Children's Home run by Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 1 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a charitable organisation. It provides care and support for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home. They were both invited to share their views with the inspectors, but they declined.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2024 Full Good 05/03/2024 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences in the home have been varied. Some children have settled and made progress, while others have experienced more unsettled periods. This has meant that the staff have not always been able to meet their needs, resulting in those children moving on. The registered manager has reflected on the placements of 2 children where progress fell short of expectations and has identified learning from these situations. This reflective approach enables senior leaders to understand the factors that contributed to the placements being unsuccessful and to make more informed care planning decisions. As a result, the registered manager is better able to identify children who are likely to live well alongside those already in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children’s educational progress is also mixed. One child attends college and is making timely progress. However, another child’s educational needs are not being met, despite efforts from the staff team and advocacy. This means the child is missing important learning opportunities and is spending prolonged periods alone in their bedroom.

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improvement to be good

The children’s culture and identity are understood, valued, and meaningfully incorporated into their care planning. Staff encourage children to explore their heritage and ensure that they have the resources and skills to meet their cultural needs.

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improvement to be good

The staff spend purposeful time with children and have discussions that focus on each child’s experiences, needs and goals. These discussions enable staff to explore relevant topics with children and tailor the support they offer. As a result, children are developing important skills and making progress. Staff also work to build and maintain relationships with children’s families where appropriate. This has helped children strengthen and extend their relationships with family members.

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improvement to be good

The home is well presented and provides a warm, family-like environment. There are plans in place to make improvements to ensure that the home remains well maintained.

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improvement to be good

During one child’s time living at the home, there was a crisis period during which senior leaders did not always maintain effective oversight of safeguarding practice. In one isolated incident, a child made an allegation and was subsequently involved in a physical intervention during which the child sustained an injury. There were missed opportunities to explore this issue fully. This shortfall undermines an effective safeguarding culture. However, oversight of all other serious incidents has been appropriate.

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improvement to be good

There are shortfalls in some staff’s understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. While several staff members can describe how to report concerns internally, some Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 4 records show staff have not followed expected safeguarding practice and policies, and senior leaders have failed to identify or address these shortfalls. Although safeguarding information is provided during induction, the manager does not have systems in place to assess staff’s understanding or to ensure that their knowledge is sustained over time. These weaknesses limit effective oversight of staff safeguarding competence.

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improvement to be good

Restrictive practice is only used when necessary to help children manage periods of distress. However, the registered person has not ensured that records show that staff involved in these interventions have been spoken to or that the child has had an opportunity to explore their feelings following the incident.

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improvement to be good

The staff provide consistent support to help children understand their feelings and express their emotions safely. As a result, one child’s incidents of self-injurious behaviour have recently reduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

During periods when children were unsettled, senior managers did not ensure that effective oversight and monitoring arrangements were in place. As a result, some serious incidents were not explored thoroughly, and records did not clearly demonstrate the actions taken.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff supervision sessions are generally reflective and detailed, with records showing how staff consider their practice and the support they provide to children. Staff say that supervision supports their professional development. However, during a recent period of challenge in the home, a considerable number of supervision sessions were not carried out. This meant that many staff did not receive essential managerial oversight and support at a time when they were most needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is embedding a culture of change in the home, helping staff become more reflective and responsive in their roles. Staff are beginning to support children with needs that differ from those they have previously worked with. However, it is not yet clear whether the staff team has the confidence, skills and experience required to meet these children’s needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The senior leadership team is committed to developing the service and actively seeks the views of staff and children to inform improvement. Recently, the registered manager gathered feedback from staff about their confidence in carrying out aspects of their roles. This information has been used to identify areas where staff require additional support, and the registered manager has arranged further training to address gaps in staff’s knowledge and confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff have received essential training to support children’s health and wellbeing needs as part of their move into the home. This ensures that they can provide safe and appropriate care. The registered manager has also taken suitable action to review and improve processes following administrative errors in medication practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 5

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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 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that senior leaders take effective action if a child raises a concern or allegation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should be assured that senior leaders and staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and how to implement and follow good safeguarding practice and policies.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have the skills and confidence to take effective action in the event of a safeguarding concern. 30 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

that staff— 12 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 6 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is a plan agreed with the child and their professional network to support a transition to a suitable education placement.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they have effective systems in place to review care and records relating to children and take action where shortfalls are identified. 30 April 2026

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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

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 12 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is a record of discussions held with the child and the user within the relevant time frame.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems in place to ensure that all staff receive supervision from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, allowing them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in 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

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: 2641682 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 91 to 95 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 0AX

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Inspectors

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Louise Webling, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2641682 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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