Children's home run by London Borough of Southwark

Inspection report for children’s home: 2820965 1 Registered provider: London Borough of Southwark

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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 local authority owned home provides care for 5 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2820965 2

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outstanding

Children are flourishing living in this home. The progress they are making from their starting points is significant, and they are thriving in all aspects of their lives. Although their time at the home since it opened in June 2025 has been relatively short, it has already been highly beneficial to their development and wellbeing. Much of this progress is rooted in the careful, thoughtful work that begins before children move in, ensuring that they feel understood, prepared and welcome.

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outstanding

Children’s moves into the home are carefully planned. Children share welcome letters with one another and have opportunities to meet before moving in. This thoughtful approach helps them feel reassured, connected and valued from the very beginning.

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outstanding

Staff genuinely care for and love the children. This is evident in their words, actions and the way they support every child. One child said, ‘If they didn’t care, it wouldn’t be like this, would it?’ This reflects how children recognise and feel the care and affection in the home. This warmth and genuine concern strengthens strong, trusting relationships and creates a culture where children feel safe, valued and truly at home.

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outstanding

Children’s engagement with education improves significantly because of the care they receive. All children are making good progress. Some children, who have been out of education for several years, are now successfully attending school. Others are supported to engage in ways that meet their individual needs. To strengthen children’s educational outcomes further, the home has recently formed a closer partnership with the local authority’s virtual school. As part of this work, a teacher works full time in the home, liaising with schools and working directly with children and supporting them to attend school. Although this initiative is new and its impact is still emerging, it sends a message to children that they matter and that staff and professionals have high aspirations for their future.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are fully understood and met by staff who ensure that they receive the specialist help they require. This supports significant improvements for children with their specific health needs and in their overall wellbeing. The home provides a comprehensive, wraparound support network for children, coordinating with health professionals to meet individual needs. In addition, the registered manager raises and escalates concerns with health professionals when required. As a result, children receive support and intervention in a timely way, preventing delay that could negatively impact on their wellbeing.

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outstanding

Staff recognise that relationships are fundamental to children’s wellbeing, self-esteem and sense of identity. Staff help children to maintain, strengthen and, where possible, restore relationships with family members. Staff support family time and help children to build meaningful connections with people who are important to them, including previous foster carers. These efforts have had a positive impact on children. For example, one child who wishes to be baptised and attend church has been supported to reconnect Inspection report for children’s home: 2820965 3 with a former foster carer who shares their faith, enabling the child to explore this aspect of their identity with trusted adults alongside staff. Another child has been supported to move back to a diverse community that can support their sense of identity.

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outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff work effectively to address any concerns or complaints that children have. Children are kept informed about how issues are resolved, for example through ‘you said, we did’ meetings. During the inspection, children were able to share the complaints they had raised with staff in the ‘you said, we did’ meetings, and the inspector could see that these had been addressed and followed up with children. This approach ensures that children feel listened to and understand that their views lead to action.

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outstanding

Staff have a very good understanding of children’s risks, vulnerabilities and triggers for behaviour. This helps staff to respond to children in a calm and consistent way. When incidents occur, they are managed safely and in line with children’s safety plans. Staff view incidents as meaningful opportunities for learning, rather than moments of crisis. They use their reflections to deepen their understanding of the children. Additionally, children are included in the reflective process. They are given space and time to talk through what happened, consider the impact of their actions and identify strategies to help them manage their emotions better in the future. Staff model calm communication, problem-solving and taking responsibility when difficulties arise. By seeing adults repair relationships in a thoughtful way, children are learning skills and that conflict can be resolved safely.

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outstanding

Staff are invested in the registered manager’s vision and the model of care promoted by senior leaders. Staff receive comprehensive training in the model of care, and they have successfully embedded this training into daily practice. Staff understand and consistently apply the model, which is evident in their interactions with children. A clinical team works alongside staff to deepen their understanding of children’s needs and behaviours, further supporting the effective implementation of the model. This approach helps children feel safe and secure, strengthens relationships and ensures that triggers for behaviours are anticipated and responded to appropriately. As a result, incidents have decreased significantly, there have been no episodes of children going missing from care and physical intervention is rare.

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outstanding

Staff have good knowledge of safeguarding protocols and processes. They understand the importance of reporting safeguarding concerns, and managers take effective action without delay. The home works effectively with external agencies. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘Communication around safety is clear and consistent. Professionals are informed of allegations, what steps are being taken and the outcome of investigations.’

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outstanding

Each child is supported by their own team of key adults in the home who coordinate their care and work with the wider professional network to ensure that their individual needs and interests are met. The key-work team supports appointments and plans key- work sessions and other activities that reflect the child’s preferences, helping them to Inspection report for children’s home: 2820965 4 access and engage in opportunities of their choice. Key-work sessions are also arranged to address topics that matter to children at the time, enabling staff to respond to emerging issues and priorities as they arise. This approach ensures that care is personalised, inclusive and helps children feel valued, secure and supported. Children spoke positively about their relationships with staff and described feeling listened to. Children’s experiences are valued and prioritised. For example, they have been invited to

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outstanding

a formal ball, with staff providing special attire to mark this occasion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a highly skilled registered manager who knows the children exceptionally well. The registered manager demonstrates aspirational leadership and consistently models outstanding practice to the staff team. This strong leadership culture is reflected in the positive feedback from children, with one child stating, ‘He should get a reward; he is the best.’ Staff adopt the registered manager’s approach, ensuring that children feel listened to and valued. Furthermore, children spoke about the importance of children’s fortnightly meetings, highlighting that their voices are heard and acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The responsible individual has excellent oversight of the home, offering an additional layer of support and challenge for staff and managers. The registered manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development and is supported by a highly experienced deputy manager. Together, they work alongside the team to develop and improve practice. They make effective use of the independent person’s reports, alongside their internal auditing and reviews of the quality of care. This results in a constant drive for continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and managers receive regular and effective supervision. Supervision is reflective and focuses on children and practice, as well as staff’s development needs. In addition to this, all staff have clinical supervision as a group. All staff said they enjoy working at the home and that they are well supported by the leaders and managers. This positive feedback was reflected in observed interactions with each other and with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have created a culture of care that is warm, empathetic and demonstrates genuine love and affection for children. This ethos is evident throughout the home, from the thoughtful design and homely living spaces to the way children are involved in shaping their environment. Children with care experience helped to develop and decorate the home before children move in. The children who live in the home now have embraced this approach by being involved in changing spaces to meet their needs. This gives children a strong sense of pride in their home. Children’s records also reflect this culture, with clear detailed entries that demonstrate the warmth, patience and understanding, further highlighting the care and nurture that runs throughout the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2820965 5

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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: 2820965 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Southwark

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Southwark Council, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH

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Inspectors

Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Natalie Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2820965 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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