Children's Home run by The Angels Homes London Limited in Brent

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 1 Registered provider: The Angels Homes London Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance visit was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 There were shortfalls identified in staff practice that place children at risk of inadequate protection and lead to children’s welfare not being effectively safeguarded and promoted.  There were shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home, in particular the oversight and monitoring, including the assessment and review of risk for children.

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Findings from the inspection

As a result of this assurance visit, a restriction of accommodation notice and two compliance notices have been served on the provider.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, the registered manager, responsible individual and deputy manager have all left the home, and a new leadership team was appointed. At the time of this visit, the new responsible individual had also left. The interim manager, who was present during the visit, has not applied to become the registered manager and has no intention to do so.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not yet built trusting and secure relationships with children. Children have expressed difficulties in their interactions with staff. During the visit, the inspector witnessed staff responding to a child in a way that may have escalated their distress. Additionally, a child’s social worker reported antagonistic interactions by staff towards the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s mental health needs are not consistently prioritised or well understood. It is not clear how staff support children with their medication, as records of this are not evident. Responses to self-harm incidents are unclear, inconsistent and appear to be overseen solely by the manager. There are concerns about the timeliness and transparency of sharing these incidents with partner agencies. While safety plans are in place, there is insufficient evidence that they are being implemented effectively by staff, in response self-harming incidents. Furthermore, children’s risk assessments are not regularly reviewed or updated following concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff carry out room searches regularly, which has contributed to harm reduction, for example by identifying and removing potential harmful items from children’s bedrooms. This aspect of the previous requirement from the last full inspection has been met. However, there is a lack of professional curiosity about how such items come into the children’s possession. It is unclear if these incidents have prompted a review of safeguarding practices or promoted any changes in staff approach. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 3 The communal areas of the home are appropriate. However, children’s bedrooms require oversight to ensure that they meet their needs, including soft furnishings, bedding and timely repairs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are not recording children’s feedback in relation to incidents, care planning or safety planning. This means children’s voices are not consistently used to shape their care and support plans.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are unable to provide clear or consistent information regarding children’s mental health needs. They can describe basic steps from safety plans, such as adopting a calm approach and involving emergency services. However, there is limited evidence that they fully understand the broader risk management strategies or feel confident in implementing them effectively. This raises concerns about staff’s ability to safeguard children and respond appropriately to escalating risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s essential information is kept together, with risk assessments that include children’s contact details and clear actions for staff to follow to keep children safe if they are missing.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are minimally engaging with one child and largely ignore the child’s attempts to initiate interaction. Staff say they avoid engagement to make the situation easier to manage. The child’s safety plan requires participation in activities. However, staff have not developed a planned schedule of activities. The child’s social worker also raises concerns about the absence of structured planning, which fails to meet the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight of records and staff practice are poor. Some records are inaccessible and of low quality, meaning the manager is not consistently reviewing them or taking action to improve standards for children. The manager has not completed regular reviews of the quality of care children receive, nor shared serious incidents with the regulator in a timely manner. These shortcomings hinder effective progress monitoring and compliance with regulatory standards, which can negatively affect children’s safety, well-being and overall care experience.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has failed to maintain effective communication with the local authority, hindering partnership working. Both parties report ongoing difficulties with information-sharing. This breakdown is affecting the quality and consistency of care and support provided to the children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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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

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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 (c)(d)) 28 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect; 28 September 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 6 provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(ix)

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 28 September 2025

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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 requires the registered person to ensure staff—

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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; 28 September 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 7 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (a)(i)(vi))

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(f)(h)) 28 September 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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

In particular, the manager should register with Ofsted. 28 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

An organisation may only carry on a home if—

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Requirement Due date

the organisation has notified HMCI of the name, address and position in the organisation of the responsible individual.

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that a responsible individual must—

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and 28 September 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 8 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 (4)(ii) (7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 28 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children 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; 28 September 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 9 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

and 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.

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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 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. (Regulation 45 (a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff encourage children to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’, supporting them to view and contribute to the records in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are provided with a welcoming and homely domestic environment. This specifically relates to ensuring that the cleaning schedule is regularly reviewed and that repairs are addressed within a reasonable time frame. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Angels Homes London Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Magnolia House Spring Villa Park, 11 Spring Villa Road, Edgware HA8 7EB

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Inspector

Richard Wyper, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775324 11 regulates 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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