Children's Home run by Children of the Mangrove Limited in Merton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 1 Registered provider: Children of the Mangrove Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in April 2016 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, five children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 12 September 2025.

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Inspection date: 5 November 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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: 1235653 2

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance inspection was carried out following concerns Ofsted had regarding the care of children and the home’s leadership and management arrangements.

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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

 Leaders and managers have not effectively planned, or risk assessed children moving into the home.  Leaders and managers did not share information regarding a child’s allegation of harm against a staff member.  Leaders and managers endorsed incident reports that contained inaccurate and false information.  Staff did not follow a child’s missing-from-care protocol.

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Findings from the inspection

As a result of this assurance inspection, Ofsted issued a suspension notice on 7 November 2025. Ofsted will monitor the provider’s response to the requirements from this inspection to determine if any further action is necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers fail to plan effectively for, and assess the risks for, children moving into the home. One child moved in for a single night before being moved the following day by their placing authority. Leaders did not carry out a risk or suitability assessment before the child moved in, placing the child, other children, and staff at potential risk, as this meant that staff did not have the information needed to meet the child’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders received substantial information about another child, from their placing authority, to help assess if their needs could be safely met before moving in. However, the manager’s assessment was of poor quality. As a result, a serious incident occurred within days.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers failed to share an allegation of harm made by a child against a staff member. This information was not shared with the child’s placing authority, despite the manager attending a network meeting for the child. Furthermore, the manager did not inform the local authority designated officer (LADO) or the regulator. The lack of transparency and timely reporting meant critical safeguarding actions were delayed.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have approved staff-written reports containing inaccurate information. The reports omit full details of a staff member’s involvement in an incident and present a misleading account of what caused the child’s behaviour. Staff members also acted outside of the home’s physical restraint protocol by becoming involved in a physical intervention without another staff member present. This Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 3 meant the child’s experiences were inaccurately recorded, putting the child at risk and preventing staff and leaders from responding effectively and safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not followed a child’s missing-from-care protocol. Staff failed to contact the police in line with the child’s missing protocol, delaying the child being reported as missing, and made no effort to maintain regular overnight contact with the child. The manager reviewed one report and recorded actions that staff had not actually taken. These delays meant the child’s safety was not monitored, and leadership oversight failed to identify this or correct inaccurate records.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders do not inform Ofsted of significant changes to the home’s leadership arrangements. When the operations manager was placed on gardening leave, Ofsted only became aware when an automatic email reply was sent announcing her departure.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s current manager is not registered with Ofsted and is not at work pending a LADO-overseen investigation. In their absence, the responsible individual is leading on the home’s management with the support of other senior workers within the organisation.

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Findings from the inspection

Requirements and recommendations raised at the last full inspection were outside the scope of this inspection They will be reviewed, as necessary, at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2025 Full Good 15/04/2025 Full Inadequate 30/07/2024 Full Good 13/09/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 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

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

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;

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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)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that: allegations against staff are reported to children’s placing authorities; timely referrals are made to the LADO, children’s missing-from-home protocols provide staff with clear direction on required actions; staff follow these protocols; and staff adhere to the home’s physical intervention protocol. 30 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 6 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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that: they plan effectively for, and assess the risks for, children moving into the home; staff have the skills and experience to meet the assessed needs of children; and that decisions about staff deployment are informed by assessments of children’s needs and risks.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must also ensure that they communicate effectively with each other when children make allegations, and that the reports they sign off contain accurate information about incidents. 30 January 2026

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that notifications of allegations are made to the regulator without delay. 30 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— 30 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 7 mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vii)(ix)(xi)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff are supported and equipped with the necessary training and skills to respond to children’s behaviours in ways that keep children safe and reduce risks.

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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; 30 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 8 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;

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff are trained in the home’s therapeutic framework and use this in their work with children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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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. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they have a full employment history for staff. 30 January 2026

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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 30 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 9 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the quality-of-care review meets the requirements of the regulation and includes an improvement plan.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice and attempt to obtain police information for staff who have lived outside of the UK to ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s internal whistle-blowing procedures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.9)  The registered person should ensure that all bedroom searches are appropriately recorded, including the reasons for the search, efforts to seek the child’s consent, and management oversight of a decision to carry out a search. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 16, paragraph 3.20) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children of the Mangrove Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chester House, Fulham Green, 81-83 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Knowlton Crichlow

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Inspector

Jo Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 11 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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