Children's Home run by The Kennedy and Elliott Partnership LLP in Newham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 1 Registered provider: Kennedy and Elliott Partnership Limited Liability Partnership Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider to care for up to 4 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in August 2021. The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024. There has been a change in responsible individual since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were living in the home. All 3 children were pre- sent during both days of the inspection. One child chose not to speak with the inspector

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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Good

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

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Good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Good

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Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/06/2024 Full Good 20/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well, there is a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the home. Staff focus on building positive relationships with children. They spend time getting to know them and are available to listen to what children have to say. Children feel comfortable talking to staff about their worries and about the professionals involved in their lives. One child described living at the home as ‘awesome’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, several children have moved on to independent living and oth- ers have moved to alternative placements, including foster care. On some occasions, staff have struggled to meet the needs of children and they have moved. On these occa- sions the registered manager worked closely with placing local authority social workers to plan transitions. This helps to ensure that children’s moves are managed in children’s best interests. Children remain in contact with staff after leaving the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with other professionals to support children. They have regular contact with social workers, the police, youth justice services, mentoring services and child and adolescent mental health services. Children are supported to attend appointments and are provided with clear guidance and support. This helps children feel reassured.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A play therapist visits the home weekly and is well known to all children. In addition to meeting with the children they provide guidance and training for staff. This helps staff to respond to children in a consistent and supportive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children who have not been in education for a long period of time to re- engage with their learning. Staff work with the virtual school team and education providers to help children access suitable placements. Staff challenge the barriers to children’s education that are outside of their control. However, staff do not consistently promote daily routines to help children prepare for school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children to spend time with their families when this is safe and in line with their care plans. One child who has lived at the home for over a year has regular overnight stays with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have strengthened how children’s views are captured. Children’s voices inform behavioural support plans and their individual targets. Feedback forms and weekly meetings provide further opportunities for children to share their views. Rules about spending time in each other’s bedrooms, using the kitchen at night and friends visiting are examples of topics discussed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an outdoor room which has been decked out with studio equipment for two of the children to use. This room had been taken over by the house rabbit who has just had babies. Leaders and managers continue to assess how to use the shared space for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 4

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

There is a clear and effective process to assess risks for children when they move in. This includes considering children’s individual needs, how equipped the staff are to meet these and whether they are likely to get on with other children living at the home.

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

Leaders and managers oversight and monitoring of risk for children is generally strong. Children have clear and detailed plans that include strategies to manage risks which staff effectively apply. Targets are agreed with children to help reduce these risks. Staff use rewards to recognise progress and encourage positive behaviour. They also maintain open and honest discussions with children about worries and concerns.

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

Staff are trained in using therapeutic approaches to care for children, de-escalation and restraint. This training supports staff to manage children at times of distress calmly and safely and helps children to feel settled and supported.

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

A review of emerging risks between children is not always evident. Some children who are at risk of exploitation continue to go missing from home. Leaders and managers attend individual meetings with placing local authorities. However, leaders and managers have not held a joint meeting with the host borough to consider the combined risks. This limits opportunities to identify patterns and agree a coordinated response to manage and reduce these risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a qualified and committed registered manager. She is supported by a responsible individual who visits the home weekly. The manager shares her knowledge and learning with staff, which helps to strengthen practice and creates a positive team culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, attend team meetings and take part in annual appraisals. Staff feel supported with their development and have access to a wide range of training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have a good overview of staff practice in the home and identify areas they want to develop. Concerns raised about staff practice are dealt with promptly and appropriately. Senior managers hold regular forward-planning meetings to support ongoing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers consider the diversity and experience of the team and take active steps to ensure the team can meet the needs of the children. This includes recruiting more male staff and appointing a deputy manager with experience of supporting children to move on to independence. Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 5

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Recommendations

 Where a child runs away persistently or engages in other risky behaviours, such as frequently being absent from the home to meet with inappropriate adults, the registered person, in consultation with the child’s placing authority, should convene a risk management meeting to develop a strategy for managing risks to the young person. The strategy should be agreed with the child’s placing authority, the local authority where the home is located and the local police. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.32)  The registered person should ensure that the necessary support is given to children to enable them to access their education or training. Support may include, for example, ensuing that they have a stable routine that will support them to access education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28,

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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: 2654867 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kennedy And Elliott Partnership LLP

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Beckwith Barn Warren Estate, Lordship Road, Writtle, Essex CM1 3WT

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 7 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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