Children's Home run by Educare Support Limited in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 1 Registered provider: Educare Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care for up to 3 children who experience behavioural and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/05/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 3

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Summary of findings

Managers and staff demonstrate a strong and consistent commitment to delivering effective care to children who have significant vulnerabilities. Managers and staff work collaboratively with external agencies to promote positive outcomes and ensure that children receive coordinated support.

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Summary of findings

Leadership is effective, providing regular supervision and team meetings that support staff development and understanding of risk. As a result, staff are well guided and equipped to safeguard children and protect them from harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff work effectively in partnership with external agencies, ensuring a coordinated and proactive approach to safeguarding and supporting children. These collaborative efforts help to build trusting and positive relationships with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children's education is promoted effectively and creatively. Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting children's learning and future aspirations, including arranging job interviews and seeking opportunities with local businesses to provide meaningful work experience placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a broad range of purposeful and enjoyable activities that contribute positively to their wellbeing and development. Regular opportunities, such as baking, visits to local parks and trips to the cinema enable children to build confidence, develop resilience and form positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop essential independence skills, including managing money, grocery shopping and preparing healthy meals within a budget. These opportunities help build their confidence and enhance their independence and wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to express their views. They take part in regular house meetings and are involved in planning their weekly activities. This helps children to feel listened to and promotes a sense of belonging and ownership over their daily lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are persistent and supportive in encouraging children to access healthcare services, particularly when children may be reluctant to engage. This ensures that children's health needs are appropriately monitored and addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm, welcoming and well maintained both internally and externally. However, opportunities for children to personalise their bedrooms are not maximised, which limits children's ability to reflect their identity within their own space. Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 4 In one instance, a child's bedroom was found to be unkempt, with a noticeable odour and stale food present.

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the children's individual vulnerabilities from the outset. Risk assessments are detailed and identify key concerns, including missing- from-home episodes, substance misuse and child criminal exploitation. Staff work effectively in partnership with external agencies to reduce these risks and promote children's safety.

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

There is a clear emphasis on direct work with children to help them understand risks and make safer choices. Staff show persistence in their approach and maintain positive relationships with children, which supports engagement despite ongoing challenges.

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

However, for one child, despite sustained efforts from staff and partner agencies, there has been limited progress in reducing risk-taking behaviours. In this case, opportunities have been missed to strengthen early risk assessment processes and to demonstrate greater professional curiosity in understanding the underlying factors contributing to these risks. Furthermore, there are significant concerns regarding peer-on-peer risk, both within the home and in the community, where staff have not yet been able to provide sufficient or effective support.

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

One child finds it difficult express their emotions in a safe way. At times, this results in incidents of property damage. Despite this, they have made measurable progress since moving into the home. This positive development is recognised by both their parent and previous foster carer, indicating improved stability and support.

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

While there is support in place for children's risk-taking behaviours, both children continue to vape and smoke cannabis. Staff report that one child presents with low mood when they do not have access to a vape. As a result, the current approach lacks consistency in helping children to fully understand the risks, peer pressures and potential health implications associated with vaping and cannabis misuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children benefit from a stable and consistent management team that also ensures staff feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high expectations of staff. For example, when one staff member's practice in recording and children's behaviour management did not meet the home's standards, they were supported to reflect on this, guided by the manager. They were helped to look at effective alternatives and given examples to learn from. The registered manager also recognised the value of creating multiple opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice through quality team meetings and impromptu discussions. Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 5 The team has received relevant training, which supports it in recognising and responding to risk-taking behaviours. This knowledge is reinforced through regular supervision and team meetings, where staff reflect on children's lived experiences. As a result, staff are increasingly able to provide care that is informed, responsive and focused on reducing

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and management regularly review and assess standards of care and ensure that staff have the appropriate skills and competencies to carry out their work effectively. There are effective safer recruitment practices in place, and staff feel supported during their planned induction period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have formed effective working relationships with external professionals. One social work manager shared that the manager and staff have been 'incredibly resilient and accommodating of the child and the risks that they are vulnerable to'. They also noted that the staff are 'thorough, supportive and communicative'. These effective working partnerships with other agencies have supported staff to be aware of the children's experiences outside of the home and plan for their safety. Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 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, 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1) (2) (a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(b)) 20 September 2026

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)) 20 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 7 In particular, ensure that the home's policy reflects vaping. In particular, ensure that children are taught about the risks of vaping and that effective measures are in place to support them to understand the risks and support them to stop.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children live in a warm and welcoming environment with a homely feel. Damage in children's bedrooms should be repaired in a timely manner. The registered person should also ensure that children’s bedrooms are personalised and are maintained to a good standard. ('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 for children's home: 2808723 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Educare Support Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 453 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex IG2 6EW

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Christopher O'Nions

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Inspectors

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Inspector Rose Joseph, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2808723 9 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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