Children's home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2857230 1 Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Limited

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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 home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted for the management of this home and another home within the organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the home was registered, one child has moved into the home. The inspector spoke to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2857230 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s placements and moves into the home are carefully considered. Personalised and bespoke care plans are guided by the in-house psychotherapist. This ensures the care provided is expertly tailored to the child’s needs and past experiences. This helps the child to settle quickly and make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to make good educational progress relative to their starting point. The manager and staff advocate effectively to ensure the child’s needs are met. Staff have enabled the child to re ‑ enter education by starting at a new school after a long period out of learning. The manager has strengthened this transition by working closely with school staff to build their skills and ensure consistent support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are well understood and met by staff. Staff are quick to seek appropriate health appointments, assessments and treatment. The child’s emotional and mental health is also promoted well. The in ‑ house play therapist meets with the child weekly, and the child has begun to engage in this support for the first time. This provides an additional layer of therapeutic input that enhances the child’s emotional resilience and overall wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child develops meaningful and trusting relationships with staff. Staff know the child well and spend purposeful time with the child, such as cooking together and going for walks. The child’s views are routinely sought, and the child has a genuine say in day ‑ to ‑ day decisions. This approach helps the child to feel valued and empowered. The child said: ‘The staff are really supportive and make sure I’m safe and happy in every way.’

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

Staff keep the child safe. Staff know the risks the child can be exposed to and respond effectively. Risk management plans are detailed, regularly reviewed and informed by collaborative work with other professionals, such as social workers. The child contributes meaningfully to their own plans, ensuring that they have a voice in how staff support them.

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

Risks of self-injurious behaviour are safely managed. Effective strategies, such as a personalised ‘emotional toolkit’, help the child to regulate their emotions. Staff encourage the child to talk about their feelings and emotions, helping them to offload and receive comfort and reassurance. This helps to build the child’s emotional resilience and stability.

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

Staff teach the child how to keep themselves safe. Staff have regular discussions with the child which are effective in helping the child to make safer choices. This has resulted in a reduction in the restrictive measures in place to safeguard the child. For example, Inspection report for children’s home: 2857230 3 the deprivation of liberty order once in place has been removed due to the child’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an inspirational and highly effective leader. She sets consistently high expectations for staff and has a detailed understanding of the child’s individual needs. Her skilled, trauma ‑ informed practice ensures that children’s plans and records are written in a way that supports the child’s understanding of their life story and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are highly trained and demonstrate strong competence in their roles. A trauma-informed approach is firmly embedded and is strengthened by input from the home’s psychotherapist. Staff receive targeted training in areas relevant to the child’s needs, including deprivation of liberty, self ‑ harm and child sexual exploitation. This enables staff to respond effectively, ensuring that children receive well ‑ informed, sensitive care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains excellent oversight of the home. She has a thorough understanding of day ‑ to ‑ day practice and monitors the quality of care effectively. Internal and external audits are routinely completed, and any shortfalls are promptly addressed. Learning from audits, incidents and reviews is used to strengthen the service and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Research ‑ informed practice is embedded throughout the home. The manager uses evidence ‑ based approaches to enhance the child’s experiences and improve outcomes. For example, tools are used to assess, strengthen and evaluate the child’s emotional resilience, and a reflective practice model enables the staff and child to meaningfully reflect and gain deeper insight. This promotes emotional wellbeing and strengthens practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, high-quality supervision that is deeply reflective. Supervision sessions provide meaningful opportunities for staff to evaluate their practice, identify strengths and address areas for improvement. The manager is quick to address issues of poor practice, ensuring that standards of care remain high and staff feel well supported.

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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: 2857230 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 7, 35–37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

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Inspector

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2857230 5 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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