Children's Home run by Lindersfield Children’s Home Ltd in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 1 Lindersfield Children’s Home Ltd

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in June 2026 and is privately run. It provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child is living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in July 2026, and the provider is in the process of recruiting a new manager.

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This monitoring visit

The inspection started on 4 August 2026. It was paused in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy. The inspector returned on 5 August 2026 to complete the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 7 and 8 July 2026. Shortfalls in safeguarding children, identifying and understanding risks and the leadership and management of the home were identified. Two compliance notices were served relating to the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. The number of children being cared for has been restricted.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the restriction of accommodation and review the actions taken to meet the steps as set out in the in the compliance notices. While some progress has been evidenced, the provider has not yet taken sufficient action to meet all the steps set out in both compliance notices. A new compliance notice has been issued in relation to Regulation 13, ‘The leadership and management standard’.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on. One child is living at the home and spoke to the inspector. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 2 An interim manager was in place and resigned shortly after the full inspection. The provider is in the process of recruiting a new manager. The responsible individual has not taken effective action to provide effective oversight during this period. A consultant has been commissioned. Reliable management support is not yet in place.

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This monitoring visit

There is no monitoring or oversight of missing-from-home incidents, medical appointments or one-to-one discussions. Incidents and records are not reviewed. This means leaders do not evaluate whether appropriate action has been taken. They cannot be assured of staff practice or that record-keeping and safeguarding responsibilities are being met. Leaders and managers have plans to purchase a new computer system to ensure there is improved management oversight of all incidents. However, this is not yet in place.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments identify that the child requires support from 2 members of staff. Records show that this is not consistently maintained and staff are at times working alone. The rotas are unclear and do not accurately evidence who is on duty. Leaders cannot be assured that staffing arrangements meet the child’s assessed needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff administer medication without appropriate training and without seeking medical advice when necessary. This increases the risk of errors and inappropriate decision- making. Leaders cannot be assured that medication practice is safe or effective.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, the responsible individual has arranged some additional training for staff. This has not addressed the child’s highest risks. Leaders are working towards sourcing suitable training providers, but the required training has not yet been delivered.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments have been updated and include all known risks and strategies for staff to follow. They are reviewed following incidents. The documents are lengthy and leaders recognise this. Work is underway to streamline assessments; this will make information easier for staff to access and use.

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This monitoring visit

Recruitment is ongoing. Safer recruitment practice has strengthened. All schedule 2 checks are now completed before staff are appointed.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are working to provide the child with greater structure and routine. They have introduced activity planners, incentive charts and are looking to seek support from external professionals. The child continues to sleep for significant periods of the day. This limits their ability to engage in planned activities. Health advice has been sought previously. Leaders have not followed this up to better understand if there are underlying difficulties with the child’s sleep patterns or how to best support the child’s needs. Recommendations made by the child’s doctor for additional test have not been actioned. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/07/2026 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 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, 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 with 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— that staff—

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. 11 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 5 (Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c))

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h)) 11 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 11 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 6 Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that copies of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home are kept, and that they include a record of the actual hours worked. 11 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being; 11 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 7 that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that prompt action is taken to secure appropriate medical assessments. They must arrange and progress follow-up appointments, working proactively with health professionals so that children’s health needs are fully understood and met.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 31 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 8

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lindersfield Children’s Home Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Retreat, 406 Roding Lane South, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8EY

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Inspector

Harkerat Lidhar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2870204 10 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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