Children's Home run by SV Care Services Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children's home: 2846728 1 Registered provider: SV Care 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

This privately run home provides care for up to 4 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

A manager has been in post since June 2026 and has not submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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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: 1 December 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2846728 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/12/2025 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2846728 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive warm individualised care from staff who know them well. Staff build trusting relationships with children which help them to feel safe and make progress. Children's education, emotional wellbeing and therapeutic needs are well supported. Thoughtful planning helps children to experience positive moves. Leaders and managers know the children well, support staff effectively and provide a reflective culture. Safeguarding arrangements are effective overall. The staff understand children's risks and vulnerabilities. While some shortfalls have been identified in the response to children going missing-from-the home and in the recording, and review of some physical interventions, these do not detract from the overall quality of care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 7 children have moved into the home and 5 have moved out. At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living at the home. One of these children moved into the home during the inspection. The children did not take part in the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from warm, nurturing relationships with staff who know them well and understand their individual needs. Staff speak about children with warmth and affection. Children are comfortable seeking support from staff, demonstrating the trusting relationships that have been established. A child who had recently moved into the home was made to feel welcome and safe. These positive relationships help children to settle and make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have improved children’s moves from the home. One child moved from the home in a carefully planned way to another home. The move reflected the child's wishes and prompted continuity in the relationships that are important to them. When children have experienced unplanned endings, leaders and managers have provided reassurance and emotional closure. The staff have visited children in their new homes to help them understand the reasons for their move and reassure them that they remain cared for. Two children were supported to meet with staff who had left the home. This gave them the opportunity to say goodbye. These thoughtful arrangements help children to experience endings in a positive and supportive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in education in ways that reflect their individual needs and circumstances. The education lead works collaboratively with staff, local authorities and education professionals to support children's learning. For one child, a detailed transition plan was developed to support their move into the provider's school. Another child was supported to access online tutoring and visit an alternative education provision before they moved on. Children have opportunities to complete education programmes to support their learning and develop independence. Inspection report children's home: 2846728 4 Children benefit from therapeutic support that is coordinated through regular team around the child meetings. For one child, a detailed six-week programme has been developed to help them understand their diagnoses and identify the best type of support. This information is shared with staff so that care is informed by the child's

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

individual needs. When children require additional therapeutic support leaders and managers advocated for increased clinical involvement to meet their emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their wishes and feelings in a variety of ways, including individual key-work sessions, children's meetings and the home's 'voice of the week' initiative. Children receive written responses following these discussions so that they understand how their views have been considered. When children raise complaints, managers provide written feedback that explains any action taken. This demonstrates to children that adults listen to them and take their concerns seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming and well-maintained home that continues to be improved. When areas of the home require refurbishment or replacement, managers take prompt action to address these. Children contribute to decisions about their home. One child has been involved in planning the refurbishment of the game’s room. This helps children to develop a sense of ownership and belonging.

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

Children have trusted relationships with staff. These include important conversations that help staff to understand children's experiences and needs. This also helps children to manager their emotions and make more positive choices.

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

Children have bespoke behaviour management and safety plans. These provide the staff with clear guidance on how to manage situations. Staff follow these plans to support children's individual needs and to keep them safe.

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

Children benefit from key-work sessions with the staff. These sessions cover a range of topics that are tailored to the children's needs. One child needed support to use the internet safely. Staff support children with their peer relationships through key-work sessions to learn about relationships.

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

There are occasions when children have been missing from the home. Staff have not always followed agreed plans and looked for children in the local area. Staff do not always show enough curiosity on where children have been when they return from a missing-from-home episode. On one occasion, staff knew where a child was and did not go and pick them up, advising that they must make their own way home. This is not a safe or nurturing approach.

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

During incidents staff use de-escalation techniques and on occasion physical interventions. Physical interventions have been proportionate and necessary to keep children and staff safe. However, there is a lack of consistent recording for physical incidents. There is not enough detail about the incident including the duration and if children were offered any medical attention afterwards. Conversations with children and Inspection report children's home: 2846728 5 staff do not consistently take place afterwards. These limit hearing the child's views and identifying learning for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed. Before taking up this role, the manager had been providing support to the home and had developed positive relationships with the children and staff. This helped to provide consistency during the change in leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious for children and staff. They have a clear understanding of the home's strengths and the areas that require further development. Leaders and managers know the children well, celebrate their achievements and can identify the progress that children make, including when improvements are needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have provided effective support during a recent period of increased challenge. This was introduced when there was a rise in significant incidents. This strengthened management oversight while providing continuity for children and staff. Leaders and managers have carefully reviewed these events, identifying learning and implementing actions to strengthen practice and improve the support provided to children. This demonstrates a reflective approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers invest in the development and wellbeing of staff. Clear workforce development plans identify opportunities for staff to develop new skills and increase their knowledge, helping to create a stable and competent workforce. Staff receive regular, reflective supervision sessions alongside wellbeing checks. One member of staff said that these conversations have had a positive impact on their practice and their personal wellbeing. Regular team meetings are well attended and ensure that important information about children, practice expectations and developments at the home are shared effectively. This helps to ensure that staff have the information to provide consistent care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular consultation with the home's clinical lead. These sessions provide staff with therapeutic insight into children's individual needs and help them to consider how they can adapt their practice. Staff consistently describe leaders and managers as approachable and supportive, particularly during the recent challenging period. They value the guidance they receive and feel well supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals speak positively about the leadership of the home. Although some acknowledged the recent challenges, they were able to identify the positive changes that leaders and managers have already implemented. Inspection report children's home: 2846728 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 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;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, strengthen the missing-from-home protocols. 2 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and 2 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2846728 7 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(b)(i)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that relevant medical checks are completed during and after advanced holds.

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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: 2846728 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: SV Care Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Arise Innovation Hub, Alan Cherry Drive, Chelmsford CM1 1QT

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Inspectors

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Abby Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2846728 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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