Children's Home run by Next Generation Care Essex Ltd in Essex

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794236 1 Registered provider: Next Generation Care Essex 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 registered to care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Inspection date: 13 January 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 13 January 2026

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. 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: 2794236 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

The manager has met most of the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. The move was a positive experience for the child, with visits to their new home and a surprise barbecue party with all the staff and some of the professionals involved in the child’s life.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. This move was well planned, with all the staff attending a 2-day workshop directly relating to the care plan and needs of this child. In addition, staff received formal training relating to the child’s medical diagnoses. However, the manager had not ensured that significant legal documentation relating to the child had the correct address on it. This meant it was unclear if the document permitted the provider to take certain restrictive actions.

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Findings from the inspection

This child has made significant progress since moving into the home. There have been a low number of incidents that overall have been well managed. Risks for the child have significantly reduced, leading to a substantial reduction in the level of restrictions needed to keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has developed clear bonds with the manager and some of the staff. The child said that they like living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child to attend medical appointments. The manager has advocated for medication reviews and additional therapeutic support for the child when necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

The child enjoys a wide range of activities. With the support of the manager, the child and the staff have learned to paddleboard and now enjoy this activity together. The child has been supported to increase their confidence outside the home, which has widened their recreational opportunities.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child to develop important life skills. The child was seen to cook the evening meal with support, and to write and distribute a CV for job applications.

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Findings from the inspection

Consequences are rarely used. When they are used, they are restorative in nature, and the manager reviews them to ensure that they are proportionate. These restorative consequences have been effective in supporting the child to develop positive behaviour. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794236 3 There has only been once incident of a child going missing from home since the last inspection. In this incident, staff followed the child’s relevant plans and showed professional curiosity. This led to staff gaining an understanding of where the child had been. The manager ensured that the child received an independent return home interview to try to better understand push and pull factors relating to them going missing.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been some improvements to the home environment, including decoration, refurbishment and new decking in the garden. However, there is broken furniture in the front garden and broken drawers in the child’s bedroom. The child has spent their own money on a mattress as the previously replaced mattress was they felt was of low quality and uncomfortable. The child’s bedroom, bathroom and hallway area require cleaning. This does not constitute a homely environment.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff who have worked in the home for over one year have had their practice reviewed at yearly appraisals. All staff receive regular supervision, and the manager regularly undertakes formal observations of staff practice. However, when there have been performance issues identified from these observations, the manager has not always addressed these concerns with staff to improve practice.

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Findings from the inspection

During the first few months of the child living in the home, there was significant use of staff from another home in the organisation. The child had built relationships with these staff, who have since moved back to their substantiative posts. The responsible individual told the child that these staff would work in this home once per week for the child to be able to maintain relationships. The child told the inspector that this had not occurred. On another occasion a member of staff did not respond to the child in line with the home’s therapeutic ethos. This does not support the child to build trusting relationships with managers or staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have made allegations against staff since the last inspection. The organisation has taken effective action to ensure that allegations are handled in line with the child’s allegation procedures. Although allegations have been promptly reported to the local authority designated officer and have been fully investigated, the manager has not notified Ofsted of these allegations.

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Findings from the inspection

The number of staff available to work in the home is insufficient. The manager is working a significant number of hours to cover staff sickness and holidays. This has not allowed the manager enough time to complete all the management tasks and has led to some shortfalls in management oversight. This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794236 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794236 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 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;

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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

managers use monitoring and review processes to identify when there are concerns with staff practice, and take action to improve staff practice;

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Requirement Due date

there are adequate staff in a care role to provide the ratio of carers needed. 10 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 10 March 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794236 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Staff and manager maintain positive relationships with children in which greed actions are followed through.

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Requirement Due date

broken furniture is replaced and removed from the home;

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Requirement Due date

children are provided with comfortable, suitable mattresses.

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Requirement Due date

The cleanliness of the home is maintained to a hygienic level.

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 10 March 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that if a deprivation of liberty order is in place for a child, a copy of the order is held on the child’s file that has the correct address, and that the relevant permissions have been sought from the local authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.63) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794236 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Generation Care Essex Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1, Newlands End, Basildon SS15 6DU

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Alexandra Seabrook-Rankin

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Inspector

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2794236 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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