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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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

This home registered with Ofsted in April 2016 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager has been vacant since September 2025.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged to have serious and widespread concerns at an assurance inspection on 5 November 2025. As a result, a notice to suspend accommodation was issued on 7 November 2025.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to review the provider’s compliance with the notice suspending accommodation and to consider the responses and actions taken in relation to the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that the provider has complied with the suspension of accommodation, meaning no children have lived in the home since the notice was issued. The provider has also made progress in responding to the concerns identified at the assurance inspection and is working towards meeting the requirements raised at that visit.

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This monitoring visit

Following the assurance inspection, the provider commissioned an independent investigation into the concerns raised. This has supported leaders’ learning from significant safeguarding matters. The recommendations from this investigation have informed the provider’s ongoing improvement plan.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s previous manager resigned following the assurance inspection. A new manager has been recruited and is due to start working in the home in February Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 2 2026. The provider has also appointed a consultant with experience of managing regulated children’s homes to support the implementation of improvements. There are plans for the consultant to take on the role of responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have reviewed and updated the home’s whistleblowing policy and ensured this has been shared with all staff. Staff have completed refresher safeguarding training and are scheduled to attend additional training delivered by the local authority designated officer (LADO) in February 2026. Leaders have also updated the manager induction programme to ensure managers understand their responsibilities when children make allegations.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have increased the frequency of manager meetings from monthly to weekly to strengthen oversight and communication. The frequency of the responsible individual’s visits to the home has also increased. Leaders plan to introduce a monthly manager report, which will include information on safeguarding, complaints, and recruitment, to further strengthen monitoring arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have implemented an improved process for assessing children’s suitability for the home in line with the home’s admissions policy. This includes an initial suitability assessment and an impact risk assessment, which identify risks and provide guidance on how these can be reduced. Staff training needs are considered as part of this reviewed process to ensure staff have the skills to meet the needs of children who may move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have updated the incident reporting template to prompt consideration of whether an event is notifiable to the regulator. The template now includes prompts for debriefs with children and staff and records whether a child wishes to make a complaint. Leaders have also introduced a system for countersigning of safeguarding incident reports, reducing the risk of late notifications and inaccurate information.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have reviewed and updated the home’s protocols for physical intervention and for children who go missing from care. These updates align with amendments made to recording templates and support staff to follow protocols consistently. Arrangements are in place for staff to attend a workshop on the missing-from-care protocol to support their knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have continued to work towards meeting the requirements and recommendation raised at the assurance inspection. These will be reviewed at the next full inspection. No additional requirements or recommendations were raised at this visit. As a result of this monitoring visit, the notice to suspend accommodation will not be extended. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 3

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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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 4

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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 with 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. 24 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 5 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. 24 April 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. 24 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 6 The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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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. 24 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 24 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 7 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

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. 24 April 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; 24 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 8 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. (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 whistleblowing 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)

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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: 1235653 9

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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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1235653 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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