Children's Home run by Inclusive Children Services Ltd in Waltham Forest

Inspection report for children’s home: 2830752 1 Registered provider: Inclusive Children Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to 5 children aged 8 to 17 with social and emotional difficulties and learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in October 2025. The manager was registered at the same time. This is the first inspection of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living at the home.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2830752 2

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Summary of findings

Children are settled and well cared for at the home and there are no safeguarding concerns. One child sometimes returns to the home later than expected, but staff ensure that the child returns safely. Strong multi-agency work helps to ensure that children receive specialist support when necessary. Leadership and management in the home are outstanding and there is innovative work taking place to give the children positive experiences and a strong foundation for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The outstanding leadership in the home means that children are making progress and have positive experiences in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming family environment. They are settled and have close relationships with the staff. One child said that staff have ‘done so much to make the house homely’. Children’s bedrooms are personalised according to their interests. One child is passionate about transport and this is reflected in their bedroom décor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities, such as ice skating, museum trips and weekly football sessions. There are also weekly baking sessions, which add to the familial feel of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take cultural diversity seriously. One child was previously ashamed of their culture, but staff have had reflective discussions with the child to encourage them to appreciate and take pride in their heritage. The child now eats their cultural foods at various restaurants and in the home and staff support the child to receive the right hair care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to take their learning seriously and to develop life skills. All the children are in education and they complete an ‘independent skills programme’. This programme helps them to develop skills, such as money management and personal hygiene, and encourages them to consider future career goals. Children also complete digital key work sessions, where they learn skills, such as using cutlery and how to get dressed. These sessions are there as a constant reminder to the children about their progress and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are taken seriously. For example, after getting children’s feedback, there are now pets in the home. During children’s meetings, there are discussions about family time, bedroom décor and educational topics, such as safety. Children are also starting to take part in the home’s recruitment process. Some of their questions will be featured in future interviews. This helps the children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to maintain safe relationships with their family members. One parent said how much they appreciate the quality time they spend with their children. Staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2830752 3 make sure that another child sees their twin who does not live in the home. When it was their birthday, staff arranged for the twins to spend the day together in central London, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When new children move in, leaders and managers assess their needs alongside the needs of the other children living in the home. Consequently, children experience well- planned transitions into the home. When children leave the home, managers reflect on and learn from the quality of care that they received. Managers also ensure that the children in the home understand why other children move on from the home.

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

Leaders and staff demonstrate a sound understanding of the children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Effective partnership work with external agencies helps to ensure the safety of the children. Staff refer children to external professionals, when specialist help is required. Children’s risk assessments outline strategies to help staff manage and mitigate any risks.

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

For the current children in the home, there have been no serious incidents. Staff help children to complete their own behavioural support plans. This helps the children to understand the factors influencing their emotions and how staff can support them.

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

One child sometimes returns home after their agreed curfew. When they are away from the home, staff maintain contact with the child and their family to ensure their safety. When the child returns home, staff always have reflective discussions with them to discuss their safety.

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

Staff ensure that children attend their routine and specialist health appointments. Leaders and managers also have suitable oversight of children’s medication.

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

Managers ensure that all staff are safely recruited before working with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an ambitious vision and high expectations for children. They ensure that children receive high-quality care and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive effective support. Team meetings are an encouraging space to reflect on practice and to hold educative conversations. Supervisions take place regularly and provide a balance of personal support and discussions about children’s progress. All staff have mandatory and specialised training relating to the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a culture of empowering staff, and staff feel appreciated by the managers. Staff are seen as ‘champions’. This allows them to lead other staff and support children in an area of their expertise. For example, the cooking and languages champion teaches the children and staff Spanish, and the health and fitness champion leads the children’s weekly football sessions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2830752 4 Feedback from professionals and parents is positive. One social worker said that the consistency of care and routine have supported noticeable improvements for the child. Another social worker said that communication is timely and collaborative. A child’s parent described feeling ‘blessed’ that their child is living in this home. They appreciate the diligence of staff and the constant communication. Leaders and managers are proud of the progress that the children have made, and of their strong relationships with

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

children’s families and external professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have comprehensive oversight of all areas of practice to ensure that the children receive consistent care. They are in the process of ensuring that they receive children’s local authority plans in a timely way. They also understand the importance of children’s records being written in a way that makes the information easy to find. For example, making an easily identifiable record if a child makes a grumble or if there is a behavioural issue. Inspection report for children’s home: 2830752 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that information in children’s files is written and identified in a way that is easy to find. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they consistently escalate concerns with placing authorities, when there are delays in receiving children’s plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3) Inspection report for children’s home: 2830752 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: 2830752 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inclusive Children Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 46 The Ridgeway, North Harrow, Harrow HA2 7QN

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Inspector

Chelsea Agyeman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2830752 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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