The Banyan Tree

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 1 SC396186 Registered provider: Living Life (UK) Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and can provide care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties or a learning disability.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

One registered manager is on extended leave and therefore not present for the inspection. The other manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection and their views were obtained.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 1 and 2 April 2025. Following the inspection, several statutory requirements were set, and three compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, regulation 13 and regulation 35.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice to ensure that no further children were admitted, given the identified shortfalls.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to evaluate any progress made against the notices issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last full inspection, there has been one recorded incident involving physical intervention. The manager appropriately evaluated the incident and identified that the intervention was unnecessary. However, staff continue to rely on established patterns of behaviour rather than applying recent training. The manager recognises the need to shift the culture of practice, acknowledging that this will require more time to embed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 2 Recording of incidents remains inconsistent and lacks sufficient detail. Of concern, the child involved in the physical intervention did not complete a debrief discussion with staff. It remains unclear what learning staff have taken from the incident without the child’s voice. Additionally, one member of staff is no longer accredited to carry out physical intervention practice due to expired training, and no risk

p.1

This monitoring visit

assessment is in place to support safe practice in this area. This leaves children and the individual adult in a vulnerable position.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has undertaken a comprehensive review of care plans and risk assessments, supplemented by staff training aimed at enhancing an understanding of children’s needs. However, the current care plans and risk assessments do not consistently reflect the individual needs of the children. Information provided during staff training sessions is not fully aligned with the existing risk assessments. The manager has acknowledged difficulties in comprehending the home’s new behaviour management plans and has indicated a need for additional support from the responsible individual to implement these strategies effectively.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children report feeling significantly happier and safer in the home. They have expressed that their views are listened to, particularly in relation to bedroom arrangements and their desire to spend more time with staff. Staff now have a much clearer understanding of the children’s health needs, which enables them to provide more effective and tailored support.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager and responsible individual have been proactive in addressing the action plan, making good progress in relation to staff training. The manager reports improved support from the newly established senior management team. There is evidence that the manager and senior leaders have developed and begun to implement more robust audit and oversight systems. However, these systems are not yet fully embedded in practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have engaged in targeted training and received enhanced support, leading to a deeper understanding of safeguarding responsibilities. Although there have been no subsequent allegations to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures, a recent visit from a local authority designated officer provided external validation. Their positive feedback, coupled with strengthened inter-agency relationships, indicates that the home’s response to any future concerns is more likely to be robust and well- coordinated.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers understand the areas that require improvement. They are enthusiastic and committed to improving the experiences and care of children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Sufficient progress has been made within regulation 12 and regulation 13 and, therefore, the compliance notices are considered met. However, there has been insufficient progress regarding regulation 35, which has been reissued. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 3 Progress against the statutory requirements made at the full inspection in April 2025 has not been reviewed at this monitoring visit and will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 4

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/04/2025 Full Inadequate 22/10/2024 Full Good 23/01/2024 Full Good 14/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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 with the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, risk management and behaviour support documents are not robust and do not support staff to keep children safe. Staff responses to children’s risks and 16 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 6 vulnerabilities are not effective to safeguard children and keep them safe.

p.5

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the oversight and monitoring from the manager is not yet sufficiently robust. The oversight of staff care practice is not yet effective. The manager is not yet delivering the outcomes set in the home’s statement of purpose. 16 June 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

*The registered person must ensure that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 16 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 7 the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate;

p.7

Requirement Due date

and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, this is in relation to when behaviour management practices are implemented, including physical intervention. The current practice of staff and managers does not yet meet this statutory requirement. The manager has not yet ensured sufficient oversight and monitoring of reports and physical interventions taking place. This has included gaining a debrief from the child.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 16 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 8 understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, that the children’s health needs are fully understood and the correct services are in place to meet those needs.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.8

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, that children’s complaints, comments and feedback on the care they receive are responded to by the manager and leaders. 16 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 9 In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.8

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.9

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.9

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, that when the manager and leaders are not satisfied with responses from external agencies, that these are escalated to that agency and resolution is sought. 16 June 2025

p.9

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.9

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.9

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 16 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 10 In particular, that the care of children and their progress is promoted in all aspects of their care.

p.9

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

p.10

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.

p.10

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Living Life (UK) Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 212 Ballards Lane, London N3 2LX

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered managers: Rebecca Dalton and Lucy Campion

p.11

Inspectors

Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Caroline Coop, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC396186 12 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.

p.11

Inspectors

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.12

Inspectors

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

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12