Children's Home run by Ancora Children’s Homes Limited in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2744303 1

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to 3 children of either gender with emotional and social difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

No children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager, who registered with Ofsted in December 2025, is currently suspended pending outcome of an internal investigation.

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This monitoring visit

This children's home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 2 and 3 June 2026. The home was subsequently suspended on 8 June 2026. The home remains unoccupied and has not had any children living in it since the last inspection. While steps have been taken to address concerns and implement improvements, the suspension remains in place as investigations by external agencies are ongoing.

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This monitoring visit

Following the suspension, two staff members were dismissed and twelve other staff left through redundancy. All other previously employed staff, including the registered manager, remain suspended pending the conclusion of an internal investigation.

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This monitoring visit

Ten new staff members have been recruited. There are a small number of vacan- cies, which leaders are actively seeking to fill. This includes a new operations man- ager, which the provider hopes will strengthen the leadership and oversight of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Investigations by the police and the local authority designated officer remain ongo- ing. As a result, the provider has not yet undertaken its own internal investigation. This means that lessons from the incident may not yet be fully identified and poten- tial safeguarding risks may not yet be fully understood or addressed. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2744303 2 An external investigation was commissioned, and this has identified some learning which the provider is embedding. The manager has reviewed policies and proce- dures, including those relating to admissions, transition planning, whistleblowing and transparency, safeguarding practice and management oversight. These changes are intended to strengthen safeguarding arrangements, improve management monitor- ing and support earlier identification of risks or concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has planned additional training in response to the inadequate judgement and the external investigation. This is intended to improve how children are listened to, how complaints or allegations are responded to, and to implement a transparent, trauma-informed and values-led ethos. The provider also plans to improve recording practices and will identify further areas pending the result of the internal investigations when they are completed.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment has been updated and is presented to a very good standard. It is well furnished, clean and welcoming. Children can personalise their living space with items such as photographs, artwork and other personal belongings.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements and recommendations raised at the full inspection were not reviewed during this monitoring visit and therefore remain in place. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2744303 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/06/2026 Full Inadequate 24/06/2025 Full Outstanding 30/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2744303 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, 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— 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

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 effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(b)) 20 November 2026

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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; 20 November 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2744303 5 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

In particular, ensure that there are effective arrangements in place to protect children from harm, That staffing arrangements are sufficient to meet children's assessed needs and vulnerabilities and that children receive the level of supervision and support necessary to keep them safe.

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Recommendation(s)

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person undertakes more frequent consultation with family member and professionals as part of monitoring activities. Consideration should be given to undertaking some visits on an unannounced basis to strengthen independent oversight of the home. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendation(s)

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home and are actively encouraged and supported to participate in them. Where children are reluctant to engage, staff should take proactive steps to understand the barriers, support children to access leisure, cultural and community-based opportunities and encourage them to develop positive relationships and interests. 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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Recommendation(s)

 The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Recommendation(s)

 The registered should ensure children understand how to make a complaint in line with the home's complaints procedure. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 24, paragraph 4.22) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2744303 6

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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: 2744303 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Ancora Children's Homes Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 8 Madeira Avenue, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 3EB

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Wendy Edward-Tsuro

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Inspector

Daniel Rankin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2744303 8 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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