Children's Home run by Creating Lifestyles Homes Limited in Lewisham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 1 Registered provider: Creating Lifestyles 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

This privately run home provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. The inspector spoke with all four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in December 2023. The registered manager has been in post since 5 September 2024. The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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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: 24 September 2024

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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: 2723813 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/09/2024 Full Good 14/05/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from effective care delivered by a consistent and committed staff team. They develop trusting relationships with the staff. Children are encouraged to express their views and they are treated as individuals. This contributes to a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in many areas of their lives. They are supported to establish healthy routines, including consistent bedtimes. Clear boundaries about mobile phone and electronic devices mean that children engage in other activities, such as drawing, writing stories, singing and football.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s independence with their self-care. Three children have recently attended dental appointments for the first time in a long while, received treatment, and are now supported to clean their teeth regularly. Children are proud of the improvements they have made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All four children are in education, despite previously having missed significant periods of schooling. The registered manager has shown persistence in supporting one child’s return to learning after years of disengagement; the child is now attending college with growing confidence. School attendance for all the children has improved. One child proudly told the inspector that their attendance was 100%. Feedback from education providers about the children’s progress is positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children’s relationships with their families. Wherever possible, they support time spent with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to manage their emotions and resolve difficulties with one another. The management team is particularly effective in facilitating conflict resolution, ensuring that children feel heard and respected. While children are rightly praised for positive behaviour and achievements, consequences for behaviour that challenges are not consistently recorded. This limits management oversight and makes it more difficult to evaluate behaviour support strategies and ensure they are fair and proportionate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work proactively with professionals to secure the right support for children. Multi- agency working is a notable strength of the home, and feedback from external professionals is overwhelmingly positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of recreational activities in the community, including trips to parks, shops and museums. One child recently celebrated their birthday at an all-you- can-eat buffet with staff and their brothers. This was enjoyed by all, creating a valued and memorable experience for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 4 The home environment is spacious, with a well-furnished communal living area, access to a garden, and a separate room for study or play. Bedrooms are comfortable, although not yet fully personalised.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood by staff. Staff work closely with other agencies to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to safeguard children. Children’s plans reflect their needs and provide staff with clear guidance. Staff have meaningful conversations with children about risks, and together they set goals as to how to reduce those risks. As a result, children’s needs, risks, strengths and vulnerabilities are well understood and over time reduce.

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

Staff ensure that children access support from specialist resources, including child and adolescent mental health services, substance misuse support and advocacy. This additional support helps children understand worries they or others may have and think about strategies to reduce those worries.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are managed well. Staff take proactive steps to contact children when they go missing and encourage their prompt and safe return home. One child’s time missing has reduced significantly. A local authority safeguarding officer praised staff for ‘their tenacity in safeguarding’ the child.

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

Recruitment of new staff is thorough and ensures that all necessary background checks have been carried out. This means that only adults who have been appropriately vetted are able to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is supported effectively by the registered manager and deputy manager. Both actively engage with the children and know them well. They provide clear direction and are supportive of the staff team. There has been minimal staff turnover over the past year, reflecting the stability and cohesion of the team and supporting continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is positive. Staff feel well supported by the management team and see that they are making a difference to children’s lives. Individual team members bring a range of strengths and experiences to their roles. The team is embedding a new therapeutic way of working with the children. Its members share a strong commitment to the welfare of the children, helping them feel safe, settled and cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware that staff supervision has fallen behind expected timescales. He is taking steps to strengthen supervision arrangements to ensure that staff continue to feel supported and accountable in their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 5 The leadership and management team has not completed a quality of care review for the home since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from external professionals about the care provided to the children is consistently favourable. Professionals consider the leadership team to communicate effectively and advocate on behalf of the children in their care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 6

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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, 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 8 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 7 (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(4)(a)(b) (5))

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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”)—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any consequences for behaviour are recorded. 15 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems 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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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: 2723813 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Creating Lifestyles Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 118 Sydenham Road, London SE26 5JX

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2723813 10 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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