Children's home run by Mangrove Care Limited in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 1 Lyndhurst SC068261 Registered provider: Mangrove Care Limited 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 four children who may have complex social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 8 February 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were present at the time of the inspection, and each of them spoke with the inspector.

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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: 5 November 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/07/2023 Full Good 02/08/2022 Full Good 10/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home, and one has moved in. Managers ensure that all children experience positive and well-planned moves, including in emergency situations. They provide child-centred, individualised support that helps children feel reassured and settled during moves. Staff work proactively to ensure that children are fully supported before, during and after their moves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers are relentless advocates for children. They demonstrate determination in securing appropriate education or training placements that meet each child’s individual needs. When children are awaiting a suitable education provision, staff promote learning and development through online learning and other structured activities. This ensures that children’s educational progress remains a consistent priority, regardless of their circumstances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain meaningful contact with their families, in line with their wishes. Staff and managers make persistent and creative efforts to promote these relationships and remove barriers to family time. Their commitment helps children feel valued and develop a strong sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers are dedicated to promoting the holistic health and emotional well- being of children. Children are encouraged and supported to attend appointments that monitor their physical health and to engage in therapeutic support through child and adolescent mental health services and other services. Staff help children to understand their diagnoses and neurodiverse needs, providing tailored, person-centred care. For example, one child, newly diagnosed with autism, was sensitively prepared for statutory meetings through several weeks of focused work. Staff set clear expectations, promoted emotional regulation and ensured that reasonable adjustments were made by professionals. This approach has been praised by professionals and has led to improved outcomes for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly encouraged to express their views, which are listened to and acted on. This advocacy and responsiveness have directly contributed to positive changes in the experiences of individual children. Children also enjoy a wide range of meaningful experiences, including holidays and activities tailored to their individual interests. These opportunities enrich their lives, promote personal growth and support their positive development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that independence planning is detailed and child centred, allowing progress to be closely monitored and additional support to be implemented when needed. This approach to care planning ensures that children are well prepared for the next stage of their journey. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 4

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

The commitment from senior leaders and managers to upskill the staff team has contributed to a stronger safeguarding culture in the home. Staff are now better equipped to support children effectively in managing their behaviour. The home’s therapeutic model of care is increasingly embedded in practice, and staff are adopting a more nurturing approach in their support for children.

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

Children who go missing from home receive well-coordinated responses that reduce the risk of harm. There are clear and effective plans in place to guide staff in taking swift action to protect children and minimise further risk. On one occasion, staff did not fully follow a child’s risk assessment. Although the child was not harmed, this lapse created potential vulnerability. Managers have since addressed this issue to prevent recurrence.

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

When managers receive complaints, they act promptly to ensure that concerns are investigated thoroughly and in accordance with the organisation’s complaints policy. Although the recent complaints were not made by children, the actions taken were timely and appropriate.

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

Children report feeling safe living in the home and can identify trusted adults who help them to stay safe. Relationships between children and staff are positive and nurturing. These relationships contribute to children feeling settled and emotionally secure. As a result, they are better able to manage their emotions and behaviour, leading to fewer incidents and reduced risk-taking. When incidents do occur, recording is clear and consistent. Staff use effective de-escalation techniques and support children to reflect on their experiences. Key-work sessions are used well to help children increase their understanding of risk and develop safer decision-making skills.

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

Impact assessments demonstrate a good awareness of potential risks for both new and existing children. Managers consider compatibility and specific vulnerabilities when making placement decisions. However, some assessments lack sufficient detail about how identified risks will be managed or mitigated in practice. This can lead to uncertainty for staff when responding proactively to emerging concerns. In one instance, a child’s risk assessment did not include important information about their epilepsy. This was identified and addressed during the inspection.

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

Managers do not consistently report serious incidents to the regulator. This limits opportunities for independent scrutiny and oversight, which are essential for ensuring accountability and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a child-centred manager who leads by example. She is passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children and demonstrates a strong commitment to their safety, well-being and progress. The manager is supported by Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 5 equally committed senior leaders and a dedicated staff team who share her vision and values.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of reviewing and monitoring systems are in place and used effectively by the responsible individual and managers to maintain oversight of all aspects of the home’s operation. This strong management oversight has strengthened the home’s safeguarding culture and supports the continued progress that children are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and parents are highly complimentary about the quality of care and support provided by the managers and staff. They report positive outcomes, improved stability and noticeable progress for children because of the nurturing and consistent care delivered by the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak very positively about the support they receive from the management team. They describe morale as high and teamwork as strong. Staff work collaboratively to ensure that children’s safety and welfare remain the highest priority. They feel valued and well supported, which contributes to a stable and motivated workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a well-trained and skilled staff team. All staff have completed mandatory training and regularly access additional learning opportunities to meet the individual needs of the children in their care. When further training needs are identified, these are addressed promptly to ensure that staff feel confident and competent in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions and team meetings take place regularly and are used effectively as spaces for reflection and professional development. These sessions enable staff to review children’s progress, discuss best practice and address any emerging concerns. This reflective practice ensures that staff remain focused on improving outcomes for children and maintaining high standards of care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that prompt action is taken to reduce risks to children when safeguarding concerns are identified. This also includes ensuring that risk management plans clearly reflect each child’s current circumstances. 30 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 7 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the regulator is promptly notified of any serious incidents requiring police involvement, as well as other serious incidents involving children. 30 November 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that their oversight and evaluation of incidents identify any gaps in practice. This evaluation should inform training or support for staff and provide further guidance on risk management to safeguard children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)

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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: SC068261 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mangrove Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 25 Adamthwaite Drive, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent ST11 9HL

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Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC068261 9 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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