Children's Home run by Woodford Children's Services Ltd in Tower Hamlets

Inspection report for children's home: 2661346 1 Registered provider: Woodford Children's Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered with Ofsted in February 2022 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 4 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, 4 children were living at the home. The inspector spoke to 2 children during the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023. The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking if they have the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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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: 2661346 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2025 Full Good 20/08/2024 Full Good 24/01/2024 Full Good 08/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2661346 3

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Summary of findings

Children feel listened to and supported by staff, and their emotional and overall wellbeing needs are being met. Staff work in a child-centred way and show curiosity and interest in the children in their care. Staff are aware of the protocols when children go missing and notify relevant professionals promptly to keep children safe. Staff manage risks effectively through partnership working with the wider team around the child. Leaders and managers ensure that there is a stable staff team and continuity for children. Staff are provided with relevant training and supervision to achieve positive outcomes for children. Some aspects of the property, both inside and outside, are in need of attention, and improvements are needed to the oversight of recruitment. A small number of recommendations have been made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's moves into the home are thoughtful and well coordinated. Staff provide opportunities for children to visit the home in advance. They take time to introduce themselves to the child and explain the expectations. Staff also work alongside other professionals, enabling the children to have a positive and stable start.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move on from the home, they are supported by staff, with a planned transition carried out in collaboration with external professionals. Staff remain in contact with children who have moved on and support their friendships with current residents to continue their sense of belonging and normality. This helps all of the children to maintain stability and have confidence in staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a warm, nurturing and comfortable environment. Children's photos and their artwork are displayed in communal areas, helping the children to feel a sense of belonging. Children's bedrooms are decorated as per their interests. However, there is some water staining to walls and ceilings that has not been addressed, and there is evidence of debris following some guttering issues. These have an impact on the cleanliness, safety and presentation of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's immediate health needs are supported by staff. Staff use child-led strategies to ensure that children are healthy, and most, but not all, children are successfully encouraged to attend their health appointments. Medical professionals visit the home and support staff and children as needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff engage with children through one-to-one discussions and support them with their emotional wellbeing, working alongside external professionals as and when required. Staff use artwork and community-based activities as part of relationship building, helping the children to feel listened to and reassured. Inspection report for children's home: 2661346 4 Children's educational needs are well supported. For children not in full-time education, staff work alongside the children and have developed activity plans to ensure that they meet their academic targets. Staff work with external professionals and, for example, have supported children to register on a college course of their choice. Staff continue to use daily conversations and one-to-one sessions to encourage children to achieve well in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend a variety of activities of their choice in the community. Children are supported to develop their independence skills, which include food shopping and money management. As a result, children grow in their independence, self-esteem and overall wellbeing.

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

Children's vulnerabilities are understood by staff. Systems are in place for leaders and managers to ensure that they can provide the best support for children from the start of their placements. Staff are guided by a variety of assessments that includes risk, safety plans and a care and behaviour support plan. However, some placement plans lack the necessary consent documents to support the home in some of its decision-making.

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

Staff are aware of relevant protocols that need to be implemented to keep the children safe. Records are accessible, and the contact details of relevant professionals are available for staff to contact as required.

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

Children are reported missing promptly, in line with their plans. Staff notify and collaborate with external professionals and the child's family, and undertake room searches if appropriate. Plans are regularly reviewed with the professional network. Staff continue to make attempts to contact the child while they are missing. When children return, they are offered emotional support and helped to settle back into their routine.

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

Children are aware of the complaints process and are reminded regularly of their rights. The complaints made have been responded to appropriately. Staff have informed all relevant professionals as needed and kept the child informed of the outcome.

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

Staff work collaboratively with children to understand and develop relationships with their networks outside the home. This has resulted in children feeling accepted and valued.

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

Leaders and managers undertake safer recruitment. The home uses a combination of permanent and agency staff to meet the needs of the service. However, the registered person does not have oversight of all staff recruitment, and the documents are not readily available to enable them to ensure that all staff are recruited in line with the regulations. Inspection report for children's home: 2661346 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the time of the inspection, the registered manager had planned time away from home. This has been appropriately notified to Ofsted. Leaders and managers have put systems in place for the interim leadership arrangements during this period. There has been a change in the responsible individual. The new incumbent took over the role on 28 May 2026. The relevant paperwork has been submitted to Ofsted and is being reviewed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are aware of their strengths and have plans for the areas that require development. They are increasingly gaining feedback from external professionals and are seeking further challenge from the independent visitor. They have a stable staff team, supported as needed by a small number of consistent agency staff. As a result, children are familiar with the adults in the home and feel confident to reach out to them if they need support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and supervision are held regularly. Staff appreciate this support, which helps them to achieve positive outcomes with the children. Staff describe strong teamwork and feel well supported by their leaders and managers. They are confident about raising any concerns and say that managers listen to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff invest in the ethos of the home, promoting a safe and welcoming culture. They are provided with regular training and supported by the in-house psychotherapist, who helps to promote their wellbeing and consequently their relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work in partnership with the external team around the child. Information is shared with all relevant professionals, and there is evidence of joint working on any decisions made for the child. Professionals have consistently provided positive feedback on the partnership work with staff, contributing to the safeguarding and progress of the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2661346 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the home environment should be presentable, with no water stains on the walls or ceiling, and any damage to the walls should be promptly repaired. The garden area should be free from any debris. 14 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 14 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2661346 7 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is oversight of employment records in relation to all employees to ensure that the information is full and satisfactory.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure each child's attendance at the necessary primary and secondary health services. If a child does not attend the service, staff should inform and engage with all professionals who also hold a responsibility for the child's health to ensure that their health needs are met, and this contact should be clearly recorded. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 34, paragraph 7.11)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring. This should include obtaining regular feedback from all professionals and children to ensure continuous improvement. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that each child's placement plan sets out the

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Recommendations

permissions that their placing authority has delegated to them. This should include all relevant consent forms that the home requires to ensure that there is clarity on the home's ability to give permission and make decisions on behalf of children in care. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', pages 30 and 31, paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3)

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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: 2661346 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Woodford Children's Services Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 37B Chipstead Valley Rd, Coulsdon, Croydon CR5 2RB

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Inspector

Nirmal Gracian, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2661346 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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