Children's Home run by New Path Residential Limited in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children’s home: 2828710 1 Registered provider: New Path Residential Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a small private organisation and provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: At the last full inspection on 5 May 2026, Ofsted raised a compliance notice under Regulation 12. The conditions of this were judged to have been met at the last monitoring visit on 23 June 2026. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828710 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/05/2026 Full Inadequate 18/02/2026 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2828710 3

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Summary of findings

Staff knowledge, skills and confidence have significantly increased. This has helped staff to build positive relationships with children, and in turn children are more settled. Professionals gave positive feedback on improvements in communication and the progress children are making. Managers need to ensure information is recorded in a timely manner. Staff need to make sure they dynamically risk assess situations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. There have been no changes since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child with deprivation of liberty restrictions has made positive progress, and the restrictions are due to end. Staff are supporting the child to manage their anxiety around this. They have created plans to help them achieve independence in a safe and measured way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are healthy and staff promote positive health choices. Staff make sure appointments are followed up and explain the importance of good health. Children are supported to see a therapist who visits the home regularly, and children are engaging well with this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities. One child has returned to a previous hobby of fishing. This has increased their self-confidence and connected them with a positive peer group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have education plans that are individual to their needs. Managers and staff support children with a bespoke education programme that is going well. One child is starting to increase their attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to become active members of the local community. Children volunteer at a local care home and a local fishery. These opportunities help children build self- esteem and act as positive role models.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff also work well with families. A social worker said that staff confidently manage complex family dynamics, which is helping to build positive family relationships that benefit the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders have made several improvements to the physical environment since the last inspection. Children benefit from a new American-style fridge-freezer, new flooring in one room, and more photos of themselves displayed throughout the house. These changes give children a greater sense of belonging. However, some minor maintenance issues are Inspection report for children’s home: 2828710 4 not quickly resolved. For example, a cracked tile behind a bathroom door was left exposed and unrepaired, presenting a potential hazard.

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

Increased staff training and confidence have improved the care and safety of children. Clear, well-coordinated protocols ensure children who are missing from home are quickly located and supported to return home. Staff work closely with social workers to facilitate independent return discussions. Consequently, the home has seen a reduction in both missing-from-home incidents and behaviours that challenge.

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

Regular training workshops help staff to effectively recognise and respond to the signs of child exploitation. Staff discuss complex risk scenarios during training, and this is helping to develop the practical skills needed to help mitigate risks to children. This proactive approach ensures that children are protected from harm.

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

Staff use effective de-escalation and distraction techniques to support children who become unsettled. Staff help children to play games and take part in community activities; this has helped to reduce the frequency of unsettled behaviour. This proactive approach has minimised the need for police intervention. A social worker said that the team works collaboratively to keep children safe, leading to visible progress.

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

Managers ensure that instances of physical restraint are handled appropriately and reviewed thoroughly. Regular conversations after incidents allow staff and children to discuss things constructively.

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

Staff help children to build resilience and social awareness. Staff help to educate children about internet safety and awareness. Children are developing a keen interest in wider current affairs. One child engaged in a mature discussion regarding care leaver statistics. Staff navigate these complex conversations well, providing reassurance and positive reinforcement to improve children’s self-belief and aspirations.

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

Risk management protocols are largely followed by staff. However, a child bought a birthday present of a screwdriver set for their friend’s father, staff did not adequately risk assess the screwdriver set and any potential harm. However, there was no impact.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and holds the relevant level 5 diploma in leadership and management. Managers provide regular training and robust workshops to help develop the team’s skills. This has increased staff confidence and deepened their understanding of children’s vulnerabilities. As a result, staff are more alert to children’s vulnerabilities and how to manage concerns effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers report significant improvements in multi-agency collaboration. Through consistent attendance at safety meetings, managers ensure that all relevant Inspection report for children’s home: 2828710 5 professionals remain fully informed of children’s progress, current challenges and changes to care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision. They confidently discuss concerns, reflect on incidents and share their views. Managers use team meetings effectively to gather staff input. Consequently, staff are actively involved in care planning and feel empowered to raise issues immediately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff turnover is very low, and the home is fully staffed with 2 new staff joining recently. This provides consistency for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An allegation was shared with the manager about staff practice. The manager took the right actions and reported this to the local authority designated officer and correctly followed safeguarding processes. However, they did not effectively document their actions and any responses. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828710 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff demonstrate the skills to identify signs that children may be at risk and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks by removing anything that could cause harm. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)  The registered person should ensure that children’s records are kept up to date and signed by each author, including when telephone conversations have taken place to address concerns about children’s safety. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure the home is maintained to a good standard of repair by fixing damage to wall coverings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2828710 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Path Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 475 Victoria Avenue, Southend-On-Sea, Essex SS2 6NJ

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Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2828710 8 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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