Children's Home run by Emsee Living Ltd in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for children’s home: 2731497 1 Registered provider: Emsee Living LTD

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to 3 children with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were 3 children living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2026 and is suitably qualified.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and inspectors are currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2731497 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/06/2025 Full Good 27/11/2024 Full Good 20/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2731497 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children make progress from their starting points as a direct result of the care they receive from committed and child-focused staff. Children live in a homely environment and are supported to adapt their personal living spaces to reflect their own interests and personalities. This helps to promote a sense of belonging for them.

p.3

Summary of findings

There is a high degree of working together and positive morale among staff, who are supported by a strong management team. In addition to this, both directors take an active role in the day-to-day running of the home and staff value their visibility and respective expertise. High-quality leadership and management helps to promote a shared belief and confidence across the staff team about the positive impact staff can have on children’s lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s needs and recognise the impact that their past experiences have had on them. They think carefully about the things that children need to help them settle and recognise that all children have different timescales for this.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff set realistic individual targets for children. These targets are reviewed weekly, providing a running account of the progress that each child is making towards their goals. Children are encouraged to think carefully about how the actions they take can influence and shape their futures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend education or benefit from individualised education plans, and staff work well with several external agencies to promote this. This is complemented by staff who regularly engage children in helpful conversations about a range of topics including their self-care and relationships.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children actively participate in day-to-day decisions about their lives and confidently express their wishes and feelings to staff. Staff are effective at advocating for children’s preferences to other professionals in their support networks. This ensures that children feel confident that their views are heard, and they feel represented when more significant decisions are being considered about their care and wellbeing.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide consistency and stability for children. Staff are good role models for children and want the best for them. Staff maintain high aspirations for the progress that each child can make, and children’s records reflect the consistent positive affirmations and encouragement that children receive from staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2731497 4 Staff provide a wide range of opportunities and activities for children. Children’s engagement can be variable, but staff persist in their efforts to ensure that children have options to choose from and opportunities to participate.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The differing needs of children have been well considered when determining who lives in the home. Children live together harmoniously, though mostly prefer to spend time independently from one another. Children’s personalities and interests are diverse from one another, and this helps them to focus on their own plans and goals.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise children’s most and least significant achievements, and celebrate when they have made progress or made positive choices. Staff understand the importance of this attention to detail, as a way of relationship building and helping children to know that they care.

p.4

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s individual needs and the risks they may be exposed to in the local area and wider community. When safeguarding concerns arise, staff consistently take effective action to minimise risk of harm to children.

p.4

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

Staff work well alongside other professionals to share responsibilities. External professionals, such as social workers and police officers, praise how the staff team works positively alongside them to promote children’s wellbeing. This approach means that children benefit from collaborative support from a wide range of adults in accordance with their individual plans.

p.4

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

Children’s plans accurately describe their support needs. To meet these needs, all children benefit from a high number of planned and informal conversations with staff. Staff curiosity during these conversations helps children to know that staff are invested in their welfare.

p.4

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

Staff encourage children to think about the impact of their decisions on themselves and others. At times, some children are reluctant to participate in these discussions, so staff write child-friendly letters. This helps staff to share messages and advice with children that may otherwise go unspoken.

p.4

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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond proactively and keep comprehensive records of the actions that they take. They share this important safeguarding information with other professionals and use it to identify patterns or themes. This helps to inform the conversations staff have with children about keeping safe and helps to strengthen existing guidance for staff when responding to subsequent missing-from-home concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2731497 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team is proactive and involved in the day-to-day care of children. Managers lead by example and are highly valued by staff for their knowledge and experience. Staff are unanimous in their positive praise of the registered manager and the support they provide.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are committed advocates for children. They know children’s rights and persistently seek to promote children’s best interests. Any action they take helps to ensure that the focus is maintained on helping children to make progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a well-developed culture of positivity and ambition across the organisation, with directors, managers and care staff sharing a united sense of responsibility about their ability to improve children’s lives. There is strong teamwork and high morale.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision is of a high quality and reflects a strong commitment to the individual welfare of staff and children. The management team supports staff to carefully think about their role and their individual styles of engagement with children. This directly impacts on staff’s approach in caring for children, helping staff to maintain high aspirations and standards in the care they provide to children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers demonstrate a strong commitment to children’s progress and adapt care accordingly. Their ability to dynamically respond to children’s needs and to act in the interests of their progress is a strength. On one occasion, managers recognised that one child was not fully benefiting from the support and opportunities available to them. They proposed that the child might benefit from alternative support. Subsequently, the child’s engagement and general stability have improved and the management team has recognised that it may no longer be in the child’s interests to move on.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff benefit from a comprehensive training programme, and additional training is provided as required, including more bespoke training linked to children’s individual needs. Staff report that this helps them to feel prepared to carry out their responsibilities. Inspection report for children’s home: 2731497 6

p.5

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: 2731497 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Turnpike Lane, London N8 0EP

p.7

Inspector

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2731497 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8