Children's Home run by Gordon Care Services Limited in Newham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2843328 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Gordon Care Services Limited 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 2026 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 6 children who experience learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home, one of whom was receiving respite care. 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 February 2026. The registered manager is on planned leave from the home and interim arrangements are in place. The interim manager is applying for registration.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection of the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2843328 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Summary of findings

Staff provide children with good-quality care. They feel confident in using children’s preferred communication methods, which helps to develop trusting relationships with them. Staff support children to engage in a variety of community and child-led activities. Children have made positive progress since they arrived at the home. Staff work collaboratively with external professionals and parents, ensuring that decisions are well informed. They work alongside health and education colleagues so that children’s needs are met in a holistic manner. One requirement has been made with regard to ensuring that serious incidents are notified to Ofsted in a timely manner. Managers should also make sure that any maintenance issues are dealt with promptly and that children understand the children’s guide.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s admissions to the home are well planned so that the children feel welcomed. Staff visit the children to introduce themselves using the child’s preferred communication method. Staff work alongside external professionals and parents from the start, both for longer-term and respite care. This helps to ensure that there is a clear structure to the support offered to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move out of the home, they are supported by staff to prepare for the move, and plans are devised in a collaborative manner. Staff continue to maintain contact with children and their families after they move out, if appropriate. This means that children can maintain meaningful relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to look after their bedrooms; bedrooms are personalised as per each child’s individual interests. When children move in, they are offered the opportunity to choose their bedrooms. If they are unable to do this themselves, their parents are included in personalising the bedroom, so that the child feels a sense of familiarity. Photos and pictures of children’s achievements are displayed in their rooms, and the complaints process is presented in their preferred communication style. As a result, children feel settled, valued and supported by staff to know their rights.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with all essential health services. Staff use the child’s preferred communication style to help them understand and prepare in advance for any health appointments. This helps the children to be more confident when attending health settings. Staff liaise with relevant health professionals and escalate concerns as appropriate, ensuring that the child’s health needs are prioritised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with education professionals and ensure children meet their set targets. Staff attend education meetings along with external professionals, ensuring that the child’s views are represented. When children are not in full-time education, Inspection report for children’s home: 2843328 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

they are supported in attending community-based activities. They spend time in local libraries and tutoring is provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to have enjoyable times with their families. Family members are welcomed into the home and are supported to carry out activities with their children. One parent noted that their child had made positive progress and that staff have kept them fully updated on a regular basis. These contacts with family members help children to maintain important relationships and enjoy experiences in a way that any child of their age would.

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

Staff have a sound understanding of children’s individual needs. They are provided with key documents, including care plans, risk assessments and safety plans, to inform their practice. Leaders and managers promote a trauma-informed approach, and staff receive relevant training to support children effectively. Staff adapt their communication methods to meet each child’s preferences, enabling them to build positive relationships and engage meaningfully.

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

Staff use a child-friendly, trauma-informed approach to manage behaviour and only use physical intervention when it is deemed essential to keep children safe. The use of physical intervention is recorded, and both children and the staff are offered a debrief. Learning from such incidents is used to help reduce the likelihood of further such events.

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

Staff use key-work sessions to support children with their emotional wellbeing and to help them to develop their independence skills. Staff offer child-led activities and children choose from the variety of activities available. This supports children to become more independent and to feel that their wishes are being taken into account.

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

Staff seek feedback from children using their preferred methods of communication and use this information to monitor and improve the quality of care provided. The home has a children’s guide; however, records do not make clear that it has been explained to children by staff.

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

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment practices, ensuring that all essential checks are completed and that any gaps in employment history are explored. Staff are provided with an induction, mandatory training and ongoing development. They are offered regular training, and this supports them with the required skills to provide safe and effective care for the children.

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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 the home. This had been appropriately notified to Ofsted. Leaders and managers have put Inspection report for children’s home: 2843328 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

systems in place for the interim leadership arrangements during this period. 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 have a vision for the home and a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. The home uses a trauma-informed approach. The ethos and values of the home are shared throughout the workforce, to ensure that children achieve positive outcomes while in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure there is effective oversight of the support offered to staff. When concerns or complaints are raised, these are fully explored and documented. However, any such information is not shared with the regulator in a suitable time frame. While this has not impacted on the quality of care provided to children, the failure to provide timely notifications limits effective regulatory oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work in partnership with external professionals and parents effectively, ensuring they are kept informed of children’s needs and progress. Professionals spoke positively about the quality of communication and collaboration. As a result of the consistent support provided by staff, one child has made significant progress since moving into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is warm, welcoming and personalised, providing a comfortable environment for the children. However, some maintenance issues have not been carried out promptly. While these do not have an immediate impact on the quality of care provided to children, they detract from the overall presentation of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular team meetings and are provided with opportunities to use these for information-sharing, raising concerns and reflecting on practice. Staff find this useful and feel well informed regarding any actions taken by leaders and managers. Staff value the regular supervision, which is focused on the needs of the children as well as their own personal development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2843328 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 11 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment and should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would. In particular, the registered person should ensure that the home is well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is made available to all children when their placement in the home is agreed. It should be age-appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21) Inspection report for children’s home: 2843328 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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: 2843328 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gordon Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Heigham Road, London E6 2JG

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Inspector

Nirmal Gracian, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2843328 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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