Children's Home run by Aqua Children’s Homes Ltd in Essex

Inspection report for children's home: 2830443 1 Registered provider: Aqua Children’s Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for one child who has learning disabilities and or emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since December 2025. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2830443 2

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Summary of findings

The managers and staff are providing a good level of care. Staff are well trained, which supports their understanding of the child’s needs. Staff show a good level of professional curiosity. The child has bespoke plans in place that are followed by staff. The child knows how to make a complaint and their views are taken seriously. Staff encourage the child to engage in age-appropriate activities and build independence skills. Overall, the child receives a good level of care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This was the home’s first inspection since it was registered with Ofsted in October 2025. At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home. The child was spoken to during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage the child’s behaviour in a child-friendly way. There are clear and consistent boundaries in place. These have supported the child’s development. Any achievements are celebrated. The staff implement consequences and rewards to support the child’s understanding of their behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child with their independence, to help prepare for their future. The child can now independently use public transport. Staff have introduced safe places where the child can go, which helps the child to feel part of the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to share their views. They have made one complaint, which was thoroughly explored and managed in a timely way. The child said that they felt listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to engage in activities and enjoys bowling, ice-skating and going to the gym. The child spends time with their family and is supported by staff with these visits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child to fully benefit from key-work sessions that cover relevant topics, using communication that the child prefers, such as email or text. The staff show a good level of professional curiosity and cover important safety issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is homely, with nicely decorated communal areas. There is a good-sized well- kept garden that attracts squirrels The child takes pride in keeping their private bathroom clean and tidy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s preferred methods of communication and use social media apps and mobile phones to communicate with the child. Most staff have English as a second language, and this can make it hard for some of them to clearly understand the child. This can be frustrating for the child. Inspection report for children's home: 2830443 3

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

The child has trusted relationships with staff. This has enabled them to call the staff for support when they were away from home which on one occasion helped them to be safer. This has helped the child feel safe and listened to.

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

When needed, staff have used de-escalation techniques to minimise potential incidents. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort by staff to keep themselves and the child safe. Following any interventions, there are debriefs with the child and staff, to encourage improved practice and additional learning. Physical interventions are proportionate and clearly documented.

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

The staff work with the police to support and protect the child. They have advocated for the child to ensure any concerns are reported and dealt with in a timely manner. This helps the child to feel listened to and keeps them safe.

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

Staff clearly follow procedures for responding to concerns about the safety of the child. Staff communicate well with social workers and police to ensure the child receives effective care and support.

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

The child is encouraged to take age-appropriate risks. The staff support the child effectively to ensure that they are safe. Bespoke risk assessments are up to date and clearly guide staff in how to reduce and manage risk. This has helped the child’s parent to feel confident about their child’s care.

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

The home’s location risk assessment does not include all potential risks in the local area, including risks associated with local train stations. This does not fully support the child’s safety, because the child uses public transport.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team is professional, reflective and knowledgeable. They are open to making improvements. The manager can identify the home’s strengths and weaknesses.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new to the manager’s role. She is proactive with her own learning and development. The manager has a mentor who is supporting her transition to management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the child’s needs and is invested in the child’s care. She has high aspirations and communicates with relevant professionals to ensure age-appropriate plans support the child’s future moves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff receive regular and effective supervision sessions. These provide staff with a space to raise any concerns and reflect on their practice. The management team carries out spot checks on staff to ensure that they are fulfilling their work duties. The manager supports staff when practice improvements are required. Inspection report for children's home: 2830443 4 The management team ensures that the home is maintained to a high standard. There are improvement plans to address necessary redecorations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training, development and induction activities are effective and reflect the child’s specific needs. Team-building activities take place regularly in team meetings. These improve staff morale and their working relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Several members of staff provided positive feedback and said that they feel supported by the management team to meet the child’s needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2830443 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff who can communicate in the child’s first language are more readily available. 4 June 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. In particular, update the location risk assessment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) Inspection report for children's home: 2830443 6

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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: 2830443 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aqua Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Trafalgar House, 712 London Road, West Thurrock, Essex RM20 3JT

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Inspector

Abby Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2830443 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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