Children's home run by St Caspian Care

Inspection report children's home: 2799901 1 Registered provider: St Caspian Care

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This privately run children's home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2025. The registered manager deregistered on 30 October 2025. A new manager has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection and the inspector spoke with both of them.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2799901 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive effective and nurturing care. Staff demonstrate sensitivity and patience when supporting children with complex emotional and mental health needs. Children are assured by the consistent presence of staff who know them well, respond calmly to changes in their mood and take time to understand the underlying reasons for their behaviour. These strong relationships help the children to feel secure and promote their emotional stability.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children well when they first move into the home, helping them to settle at a pace that reflects their individual circumstances. They provide reassurance, structure and encouragement, which help the children to adjust to new routines and expectations. As a result, children begin to feel more confident in their surroundings and develop increasingly positive interactions with staff. Staff notice small steps of progress and offer praise, which helps to build children's self-esteem.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children's engagement in education and recognise the importance of school attendance in promoting positive life chances. For one child, recent anxieties around attending school have affected their routines and staff work with sensitivity to understand these barriers. Another child receives home tuition, with plans to increase the time they spend on this to support their learning. Managers and staff explore ways of adjusting morning routines to help the children to feel more confident and ready for learning. Staff celebrate children's achievements, even when progress is gradual.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a range of activities that reflect their interests and support their social, physical and emotional development. Staff encourage participation and introduce new opportunities designed to broaden children's experiences. These positive experiences help the children to develop confidence, learn new skills and enjoy shared time with staff, further strengthening the relationships that are central to their progress.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a clean and tidy living environment, where children are encouraged to take pride in their surroundings. Some areas of the home are in need of attention to enhance homeliness, such as curtains being rehung properly when the hooks have come off. Managers are already aware of this and plan to address it.

p.2

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

Children are safe and they are supported by staff who understand their vulnerabilities and respond promptly to risks. Staff help children to understand risks associated with their behaviours, such as leaving the home late at night. They talk with children about ways to keep themselves safe and help them to reflect on the impact of their decisions. Over time, this support helps the children to develop greater awareness of personal safety and improves their ability to make safer choices. Inspection report children's home: 2799901 3 Staff and managers respond appropriately to concerns raised by children or their families. Managers maintain effective communication with safeguarding agencies, including the local authority designated officer (LADO). On occasions when concerns about staff practice have been raised, managers have sought advice from the LADO and follow the advice that they receive. Recent responses from the LADO indicate that the

p.2

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

concerns shared with them did not require further investigation.

p.3

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

Incidents are managed effectively. When risks arise, staff act quickly and proportionately to reduce harm. They follow agreed procedures in recording incidents clearly, enabling managers to monitor patterns and identify learning. Managers ensure that staff are supported in the aftermath of incidents, offering supervision and additional training when needed. This reflective approach helps staff to develop confidence in managing challenging situations.

p.3

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

Safer recruitment practices ensure that only suitable staff work in the home. Managers complete thorough checks, and staff describe the induction process as helpful in preparing them for their roles. This attention to safer staffing contributes to a culture in which children feel protected and well cared for.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been no registered manager in post since October 2025. A new manager, who has submitted their application to register, is waiting for their suitability to be assessed. Despite this, the home benefits from leaders and managers who are visible, approachable and invested in improving outcomes for children. This includes an experienced area manager who is always available to support the manager.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the support that they receive and describe managers as responsive and encouraging. Managers ensure that staff receive regular supervision and have access to ongoing professional development that strengthens their knowledge and skills.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff consistently report that training opportunities help them to feel more equipped to meet children's needs, including understanding mental health and behaviour management. A post-physical intervention training quiz is an example of good practice, as it helps to reinforce key learning and encourages staff to apply techniques safely and effectively in their day-to-day work.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team maintains effective partnerships with families and external professionals, including health professionals, mental health specialists, social workers and education staff. This collaborative approach ensures that children benefit from coordinated and consistent support that meets their individual needs. Managers advocate strongly for children and work closely with partners to ensure that their voices are heard. Inspection report children's home: 2799901 4

p.3

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a welcoming environment that meets the needs of the children. In particular, they should ensure that curtains are correctly hung so that the home is a comfortable place for children to live in. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.7)

p.4

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 children's home: 2799901 5

p.4

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 10 Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 8NE

p.5

Inspector

Thobekile Bandama, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2799901 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6