Children's Home run by Heartwood RSS Limited in Redbridge

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2701539 1 Registered provider: Heartwood RSS Limited

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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

The home registered with Ofsted on 19 December 2022. The manager has applied to be registered.

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Information about this children's home

There were no children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2701539 2

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Summary of findings

The home was inspected across one day. Finding at the inspection indicted that the home is making progress towards the requirements issued he last full inspection. The findings at this inspection are that there is a development plan that is being actioned for the home to be ready to accommodate children from August 2026.

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Previously raised requirements have not been fully addressed. The requirement has therefore been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has undergone refurbishment work. The home welcoming and well main- tained. The environment is clean and tidy throughout. Children can personalise their bedrooms, so that they have a warm personal space for them to enjoy.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been no children living at the home since the March 2026. One child has left the home and the transition to the new home was planned and supported by staff. Staff from the home moved to the new placement to help the child to feel sup- ported with staff that they formed good relationships with.

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Findings from the inspection

There is still work to be done to establish a consistent staff team. There has been no permanent manager in post, and there has also been a change of responsible indi- vidual since the last inspection. The homes manager now in post has submitted their registered managers application.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and Managers have recruited five permanent full-time members of staff. This will support the staff to provide consistency in care and stability for children. Children will have opportunities to form relationships with staff who understand their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have created new monitoring systems which will support them to have a holistic overview of the home. This will support leaders and manager to evaluate the quality of care.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff will complete the homes induction and training before the home is re-opened. Staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities, including specialist courses. Staff competency tests are planned, alongside reflective learning Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2701539 3 discussions in team meetings and supervision sessions. These approaches will help to strengthen the team’s ability to embed learning into practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reviewed the home s Statement of purpose. During the induction staff will receive a copy of the Statement of Purpose. The statement of purpose will be discussed in supervisions and team meeting to ensure that the model of care is embed in practice.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/07/2024 Full Good 18/04/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2701539 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 and apply the home's statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff understand the home's statement of purpose so that they are able to deliver care in line with the ethos, aims and objectives outlined in the statement.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 18/08/2026

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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

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; 18/08/2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2701539 5 help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is a stable staff team in place to build positive relationships with children. In addition, staff must ensure that they are able to identify risks to children and take action to reduce these risks, leading to meaningful change. For example, this includes reducing the frequency of children missing from the care of staff and working effectively with children so they can develop an understanding of how to help keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they continually monitor the work in the home, so they understand children's progress and develop staff practice to 18/08/2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2701539 6 support progress as needed. The registered person must also ensure that the home is delivering the home's aims and objectives and that there is a stable workforce to provide consistent, well-informed care to children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Heartwood RSS Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG3 9JX

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Inspector

Helen Daniel, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2701539 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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