Children's Home run by Elm Lodge Residential limited in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2852392 1 Registered provider: Elm Lodge Residential Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2025 and is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 2 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. The inspector spoke with the child during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

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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 children’s home: 2852392 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. The child has individualised plans in place that provide good guidance for staff. Staff encourage the child to engage in age- appropriate activities and build independence skills. Staff assist the child in connecting with their social network. 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

The environment is homely and well decorated. The child’s bedroom and the games room are tailored to the child’s taste. The child helped design the games room and chose the decor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is enrolled in education, and the staff are proactive with supporting the child’s engagement with their studies. Staff support the child with well-considered plans. 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

The child is encouraged to engage in activities. They enjoy bowling, gaming, and building LEGO. Staff support the child in visiting and spending time with their family. The child is supported with making friends and is involved in a Children in Care Council. This helps the child express their views and experiences of being in care and provides them with opportunities to have a better social network.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child engages in meaningful key-work sessions that support their understanding of relevant topics and provide a space for reflection following incidents.

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

Risks are identified, understood and managed well. When incidents occur, staff use appropriate de-escalation techniques that work well. When the child has left the home without permission, staff are proactive in keeping the child in sight, resulting in no missing-from-home episodes.

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

The manager has good oversight of incidents and sets out clear action plans for staff and the child. Action plans are followed up during key-work sessions, positively impacting the child’s behaviour. Since the child has moved in, there has been a decline in incidents for them.

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

The child’s risk assessments are kept up to date with any new concerns. They are clear and include appropriate information to support staff in caring for the child safely. The child was involved in a fire drill the day after they moved into the home. Inspection report children’s home: 2852392 3 Staff communicate effectively with professionals and advocate for the child, which has led to the child’s views being shared during meetings. Feedback from professionals and family members is positive, with one parent saying that the child is happier in the home and is safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A professional, knowledgeable and reflective management team runs the home. Managers have identified areas of strength and weakness in the home and have plans in place to make changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have received mandatory and additional training in accordance with the child’s individual needs. Plans are in place to deliver further specialised training. However, one staff member has failed to attain their level 3 qualification within the necessary time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and agency workers are safely recruited, and all relevant checks are carried out. Staff receive regular supervision, allowing them space to express any concerns, look at their training and development and discuss the child and their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Several members of staff have provided positive feedback about working in the home, saying that they feel supported and that the home is a positive and welcoming place to work. The staff’s enthusiasm for the care they deliver was evident during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home registered with Ofsted, leaders and managers have used more than 50% of agency staff at one time, which could affect the professional relationships and care that the child receives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When the home first opened, leaders and managers were unable to source an independent person to visit; therefore, there were 2 months without independent scrutiny. This could affect the learning and development of leaders and managers. This is now in place. Inspection report children’s home: 2852392 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have attained the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant time frame listed in regulation 32(5). The registered person may extend the time period if the member of staff has taken prolonged leave, such as sick or maternity leave, or if the nature of their hours makes it unreasonable to expect them

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Recommendations

to achieve the qualification within the given time frame. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should ensure that no more than half the staff on duty at any one time, day or night, are from an external agency. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.17)

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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 children’s home: 2852392 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Elm Lodge Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 47 Elm Road, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea SS3 9PD

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Inspector

Abby Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2852392 6 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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