Children's Home run by Ardent Residential Children’s Service Ltd in Medway

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 1 Registered provider: Ardent Residential Children’s Service Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. There were no children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 3 October 2025.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 30 October and 1 November 2025. Due to serious concerns about the quality of the leadership and management and the safeguarding practice at the home, Ofsted suspended the home’s registration and issued a notice of proposal to cancel the registration of the home. The purpose of this visit was to assess to what extent the provider has implemented improvements to address the concerns that led to Ofsted taking enforcement action.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Due to the scope of this inspection, and the fact that no children have been admitted to the home since the last inspection, it was not possible to fully test the extent that improvements made will have an impact on the progress and experience of children. For this reason, the requirements set at the last inspection will remain in place.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has reflected on his accountability for the shortfalls identified at the last inspection and has taken steps to address concerns in relation to his management style, oversight of practice and support to the manager of the home. He has undertaken additional training, reflected with the team and appointed an independent consultant to provide him with formal supervision, guidance and to provide an additional layer of governance to monitor the service. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 2 The previous registered manager resigned, and a new manager was appointed promptly to take over the day-to-day running of the home. He has applied to register with Ofsted, but this application has not yet been reviewed. There are clear arrangements in place for the manager to receive regular supervision and ongoing support. The manager is providing frequent supervision sessions for staff. Staff

p.1

This monitoring visit

appreciate this and report that they feel they now have a safe space to talk and that there is a clear direction and support from the manager.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and the manager are working closely together to implement changes and improve practice. They have introduced weekly meetings to review any incidents of concern to ensure that appropriate action has been taken and clear records are in place.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have now been recruited with permanent contracts. They appreciate this and report that it gives them a sense of security and enables them to feel more invested in the service. They report that there has been a shift in the culture at the home. Staff feel better able to raise concerns and have been supported through additional training and one-to-one and team sessions to better understand what is expected of them.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have undertaken a variety of online training and team sessions to strengthen their knowledge and to better understand how to respond to safeguarding concerns. They have used scenarios to test how they respond if a child goes missing from the home to ensure that they understand how to act in line with agreed policies and procedures.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has reviewed safeguarding policies, and staff have undertaken training, taken part in quizzes and used scenarios to test their knowledge and understand how this needs to translate into practice. They are undertaking practical training sessions to understand how to report concerns and where to record information. They report feeling much more confident in understanding how to identify and act on concerns. Staff are clear as to how to act on concerns if they relate to managers in the home, and there is now an external independent person for them to raise any worries with. They also understand that they can raise concerns directly with Ofsted or external safeguarding professionals should they feel this is necessary.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The systems in place to manage concerns or allegations have been strengthened because of staff training. An independent person has been appointed who is able to act on and, if necessary, investigate concerns if they relate to managers or directors of the company. However, there are still some vulnerabilities, as the safeguarding policy identifies the human resources team as a place where staff can raise safeguarding concerns. It is not clear that these staff have undertaken relevant safeguarding training to undertake this role.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The business support staff were previously offering supervision and well-being checks for staff. This is no longer happening as the manager is now providing this support. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the role of the business support Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 3 staff. It appears that they may carry out some work with staff in relation to care practice and also engage in a significant way with young people at times. However, the scope of their involvement in these areas is not exactly clear, and it is not clear how they have been trained or assessed to be suitably experienced to carry out work beyond their business support functions.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The new manager has introduced new formats for children’s care plans and risk assessments. He was able to describe how he would monitor the quality of these plans, and he is working with staff to increase their confidence in writing reports and plans.

p.3

This monitoring visit

The provider has carried out an audit of recruitment files and addressed gaps identified at the last inspection. The recruitment files for a staff member recruited recently demonstrated a robust approach to safe recruitment, and all suitability checks were in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 19 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 6 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(d)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 19 January 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 19 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 7 that arrangements are in place to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(ix)(x)) 19 January 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d)) 19 January 2026

p.7

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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 8 This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 9

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ardent Residential Children’s Service Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 75 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, London SE19 1TX

p.9

Inspector

Lee Kirwin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2843791 10 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.

p.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10