Children's Home run by Educare Support Limited in Enfield

Inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 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 and support for up to 5 children with social and emotional difficulties. There were 4 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2020. The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 23 January 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2025 Full Good 06/03/2024 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or out of the home. The children are settled and they are making good progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that staff are supportive, caring and available when they need them. Staff have warm and positive relationships with the children. They know the children well and understand their individual needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children with their day-to-day life skills, such as cooking, budgeting and developing their independence. Leaders and managers work collaboratively with local authorities to ensure that children benefit from careful transition planning as they prepare for adulthood and independent living.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are all in education and receive awards for their achievements. The manager and staff ensure that children go to school in the morning and are collected at the end of the day. Children have ambitious career goals, and education achievements are celebrated with awards displayed in the home’s communal areas.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with local health services. Each child is registered with a GP, optician and dentist. In addition, staff support children to complete their statutory annual health review assessments and help them to attend health appointments as needed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children to plan their activities, hobbies and holidays. Children say that they have enjoyed many day trips in the UK and their holidays abroad. However, the children also say that they would like to do more activities in the spacious garden at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s rights are promoted in the home. Staff capture children’s voices through frequent discussions with them. Children are encouraged to actively participate in decision-making about their day-to-day lives, such as planning weekly menus and suggesting home improvements. This helps them to prepare for independence and gives them a sense of responsibility and investment in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the home is clean, and leaders and managers respond promptly to address any issues in relation to the living environment. Children are also invited to decorate the home and their bedrooms to suit their individual tastes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Families say that the home provides a warm and nurturing environment for their children. Staff encourage the children to see their families regularly, helping them to have a sense of belonging and to understand their identity. The children appreciate the support that they receive to see their families. One child experienced a bereavement, and staff supported the child to process their emotions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 4

p.3

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

Children have made significant progress from their starting points; this includes a reduction in behavioural incidents, improved engagement and better routines. Staff offer children consistent support that promotes their stability and emotional wellbeing.

p.4

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

Children’s risk assessments are completed to a good standard. Leaders review risks monthly as part of the monitoring process. This helps staff to identify emerging risks, protect the children, and improve their safety and wellbeing in both the home and the local community.

p.4

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

Staff have a sound awareness of safeguarding. They encourage the children to share details of their friendship networks in the community, which staff can then take into account when considering children’s safety. Senior leaders have effective oversight of safeguarding, which helps to keep the children safe.

p.4

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

Children have individualised behavioural support management plans, which include information about behavioural triggers and identify the actions staff need to take to manage and reduce risks.

p.4

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

No children were missing at the time of this inspection. When children go missing from home, staff report and record missing episodes effectively. When children return home, they are offered return home interviews and they are supported to settle back in. External professionals and families are updated regarding any missing episodes.

p.4

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

Staff intervene promptly when incidents occur. Restorative discussions are held with the children to help them to understand the implications of their behaviour, and how staff can support them to manage their emotions and behaviour, to keep them safe.

p.4

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

Room searches are conducted when there are genuine concerns about children’s safety. Children say they know how to raise concerns.

p.4

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

Staff are aware of the whistleblowing process and can confidently apply it in practice.

p.4

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

Children are helped to understand rewards and sanctions. Senior leaders review these and ensure that they are applied effectively. The response to sanctions shows that there is sufficient management oversight to help and protect children, when incidents happen.

p.4

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

Staff are trained in physical intervention and use it effectively to resolve situations that may cause harm to children. Children are helped to understand why physical intervention is used, and this promotes learning about safe behaviour.

p.4

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

When necessary, staff challenge children on their communication methods and help them reflect on their behaviour and how it affects others. Staff reinforce positive conflict Inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 5 resolution skills using a therapeutic approach, to help children to remain calm and to avoid escalation of unsafe behaviours.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an ambitious vision and high expectations for children. They have comprehensive oversight of all areas of practice to ensure that the children receive high-quality care and experiences at the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an extensive understanding of the children’s backgrounds, needs and risks. They work effectively with other professionals, such as the police, local authorities, schools and the wider community to keep the children safe.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight is a top priority for leaders and managers. Children’s care plans are reviewed and updated in line with local authority plans for the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are suitably qualified and have the required experience to work with children in the home. Leaders and managers ensure that all staff have mandatory and specialised training relating to the needs of the children. The registered manager also delivers training based on his own learning and training. Staff meetings are used to discuss practice, congratulate staff and look at areas for improvement and development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive regular and consistent supervision regarding children’s progress, and they have developed a culture of enabling staff to develop their careers. Staff appraisals are prioritised, helping leaders and staff to identify strengths and areas for improvement; this helps the staff to keep motivated and dedicated to their work with the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Senior leaders exercise strong and effective oversight of the home, both in person and remotely. During the inspection, leaders were seen to have positive interactions with the children, indicating that they know the children well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are extremely proud of the progress that the children have made, and of their strong relationships with children’s families and external professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities, both inside and outside the home (where appropriate), and are encouraged to participate in those activities. This specifically relates to talking to children about how best they can use the spacious garden in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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: 2569345 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

Inspectors

Stella Namakula, social care inspector Chelsea Agyeman, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2569345 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

Inspectors

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

Inspectors

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

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8