Children's Home run by Ravensbourne Project in Lewisham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 1 Registered provider: Ravensbourne Project

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This short-break residential home and day service registered with Ofsted in July 2017. It provides care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including sensory impairments. The home offers overnight short breaks for up to five children aged between eight and 18 years, provided that two of the five children are siblings of the same gender. The home operates at weekends, during term time and throughout all holiday periods. Children using the overnight short-break service stay on either a Friday or Saturday night.

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Information about this children’s home

There are two registered managers at the home. One manager, who registered with Ofsted in October 2019, is on long-term leave. A second manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024 and has managed the home since the last inspection. They are working towards a suitable management qualification.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance inspection took place on 23 April 2025 in response to concerns raised about the home. Serious and widespread concerns were identified and as a result, the home was suspended from operating on 24 April 2025.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 27 May 2025. At the time, leadership and management arrangements were unsettled and the provider did not demonstrate that enough progress had been made to ensure that children would be safe in the home. Therefore, the registration of the home remained suspended.

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This monitoring visit

Since the suspension has been in place, no children have attended the day service and no children have used the overnight service. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 2 The chair of the board continues to lead and manage the home. The internal investigation regarding the management of the home has not fully concluded and the responsible individual remains suspended. Parts of the investigation, regarding the registered manager and staff, have concluded and this has allowed the provider to address some of the failings.

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This monitoring visit

A plan to review and improve the service is in place. The board members now have oversight of specific key functions of the home’s operations to ensure that there is effective governance and accountability. Staff said that board members and leaders are now more effective, present and are working more transparently, which makes them feel more supported and confident in their roles. Clear and visible leadership has strengthened the home to support a more open and accountable culture.

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This monitoring visit

To support the registered manager who is currently managing the home an external mentor has been appointed to provide guidance and facilitate learning. Additionally, a tailored training programme has been introduced to strengthen leadership skills in targeted areas.

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This monitoring visit

Staff training has been reviewed, and a new training provider has been introduced. Training now ensures that staff have the skills to support children and addresses some of the shortfalls identified at the assurance inspection, such as in whistle- blowing and safeguarding.

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This monitoring visit

Staff meetings take place weekly, to discuss and implement changes and offer support. There has also been a meeting with all bank staff to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities within the new structure. All staff have signed a new code of conduct.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, the suspension of the home’s registration has been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are making good progress in meeting the requirements and recommendations raised at the assurance inspection. However, these have not been tested as children have not accessed the service, and they are therefore restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2025 Full Good 10/08/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good 21/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 3

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff provide the level of care and support required for each child in accordance with their needs. Leaders and managers must ensure that the home is a safe place for children and only accessed by people who have been safely recruited and vetted. 28 July 2025

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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— 28 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 4 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; and

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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)(b)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must provide effective leadership of the home and have adequate monitoring and reviewing systems to ensure that they have effective oversight of the service. This includes following up on incidents and concerns regarding children’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2; and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit to carry on the home.

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and 28 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 5 have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (5)(a)(b)(c) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the responsible individual must ensure that they demonstrate that they have the skills to effectively supervise the management of the home and behave professionally when working in the home.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure they demonstrate that they have the skills to manage the home effectively and take appropriate action when there are concerns about staff and other managers. 28 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provides for the suspension from work of an employee if necessary in the interests of the safety or welfare of children; and

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Requirement Due date

provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. (Regulation 33 (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is an effective disciplinary process to address practice-related concerns. 28 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and of children in the home’s care. As part of the performance management process, actions regarding training and development needs should be set. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 7

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Sharon Edwards and Siobhann Brady

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Inspector

Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257289 8 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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