Children's Home run by Heartwood RSC Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2497538 1 Registered provider: Heartwood RSC Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2497538 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/04/2025 Full Good 21/05/2024 Full Good 29/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2497538 3

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Summary of findings

The home is run by a committed and focused manager who has highly effective oversight. Staff are dedicated to meeting children’s individual needs and helping them to make exceptional progress. Leaders and staff have created a strong learning culture. Children feel at home and see staff as their extended family. Professionals and families gave excellent feedback on the progress children make, with one professional describing the home as ‘exceptional’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

At the time of this inspection, 4 children were living in the home. Children are provided with permanence and stability. Historically, 3 children have experienced high levels of disruption and change, with many previous living arrangements coming to an unplanned end. This is the most stable period all the children have experienced since being accommodated by the local authority. Managers and staff understand children’s histories well and provide them with a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have made excellent progress from their individual starting points. All 4 children have faced adverse life experiences that have affected their emotional wellbeing and educational progress. Staff work closely with external professionals to provide ongoing, targeted support. Children are now engaging in educational provisions tailored to their needs. Staff maintain a strong focus on education while consistently modelling healthy emotional regulation. Children are much happier and have developed effective strategies to manage their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff celebrate children’s achievements, helping to build children’s confidence and sense of accomplishment. The manager and staff arranged a celebration day for the children. Each child received an award that reflected their individual achievements throughout the year. All the staff and external professionals took part in celebrating with the children. Children thoroughly enjoyed the day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff make determined efforts to help children build positive relationships with their friends and families. All 4 children have developed stronger family connections and are supported by staff to manage their relationships in a safe and natural way. The manager and staff consistently develop their relationships with the children’s support networks and provide families with weekly updates. Staff sensitively provide guidance and support to children’s family members. One family member said, ‘They (staff) have made me feel like a mum again.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a wide range of high-quality activities, extra-curricular clubs and trips. Staff know children’s individual interests and encourage them to try new experiences, ensuring that they have a wealth of opportunities. Children go abroad on holiday once a year and highlighted this as being one of their favourite times of the year. Inspection report for children’s home: 2497538 4 The home is warm and welcoming, providing a genuine sense of family life. Children’s bedrooms are individualised and reflect their interests and personalities. Children make great use of the ample communal rooms and their own private spaces. The garden is well maintained and offers a range of outdoor activities for the children, including a trampoline and a swimming pool. Creating such a pleasant and nurturing home helps the children to feel valued. An external professional said, ‘There is a real sense of family here.’

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

Children receive extensive help and support from staff. Warm, trusting relationships between children and staff enable children to talk through their worries. One child, who is vulnerable to exploitation, was able to share important information with staff, which helped staff to keep them safe.

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

The number of significant incidents has decreased. This includes incidents of children going missing from home. Staff respond to incidents in line with children’s individualised plans. They know the children well and use de-escalation strategies to help them remain calm during times of distress. When staff physically intervene to keep children safe, this is appropriate and proportionate. Records are clear, thorough and child focused.

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

Rewards and praise heavily outweigh consequences, and children have individually designed incentive charts that are highly effective in encouraging them to develop independence skills. This helps children to make positive choices.

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

Staff take proactive steps to ensure that children receive the support they need to meet their specific health needs. When concerns arise, staff are persistent in the support they provide to children. Staff promote children’s understanding of healthy lifestyles and positive relationships. The manager ensures that children receive appropriate help from specialist professionals and that all staff receive training that reflects the children’s specific needs. This helps to ensure that children receive consistent advice and support.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Allegations are managed in line with company procedures and guidance. The manager makes appropriate decisions that safeguard children when concerns arise. Allegations are managed transparently and proportionately, with extensive oversight from leaders and managers. The manager works collaboratively with relevant safeguarding partners to ensure that concerns are investigated appropriately. Learning from allegations and concerns is discussed in depth during staff supervision sessions and team meetings. This helps to create a strong safeguarding culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a dedicated and experienced manager who has high expectations of the staff, ensuring that children receive exceptional care. The manager leads by example Inspection report for children’s home: 2497538 5 and can confidently challenge practice that is not in line with the home’s values and ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers provide an exceptional level of managerial oversight. They provide analytical and reflective reviews of staff practice and children’s care plans. This supports the manager to develop a thorough understanding of the children and any patterns and trends in their behaviours. Leaders and managers use this information to create proactive action plans to help reduce incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff said that they feel supported by leaders and managers. They receive regular supervision sessions that are reflective and focus on their individual developmental needs. Monthly team meetings are well attended and provide opportunities for learning. The manager uses theoretical models and approaches to enhance staff’s knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Practice-based examples are regularly explored during team meetings and supervision sessions. Staff are consistently encouraged and supported to reflect on their day-to-day practice and develop their therapeutic skills. This reflective approach has built consistency across the team and increased staff’s confidence in delivering trauma- informed care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is diverse and includes individuals with a range of different backgrounds and identities. Staff feel able to raise new and creative ideas to support children, and these are welcomed and implemented by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is meticulous with her checks when recruiting new staff to ensure that they are well suited to the role. This helps her to create a strong team that provides excellent care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2497538 6

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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: 2497538 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Maisy Griggs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2497538 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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