Children's Home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 1 SC023740

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Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2018.

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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: 16 September 2025

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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: SC023740 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Good 09/10/2024 Full Good 17/01/2024 Full Good 06/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 3

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Summary of findings

Children make good progress and have positive experiences. Staff know children well and use this knowledge to help them settle when they move into the home. Staff are committed to the children, and this helps children feel a sense of belonging.

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Summary of findings

Children say they feel safe and are happy. Staff understand potential risks to children’s safety and welfare. They are trained and supported to manage and reduce these risks. Staff safeguard children well and collaborate closely with other professionals to ensure that children can access the services and the support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy warm and nurturing relationships with staff, who understand their individual needs. Staff talk about children with warmth and help them pursue their goals and manage any challenges that arise. These positive relationships help children feel emotionally safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are supported to attend the provider’s education provision. For some children, this is the first time they have engaged in full-time education in a number of years. Staff communicate well with education colleagues to promote good progress and to ensure that children have the right support. The education lead attends staff meetings and shares information and strategies to help staff improve their communication with children based on their specific needs. This approach has led to a tangible improvement in one child’s engagement both at home and at school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain good health. Children have access to counselling, which supports their emotional wellbeing. Staff support children to attend health appointments to ensure that their health needs are understood and addressed. For one child, this led to a diagnosis which had previously been overlooked. They are now receiving treatment, which has improved their day-to-day comfort.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spoke with great enthusiasm about the range of activities they experience at home and in the community. While this provides positive experiences, for some children it is an important part of developing their social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive time with people who are important to them. Staff understand the significance of this and go to great lengths to help children stay connected with their families and friends. Staff have supported the smooth transition for two children, who have returned to live with their birth parents. One family member said, ‘I have 100% trust in the home and the care he receives. I’m more than happy he is here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The overall home environment is child friendly. Children are supported to personalise their bedrooms. This helps children to feel that they belong and have a sense of Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 4 ownership of their home. When one child damaged the walls in their bedroom, leaders procured sensory items for the child’s bedroom to ensure that the child had safer outlets for their feelings and sensory needs. One of the communal areas requires redecoration after recent damage. However, the leadership team already has plans in place to address this.

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

Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and well-informed risk assessments underpin their practice. Children benefit from open and honest discussions with staff regarding a range of topics, from online safety to keeping safe in the community. This helps children to understand risk, but also helps them to process their emotions and feelings. Children have opportunities with staff they trust to reflect on what is going on for them emotionally.

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

Children’s moves into the home are carefully planned. Potential risks are well known by leaders, and the risks of children living together are well understood. For the two children who have moved on recently, their moves were well planned and well supported.

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

Children do not routinely go missing from home. There have been two occasions when this happened and both were managed well. Staff understand why these incidents occurred, which enabled them to reduce the risk of future incidents.

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

When there have been allegations against staff or concerns about practice, these have been followed up thoroughly by managers. Other relevant agencies are informed when required and managers make effective use of the consultation process via the local authority designated officer. This helps to ensure that children feel listened to and receive safe care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is effective and provides stability and consistency in the home. She has high expectations of staff and aspirations for the children. There is a core staff team including senior support staff. The manager and the staff know each of the children well and speak about them with empathy, warmth and positivity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has oversight of the care provided and is a very present and consistent figure for staff and children. Children identify the manager as someone they can approach with any concerns. One professional commented, ‘The manager has demonstrated a strong understanding of [the child’s] past experiences and the impact of trauma on his emotional wellbeing. She appears genuinely invested in [the child’s] welfare and has consistently advocated on his behalf.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a supportive environment. They receive effective supervision, regular appraisals and a good-quality induction and training programme. If staff are not Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 5 performing, or are not the right fit for the children or the home, this is addressed quickly and managed well by leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is evidence of effective safeguarding practice and a safe culture in the home. Allegation management is good and there are suitable processes in place to manage safer recruitment. This ensures children receive care from safe and appropriate staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and staff maintain good working relationships with others who support children. Social care professionals and families are positive about the care that staff provide, their communication and the progress children are making. There is a collaborative working relationship between care staff and the education service, which helps to ensure that children receive well-coordinated care.

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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: SC023740 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspector

Gemma Bullen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 7 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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