Children's Home run by Excellence Consulting Services Limited in Essex

Inspection report children's home: 2818768 1 Registered provider: Excellence Consulting Services Limited

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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 January 2025 and is privately owned. It offers care for up to 4 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.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: At the assurance inspection in February 2026 serious and widespread concerns were identified and compliance notices were served under regulations 12 and 13 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 alongside a restriction of accommodation. At this inspection, the compliance steps were reviewed and met. Inspection report children's home: 2818768 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/04/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report children's home: 2818768 3

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Summary of findings

The child is making progress and benefits from trusting, positive relationships with staff. Their wishes and feelings are listened to and acted on, supporting their sense of safety and belonging.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have reviewed and improved systems to strengthen placement planning and have prioritised staff training and development. However, risk assessments and plans are not consistently updated to reflect emerging risks. The manager has not taken appropriate action when concerns have been raised which limits overall management oversight.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into the home in line with the restriction of accommodation. One child moved out of the home after immediate notice was given due to escalating risks. One child remains at the home and contributed to the inspection.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys spending time with staff and actively engages in shared activities. They have organised a table football tournament for everyone to take part in. The child is going to a football match with their two favourite staff members. These interactions demonstrate trusting and positive relationships with staff. As a result, the child feels a sense of safety and belonging at the home.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff support the child to have time with significant people. The child was initially not permitted to spend time with a family member, the manager advocated for the child to spend time with them in a safe and planned way. This supports the child’s wishes, their emotional wellbeing and sense of identity.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff recognise the importance of education and actively encourage this. They arranged for a personalised good-luck video message from an idol to celebrate the start of the child’s exams. This thoughtful support motivated the child, boosted their confidence, and encouraged them to feel pride in their achievements.

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improvement to be good

The child’s views are listened to and respected. When the child expressed unhappiness with their bedroom, they were supported to choose an alternative room and move. This has helped the child to feel valued and supported.

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improvement to be good

The home is maintained to a good standard. The living room has a games area which supports the child’s interests. However, fire safety signage and fire equipment generate an institutionalised feel. Inspection report children's home: 2818768 4

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improvement to be good

The child is growing and developing and with that, their risks and vulnerabilities are changing. However, risk assessments have not been created or updated to reflect these new and emerging risks. This means that staff do not have up-to-date guidance to help them anticipate, manage, and respond to new or escalating risks. As a result, there is an increased risk that the child is not being supported in a planned or proportionate way which could compromise their safety and limit opportunities to support their independence and development safely.

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improvement to be good

The manager failed to review and act on concerns raised about staff practice. Although some immediate steps were taken to safeguard the child, the concerns were not formally acknowledged as a complaint. There was no evidence of a discussion with the staff members involved and the matter was not referred to the local authority designated officer (LADO) for independent oversight. This limits transparency and accountability and reduces the opportunity for learning and improvement. It also means that potential safeguarding issues were not subject to external scrutiny, which could compromise the child’s safety and wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

The manager has reviewed staff’s individual knowledge and skills to identify their professional development needs. Staff training workshops have taken place. Staff safeguarding quizzes are held weekly and further training with an external provider is planned to strengthen staff’s understanding of risk. This will support staff to respond more effectively to potential risks and helps to ensure that children are safeguarded by a more confident, knowledgeable and skilled staff team.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has reviewed and updated the guidance available to staff to support children when they are in the community. The revised guidance provides clearer expectations and practical strategies to help staff identify, manage, and respond to potential risks. As a result, staff are better equipped to support children outside the home.

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improvement to be good

An independent visitor has been appointed to strengthen safeguarding oversight and provide guidance. This enhances the home’s monitoring arrangements by offering external challenge and advice. This safeguards the children’s safety and wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

When incidents occur, staff and children are provided with a reflective discussion to ensure a full understanding of what happened and consider how situations can be managed more effectively in the future. Inspection report children's home: 2818768 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has been in post since September 2025 and registered with Ofsted in December 2025. She is working towards her level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has reviewed and strengthened the systems used to assess the needs of children moving to the home. This is to improve placement decision-making. The revised tool supports the manager to evaluate whether the home’s location, staff skills and knowledge, and the compatibility of children are appropriate for each referral. Once fully implemented, this will reduce the risk of unsuitable placements being made and help ensure children’s needs are met more effectively. However, this is yet to be used in practice, so its impact is not clear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff’s performance has not been appraised in the last year. This reduces opportunities to identify practice concerns, reinforce good practice or encourage continued professional development. As a result, there is limited oversight of staff effectiveness and accountability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff benefit from the recent training and have found the workshops helpful and worthwhile. As a result, staff feel more confident in their knowledge and skills. This supports improved consistency in the care and safeguarding provided to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Professional feedback about communication with the staff and manager is positive. School staff said that since the child has been living at the home, they have seen an increase in their confidence and emotional wellbeing. Inspection report children's home: 2818768 6

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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, 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)) 1 September 2026

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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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. 1 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2818768 7 (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b) (2) (f)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when information about the quality of a child’s care is shared, it is recognised as a complaint or concern and responded to with referrals made to external agencies such as the LADO when necessary. Also recognise and consider the impact of these concerns on children and identify areas for learning and improvement through actions taken and investigations carried out following the receipt and management of complaints.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. In particular, review the fire signage and equipment storage. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 15, paragraph, 3.9)

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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: 2818768 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Excellence Consulting Services Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom WC2H 9JQ

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Inspector

Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2818768 9 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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