Children's Home run by Secure Base Homes Limited in Barking and Dagenham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2752207 1 Registered provider: Secure Base Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned care home cares for one child with social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in April 2025. The registered manager post is vacant; the home’s manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home, and they spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: 2752207 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

Since the home’s last inspection, there have been significant changes to the staff team; including the appointment of a deputy team manager. This has strengthened the leadership and management of the home, which was a cause for concern at the home’s last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The care of children is good. Children share positive relationships with the staff team and enjoy living at the home. On arrival at the home, children settled in quickly, made steady progress and had good experiences. The child said, ‘I like my key worker, she’s funny. Staff are supportive; they want the best for me and give me praise when I do positive things.’ Professionals attending the child’s recent looked- after child’s review are supportive of the placement continuing.

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Findings from the inspection

As appropriate, some parents are involved in their children’s placement at the home. Some parents are very involved and spend time and visit with their child regularly, which is in accordance with children’s local authority care plans.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live healthy lifestyles. Soon after moving into the home, children register with a local GP and attend primary care appointments. Staff and external professionals work diligently to secure school placements for those children who do not attend school. Staff ensure that educational trips, such as visits to museums, take place to support and maintain children’s interest in learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff protect children from harm and abuse, and they comply with deprivation of liberty orders if in place. Care plans and risk assessments have improved since the last inspection and are of a good standard. Risk assessments are clear, highlighting all known risks and providing staff with strategies that help to reduce those risks. Staff are very familiar with missing-from-care protocols and take appropriate action when children’s whereabouts are unknown. However, not all children’s ‘grab bag’ packs contain full information to support the police with their search for missing children. Staff and leaders have made progress in reducing the frequency of when children go missing from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from effective behaviour management plans that promote their positive behaviour. The child said, ‘I’m working on regulating my emotions and not swearing at staff so much. When my behaviour isn’t good, staff remain calm; they know to give me space to work through issues.’ Staff manage incidents where children misuse substances or experience poor mental health or self-harm well. Managers ensure that key safeguarding incidents are shared with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are skilled in de-escalating critical incidents. They use restraint as a last resort to protect children and others from harm. Records have improved and are Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2752207 3 comprehensive. Managers take allegations made against staff seriously and manage these appropriately. Where there are concerns for children’s wellbeing, managers communicate often with key professionals so there is a well-understood response.

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Findings from the inspection

The leadership and management of the home have improved. Managers confirm the home is financially stable, and they have an appropriate referrals process in place. In addition, managers now regularly share independent monthly monitoring reports and the home’s revised statement of purpose with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have revised staff induction processes, which helps staff prepare for their roles and responsibilities. However, some staff still do not complete training that managers consider mandatory in a timely way.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff now receive regular supervision. However, some staff supervision records are not consistently completed as required.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers do not ensure that all required standards when recruiting staff are met. For example, managers do not consistently obtain evidence of applicants’ formal qualifications.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers’ communication with children’s professional networks is regular and effective. This ensures that all parties are aware of children’s progress and any issues or concerns that arise. A local authority team manager said, ‘I can’t fault staff’s communication with us. Reports are forwarded promptly and staff are managing [name of child] well. She is safe and risks are reducing. Leaders and managers have presence at the home, and staff are effective.’ Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2752207 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2752207 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must complete mandatory training as determined by the registered person. 1 April 2026

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must ensure that children’s ‘grab bag’ packs contain accurate and comprehensive information about children. 1 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

If an individual is employed by a person other than the 1 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2752207 6 registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must obtain evidence of applicants’ formal qualifications.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for all staff, including the manager. The record should evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2752207 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Secure Base Homes Limited

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2752207 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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