to their time in the home and 26 February 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2781121 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

help children to understand why they have moved out at short notice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 26 February 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a well-maintained, homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2781121 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: INDEPENDENCE-DEVELOPMENT LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Blenheim Avenue, Ilford IG2 6JG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Olyedemi

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Inspector

Louise Webling, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2781121 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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