Children's Home run by Westmont College Limited in Redbridge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 1 Registered provider: Westmont College 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 registered with Ofsted in August 2023 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2026.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 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: 2722575 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 last inspection, a registered manager has been appointed. The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. They are working hard to establish relationships with other professionals including social workers and the police.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a small full-time staff team in place and agency staff are rarely used. The child is settled and has established positive relationships with some staff, including the new manager.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff maintain regular contact with the child’s family. The child benefits from improved relationships with their family, they spend quality time together as the family regularly visit the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is not in a formal education provision. Engagement with online tuition is inconsistent and compromised by the absence of a structured daily routine. The registered manager has worked closely with the social worker and virtual school to find a provision and a plan for the child to start college is being considered.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s risk assessments are detailed and relevant to the child’s current needs. The manager notifies staff of any changes to the child’s care plan or risk assessments. Regular network meetings are held with the social worker. The registered manager is strengthening their monitoring processes, which includes how they review incidents and periods when the child is missing from home.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been an increase in missing from home incidents. Staff follow agreed protocols and the child allows staff to track their mobile phone. Staff do not consistently log where the child is or visit the places where the child is known to be. A risk management meeting has not been convened to clarify professionals’ roles and responsibilities. The lack of collaborative review to implement actions to reduce the child’s missing from home incidents leaves the child vulnerable to exploitation.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager implements a clear procedure in response to complaints they receive. Staff practice concerns are investigated by an external professional and appropriate action is taken.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight of training needs improvement. There is no clear plan to address gaps in staff learning or to ensure staff complete required training. Staff attend therapeutic sessions with an external consultant. They do not yet benefit from monthly reflective sessions to inform their work in line with the homes statement of purpose. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 3 Long-standing bank staff, including the deputy manager do not have the required level 3 diploma qualification. At the time of the inspection, some staff were out of timescales. The leadership and management team were looking to enrol staff on this training.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager provides regular supervision to staff. Team meetings are held monthly. Safeguarding practice is a topic that is regularly discussed however there are delays in some new staff members completing formal safeguarding training as part of the induction process. Staff induction, probation and annual appraisals are in the process of being reviewed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/06/2024 Full Good 30/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 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 registered person must lead and manage the home in a way that—

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Requirement Due date

is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensures that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understands the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child, and uses this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person implementing a system to ensure that that staff receive training in line with the statement of purpose and regulation. In particular, staff must receive timely training in safeguarding and the therapeutic care of children, and they must be enrolled and working towards the level 3 diploma qualification within the required time frame. 14 June 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 6 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b)(c) (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff, including the manager, complete an induction, that their probationary period is reviewed and that staff receive a good-quality annual performance appraisal. 14 June 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they help the child to establish a daily routine that will help them prepare for the school day. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that multi-agency risk management meetings take place to review the child’s support strategies in response to an increase in missing-from-home incidents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.32) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Westmount College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 28 to 42 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BA

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2722575 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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Inspector

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