Children's home run by Educare Support Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 1 Registered provider: Educare Support Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to 3 children from the ages of 8 to 17 with emotional and social difficulties. There were 3 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2024

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2024 Full Outstanding 16/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last full inspection, 2 children have remained at the home. The children are both making exceptional progress. Another child has moved into the home and is also making fantastic progress from their starting point. One child moved back to his home area in line with his care plan. Two children were seen and spoken with during this inspection. One child was spending a week away from the home on a work experience placement.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children are all making exceptional progress, because of the care they receive. They have built strong relationships with the manager and the staff. Staff are highly skilled at building relationships with children. They know the children exceptionally well and show the children that they are valued. Children benefit from a consistent staff team that supports their every need. This creates a loving family home. One parent said: ‘My child won the lottery when they were placed at the home, they have been absolutely amazing.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are passionate and devoted in the way that they support children to do well. They place a strong focus on education, recognising the positive impact this can have on children’s life opportunities. All 3 children are in education; one child has been funded to attend a personal training course after completing their statutory school exams. The other 2 children are accessing a varied and bespoke timetable at an alternative provision. The home has had significant input into these education arrangements. The children’s attendance is consistently high, enabling them to thrive.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All 3 children are engaged in extra-curricular activities. One child plays basketball for a local team. They attend training and play matches at weekends. Another child plays for a local football team. Plans are being made for him to travel to the Netherlands to take part in a training camp for higher-level players. The staff consistently watch the child play football in line with his wishes. Another child thoroughly enjoys boxing. The child has a sponsor and has taken part in 2 professional fights. These were attended by the whole staff team and mementos from the matches are creatively captured in a memory book.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff engage with the children and entertain them especially well. Children attend a variety of fantastic outdoor activities, such as mountain biking, open-water swimming and paddle boarding. Staff, including the manager, take children on holiday to other parts of the UK and abroad. One child was taken to Turkey. This was the child’s first holiday abroad. Children choose the staff they would like to go with them. This allows staff to provide children with individualised experiences that are tailored to their interests and wishes. Overseas trips broaden children’s experiences and build their self-esteem. All children have memory books to capture their time away as well as inspirational quotes and photos of all the staff. Celebrations are captured in their memory books, and Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 4 birthday and Christmas cards are kept. These mementos help children to remember key

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

dates and people. For those children who have experienced difficult times linked to dates in the past, enormous effort is made to create positive, long-lasting memories. One member of staff said: ‘I smile when looking through their individual memory books of all the exciting memories, activities, achievements and holidays that each young person has had the opportunity to have.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide opportunities for children to engage in activities that build their independence and prepare them for their adult lives. One child has a budget for their own food shopping, cooks their own food and regularly travels by public transport. With the strong and trusting relationships that have been developed, children’s potential to succeed when the time comes to leave the home is high.

p.4

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

Children are considerably safer because of the excellent care and support that the staff and manager provide. The risks for all the children are reducing. Staff respond and resolve safeguarding concerns to excellent effect. The manager works collaboratively with professionals to ensure that information is shared swiftly. Known concerns are quickly attended to in order to keep children safe. One professional said: ‘The levels of recording went above and beyond, almost as if they knew what I was going to ask next. The interlinking of documentation provides clarity on incidents and notifications combined with individual work and risk assessments.’

p.4

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

Children are supported to take measured risks. No activity is undertaken without well- considered preparation by leaders and staff. Risk assessments are detailed and thorough. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of the potential hazards associated with activities and holidays. As a result, appropriate and effective control measures are consistently in place to ensure children’s safety. The staff adopt a proportionate approach to risk and manage it effectively. This ensures that children benefit from rich, stimulating opportunities without unnecessary restriction.

p.4

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

There has been no use of physical intervention in the last 2 inspection periods. This is testimony to the highly skilled staff. Their relationships with children help them to feel safe and secure. Consequently, children are better equipped to manage overwhelming feelings in healthier ways. Staff promote positive behaviour effectively. They try to avoid the use of negative consequences. They widely use rewards, natural consequences and restorative justice. These measures help children to reflect and learn from their behaviours.

p.4

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

A number of missing-from-home episodes in a short time for one child were well managed. The staff acted quickly to try and locate the child and ensured they were returned to the home quickly.

p.4

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

The home uses a therapeutic model which is embedded in research-informed practice. As a result, staff have an excellent understanding of trauma, attachment difficulties and Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 5 neurological divergence. This helps staff to achieve remarkably strong bonds with children. Consequently, children feel emotionally held by the staff. All shifts end with a reflective debrief to discuss what went well and what could be improved, which helps staff to evaluate their practice.

p.4

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

A complaint made by one child was investigated quickly and robustly by the manager. The manager spent time with the child away from the home to fully understand the complaint and the child’s wishes and feelings in respect of a resolution.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Exceptionally strong leadership and management have created an environment in which children and staff flourish. The manager is highly respected by professionals and the staff team. Children are extremely fond of him, and this is reciprocated by the manager. The manager’s influence and approach have created a nurturing and loving environment in which children can reach their potential.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are fully supported by both the manager and the responsible individual to fulfil their roles. Staff are listened to and contribute to the running of the home. Staff receive high levels of supervision and appraisal that consider wider professional feedback. This helps to raise the confidence of the staff and ensures that the service improves. Staff feedback is exceptionally positive; one staff member said: ‘Out of all of the homes and support roles I have had, the home is by far the best, a real sense of a family, a home that thrives on young people’s achievement and individuality.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are consistently supported by an experienced, skilled and stable staff team. Two seniors have been working at the home since it opened and only one member of staff has been recruited since the last inspection. Leaders and managers have high expectations of their staff and inspire them to feel empowered and fully use their individual expertise. For a member of staff recently employed by the home there has been good-quality, reflective supervision every 2 weeks as well as a strong emphasis on training and work towards starting the level 3 qualification. All staff members have their progress tracked for their level 3 and level 5 qualifications.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children’s views, wishes and feelings are central to the running of the home. Children have a sense of belonging, feel heard by staff and feel loved. This empowers children. For some children, this is the first time in their lives that they feel that what they say matters. Children are supported by independent advocacy where required and in line with their wishes. Children are able to access the children’s guide easily with QR codes placed around the home. Children are involved in staff interviews and plans for audits to be co-produced with children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The review of the quality of care is evaluative, focuses on key issues and provides direction for the staff. The manager seeks to identify patterns and trends by analysing information appropriately. This helps leaders and managers to understand the strengths Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 6 and areas for development of the home. External feedback is regularly sought by the manager and acted on.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There were no requirements or recommendations arising from this inspection.

p.6

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: 2746279 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Educare Support Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Gatehouse, 453 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG2 6EW

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher O’Nions

p.7

Inspector

Emily Stevens, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2746279 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8