Children's Home run by Leighview Children's Care Limited in Southend on Sea

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2823748 1 Registered provider: Leighview Children’s Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 2 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager left the home in December 2025. A new manager has been appointed by the provider and has yet to submit an application for Ofsted to assess their suitability.

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Inspection date: 5 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 2 December 2025

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Inspection date: 5 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 5 March 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: 2823748 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

One child has recently moved into the home since the last inspection. The child was absent during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not ensure that the child’s bedroom is kept clean and hygienic. Excess rubbish and ash are in the child’s bedroom. Other areas in the home are decorated nicely however, there are a lack resources to meet the needs of the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Room searches do not always take place when there are significant identified risks for children. On one occasion the child brought substances into the home, these were located by staff and effective action was taken to remove these from a communal area. However, a bedroom search did not take place. This does not ensure effective action is taken to identify potential items that pose a risk to children.

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Findings from the inspection

The essential fire-safety measures are not good enough. Two fire doors are defective, and 2 are being propped open and do not close securely. The manager made immediate plans during the inspection to have the doors repaired as this poses a risk to children and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has an individual care plan and risk assessments, however these do not contain direct guidance for staff, and some aspects of the plans are difficult to follow. This has the potential to lead to inconsistencies in how staff respond to the child and does not reflect the current protective arrangements in place.

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Findings from the inspection

On one occasion leaders and mangers did not notify Ofsted regarding a serious incident. Additionally, a managerial report has not been submitted by the provider. This limits Ofsted’s ability to effectively monitor the service.

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Findings from the inspection

The child was supported to move in with a multi-agency approach and supported to visit the home before the move. Leader’s and managers reviewed the child’s risks and supported staff to undertake refresher training in areas of the child’s vulnerabilities. The staff and manager have prioritised relationship building with the child. As a result, the child has begun to form postive relationships with the manager and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff capture the child’s views, wishes and feeling. When the child shares their views, these are responded to, and the child is given an outcome. This approach helps to support the child to share views about their care.

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Findings from the inspection

Appropriate referrals have been made to substance-misuse services to help the child with substance misuse. Staff have facilitated in-depth key-work sessions, including Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2823748 3 support about substance misuse and child criminal exploitation. This develops children’s understanding of risk.

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Findings from the inspection

The child attends an education provision relevant to their needs. Daily encouragement from staff supports the child’s attendance. When the child has struggled to attend staff hold conversations with the child about the importance of education and offer support. On some occasions this approach has helped the child to attend.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has an approach that centres around helping children to be ready for independence. There is evidence of this in staff helping the child with aspects of their independence, such as personal care, meal planning, and budgeting.

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Findings from the inspection

Team meetings are child centred and support practice discussions. These give staff the support to develop their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, all staff have undertaken additional training that reflects the needs of the child. Additional workshops have been implemented by leader’s and mangers on topics such as safeguarding, role expectations and accurate recording. This ensures that the staff have the right skills and knowledge to respond to the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision sessions in individual and group formats. Discussions are detailed and include the child’s progress, staff wellbeing practice, and professional development. This has provided learning opportunities for staff to develop their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Professionals provided positive feedback about the manager and staff. They have no concerns about the quality of care provided to the child and highlight effective communication.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have met 2 of the requirements and 3 recommendations from the last inspection. 2 requirements have been restated and 3 new ones have been raised at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2823748 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/12/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2823748 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s risk assessments provide staff with accurate guidance to help them keep children safe. 16 April 2026

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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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 16 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 16 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2823748 6 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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory fire reform order 2005 applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

The registered person, must ensure that the requirements of the Order and any regulations made under it except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 16 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 16 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2823748 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leighview Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 23a Orsett Road, Grays RM17 5DS

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Sibangani Mswelanto

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Inspector

Syvanna Matthew, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2823748 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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