Children's Home run by Creating Lifestyles Homes Limited in Lewisham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2723813 1 Registered provider: Creating Lifestyles Homes 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 run home provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in December 2023. The registered manager has been in post since 5 September 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection was under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. These included the way in which a member of staff spoke to a child, concerns about staff conduct and about visitor access to private areas of the home. There had also been an increase in safeguarding notifications relating to one child.

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This monitoring visit

A staff member had failed to use appropriate de-escalation strategies to support a child in distress. The language used was antagonistic and shaming and fell below expected standards for communicating with vulnerable children who experience social and emotional difficulties. Leaders and managers responded appropriately when concerns were raised. They followed safeguarding procedures, took action to manage risk and informed relevant external agencies. They were open and Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2723813 2 transparent throughout the visit. Two investigations are ongoing, with leaders following the correct process.

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This monitoring visit

Before this monitoring visit, there had been an escalation in missing-from-home episodes and risk-taking behaviour for one child. The child moved from the home shortly before the visit, having lived there for over a year. The team manager from the placing local authority spoke positively about the work that staff had done with the child. The registered manager and staff worked collaboratively with the wider professional network to ensure that a safety plan was in place.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have good working relationships with the local substance misuse team and work collaboratively to support children when required.

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This monitoring visit

The child living at the home has begun to establish trusting relationships with a small number of staff. When the child goes missing-from-home, staff follow procedures and notify relevant agencies as required. Managers recognise the need to strengthen the safety plan for the child and have scheduled a meeting with the professional network to review this.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are expected to supervise any visitors to the home, and there are sufficient staff to support this. Leaders identified a shortfall in visitor supervision; they addressed this promptly, updated policies and procedures and reinforced expectations with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have identified inconsistencies in behaviour management practice and the need for improved trauma-informed practice. They have taken responsibility for addressing this by providing additional training. Senior leaders have commissioned external support to strengthen oversight and to improve consistency in safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

The 2 requirements and one recommendation made at the full inspection were outside the scope of this monitoring visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. One new requirement has been made.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2025 Full Good 24/09/2024 Full Good 14/05/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2723813 3

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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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 9 February 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

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Requirement Due date

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 9 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2723813 4 intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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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

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; 9 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2723813 5 and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any consequences for behaviour are recorded.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2723813 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Creating Lifestyles Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 118 Sydenham Road, London SE26 5JX

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2723813 7 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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