Children's Home run by Next Generation Care Essex Ltd in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2797065 1 Registered provider: Next Generation Care Essex Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a small private organisation. It provides care for up to 2 children who may 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. The inspector spoke with the child during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2797065 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/04/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2797065 3

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Summary of findings

The child living at the home is receiving effective care and support. They are making progress. A child who has moved on from the home maintains ongoing contact with staff, which shows positive relationships were formed during their time at the home. When children go missing or make unsafe decisions, staff are responsive and supportive.

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Summary of findings

The manager did not ensure that one child’s move into the home was sufficiently well planned. This affected another child’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child currently lives at the home. Since the last inspection, one child left in an unplanned way, as staff were unable to meet their increasing needs. Leaders and staff have remained in contact with the child to ensure a positive ending. Children are able to take important items with them when they leave, helping them to maintain connections to their experience while living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child feels well supported by staff. They have plans for their future, and staff support them with their aspirations. Staff help the child to achieve positive outcomes and overcome adversity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value children’s relationships with their families. They work closely with professionals to support reunification. As a result, children are able to spend more time with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff show an interest in children and build positive relationships with them. They get to know children well, including their favourite activities and foods and when these things change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager considers the suitability of children living alongside each other. However, risks have not always been identified and managed effectively. One child’s experience was greatly affected by a manager’s decision to admit another child with similar vulnerabilities. Consequently, the children’s risks increased, as they travelled to unsafe areas together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is well decorated and homely. Staff celebrate cultural and sporting events taking place around the world. Children’s artwork is displayed in communal areas of the home to celebrate their interests and achievements.

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

Staff show warmth and understanding towards the children. They understand that children’s experiences can affect how they behave. Staff have regular conversations with Inspection report for children’s home: 2797065 4 children to address concerns and help them understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. This non-blaming approach helps children to be more open about the factors that influence their decision-making and may compromise their safety.

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

Staff understand the children’s risks and vulnerabilities and work to reduce these. Children’s individual support plans are clear and updated to provide guidance to staff on how to reduce further risks. Staff support children’s learning and awareness of risks, which has resulted in a reduction in children going missing from the home.

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

When children go missing from home, leaders and staff work effectively to ensure their safe return. Sometimes, they travel long distances to locate children and take them home. They work very closely with professionals, including police, the Youth Justice Board and social care. One social worker commented that staff go above and beyond to keep children safe.

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

Staff manage incidents well and use therapeutic approaches. Due to staff’s ability to de- escalate situations effectively, there has been only one incident involving the use of physical intervention since the last inspection. The manager maintains good oversight of incidents. They undertook reflective conversations with the staff and the child to ensure that the use of restraint was proportionate and fair and that the child felt safe.

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

When children return home under the influence of illicit substances, staff show appropriate curiosity. They carry out room searches when necessary to ensure that such substances are not brought into and stored in the home. Staff have conversations with the children to inform them of the risks and legal aspects of misusing substances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified and is dual registered to manage a sister home as well as this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads a dedicated team of staff who receive regular training and feel well supported in their roles. They report that morale is good and say that the home feels like a family setting. They are confident in their roles and feel able to express any concerns they may have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work closely with other professionals and children’s families. They regularly share relevant information with them to ensure that children’s needs are met. When children do not wish to attend meetings about their care, staff speak on their behalf to ensure that their voice is heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A social worker said, ‘Communication is excellent. Staff advocated for the child and did all they could to keep them safe.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive regular and reflective supervision. When shortfalls are identified in practice, they are quickly addressed. Staff are encouraged to access training and learning that support their growth and development. The manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2797065 5 ensures that staff’s views and opinions are discussed in team meetings and that staff are involved in relevant decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides staff with thoughtful guidance and support. They signpost them to outside organisations for further support when appropriate. However, these discussions are not always recorded and linked to supervision sessions. This has the potential to undermine the manager’s ability to monitor staff’s wellbeing and the impact on their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2797065 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 5 August 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records are maintained of conversations with staff regarding their wellbeing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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: 2797065 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Generation Care Essex Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Newlands End, Laindon, Essex SS15 6DU

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Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2797065 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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