Children's home run by Lavender Grove Cares Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 1 Registered provider: Lavender Grove Cares 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 home provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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This monitoring visit

At the last inspection on 11 February 2026, Ofsted identified serious concerns in relation to the care and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. As a result, Ofsted served a notice to suspend registration.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor whether the provider was complying with the suspension of registration in place and to review the progress made by the provider to meet the requirements set at the previous inspection. No children have lived at the home since the last inspection. The provider has complied with the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

The company director supported this inspection as the registered manager and nominated responsible individual did not attend.

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This monitoring visit

Leadership and management arrangements at the home are unclear. The previous responsible individual has resigned. The current registered manager, while currently continuing to manage the home, has resigned from their post. They have submitted a voluntary cancellation of their registration to Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 2 A new responsible individual has been appointed and commenced her role. However, senior leaders have not completed all safer recruitment checks specified by regulation to ensure her suitability. Furthermore, they have not demonstrated that they have undertaken suitable checks to assure themselves of suitability of skills or experience.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to take action to address the shortfalls raised at the last inspection. Arrangements for monitoring and oversight have not been reviewed, revised or strengthened. Leaders and managers have not identified or implemented systems to support better recording, monitoring or the identifying of learning to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not brought in improvements to ensure that safeguarding arrangements protect children from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not clearly defined an induction protocol for agency staff to ensure they understand their role and the needs of the children to help keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not demonstrated how they have assured themselves that staff have the skills and knowledge to safely care for children. Staff do not have the skills and experience to keep children safe. Staff have not completed further training to ensure they demonstrate the curiosity, compassion and skills necessary to care for children.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements from the last inspection are not met and are therefore restated. A further requirement in relation to the safe recruitment of staff is also set. The recommendation made at the last full inspection was not reviewed as part of this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/04/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/04/2024 Full Good 20/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 4

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 19 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 5 In particular, the manager should ensure that staff understand their roles in safeguarding children and make effective arrangements to protect children from harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that 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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 19 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 19 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 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).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; 28 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 7 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home maintains a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ environment. In particular, additional security items such as door alarms should only be used when there is an assessed need. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lavender Grove Cares Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Gothic Cottage, Moreton Road, Ongar CM5 0EZ

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Inspector

Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2569520 9 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 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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Inspector

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