Children's home run by Restoring Lives Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2664175 1 Registered provider: Restoring Lives Ltd

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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 owned children’s home provides care for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2021. The manager registered in June 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. The inspectors spoke with both of them.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2664175 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/11/2024 Full Good 05/09/2023 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2664175 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in a nurturing and supportive home where their individual needs are well understood and met. Staff build trusting and respectful relationships with children, which helps them feel safe, valued and listened to. As a result, children make good progress in their emotional well-being and social development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively involved in decisions about their care. Their views are regularly sought and used to shape the running of the home. One child, for example, took great pride in helping to decorate the lounge and felt especially valued when inspectors praised their choice of lighting. This kind of meaningful involvement helps children feel respected and included.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is recognised as a vital part of each child’s development. Staff are committed to ensuring that children continue to learn and make progress, even when they are not attending a formal education setting. When children are not attending school, staff advocate strongly on their behalf, ensuring that their voices are heard in wider planning and review processes. For one child, lessons take place in a local library twice a week. This not only supports their academic learning but also encourages them to develop their social skills in a community setting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned and managed sensitively, helping children to feel secure during periods of change. Managers work closely with children’s social workers to minimise unplanned moves and ensure that, when risks become too great for a child to remain in the home, they support planning for children’s next steps.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child’s social worker spoke positively about the care provided by staff, highlighting their supportive and nurturing approach. They praised the team’s efforts in facilitating and supervising family time, ensuring the child maintains meaningful and positive relationships with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and communal areas are homely and well maintained. Plans are under way to install a new kitchen to further enhance the living environment. This will provide children with a modern, functional space where they can engage in shared activities such as cooking and baking, helping to build life skills, promote independence and encourage positive social interaction.

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

Children are safe in this home. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of each child’s vulnerabilities and risks, and take proactive steps to reduce harm. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect children’s changing needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2664175 4 Staff are confident in managing incidents, and they use de-escalation techniques effectively. Incidents of children being missing from the home have reduced because of staff support. Children are supported to reflect on incidents in a way that promotes learning, emotional growth and a reduction in risks.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture in the home. Staff receive regular training and are vigilant in identifying and responding to concerns. Allegations or incidents are managed appropriately and in line with the home’s safeguarding procedures. Managers maintain good links with external safeguarding agencies and professionals. This collaborative approach ensures that concerns are addressed promptly and that children receive the right support at the right time.

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

Children are supported to develop their understanding of personal safety, including online safety and healthy relationships. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations that help them make safer choices.

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

Managers follow robust safer recruitment procedures to ensure that only suitable individuals are employed to work with children. The recruitment process reflects a strong commitment to promoting children’s safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a committed and experienced leadership team that provides clear direction and oversight. Leaders and managers have a strong understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. They are ambitious for the children and demonstrate a clear commitment to continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are used effectively to identify and address any shortfalls in the quality of care provided to children. Leaders and managers use this information to inform practice and drive continuous improvement. For example, following the last inspection, several areas of the home have been redecorated, with further enhancements currently under way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is appropriately staffed, and new staff receive a thorough induction. There is a strong emphasis on team cohesion and reflective practice. Staff have provided positive feedback about the quality of support they receive from managers, highlighting the guidance, availability and encouragement offered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, training and opportunities for professional development. This helps to maintain a skilled and motivated workforce that is focused on delivering high-quality care. However, managers have not consistently ensured that staff have the required qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and staff maintain positive relationships with external professionals and agencies. They are quick to address concerns and advocate for children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2664175 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have relevant qualifications as stated in Annexe A. This includes establishing whether an existing qualification is equivalent to either the level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare and/or the level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. Additionally, the registered person should keep a record of the information they have considered to establish ‘equivalence’, and where gaps are identified, they should ensure that staff complete relevant qualifications in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 68, paragraphs 1.1-1.4)

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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: 2664175 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restoring Lives Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 320 City Road, London EC1V 2NZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christina Addison

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Inspectors

Salean Bryant, Social Care Inspector Thobekile Bandama, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2664175 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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