Children's Home run by Caridon Young Living Ltd in Sutton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2786780 1 Registered provider: Caridon Young Living Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to 4 children who have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home and the manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 4 children were living in the home.

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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: 26 February 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2786780 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2786780 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have built warm, natural and trusting relationships with the children. Children say that staff understand them and that staff are there for them in difficult times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know children well and understand their lived experiences. Staff are interested in the children and listen to what they have to say. Children are involved in decision- making about their lives. Staff take the time to explain the reasons for any decisions and ensure that they do the things they say they will do. This has helped children to develop trust in staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are engaged in education. Most children’s attendance has increased since moving into the home. Staff use creative ways to help children re-engage with education when their attendance wanes. The sensitive and gradual approaches they take help to reduce children’s anxiety about going to school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills. One child plans and prepares meals independently, while another takes part in weekly household chores. The development of these skills helps to prepare children for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional wellbeing is prioritised and improves as a result of living at the home. When there were delays to children accessing mental health support through universal services, managers employed a counsellor for the home. Children who did not previously engage in counselling now attend weekly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s self-esteem has improved as a result of the relationships that they have built with staff. For example, before moving to the home, one child did not communicate their wishes verbally, but now willingly verbalises their views to adults and expresses their views during planning meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are sought regularly through a variety of means, including weekly house meetings and key-work discussions. Children also attend their care review meetings and feel confident to express their views about future planning. Furthermore, to ensure children’s views are heard, staff have referred 2 children to independent advocacy. This ensures that their wishes are accurately represented when important decisions are made about their lives.

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

Children say that they feel safe and well cared for. Children actively seek staff support and accept their guidance. Staff communicate and sustain clear boundaries, which are understood and respected by children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786780 4 Staff understand children’s needs well. Staff are confident to support children with reducing their vulnerabilities and are responsive to emerging risks affecting children.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff take effective action to ensure that the children return home safely. They involve the police and other professionals appropriately. Staff have built relationships with children’s friends and family, so that there is a united effort to locate children if they go missing. All incidents of children going missing are followed up with return home interviews carried out by external professionals, which helps staff and professionals to understand the experiences of children and reduce the risk of children going missing in future.

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

Staff use their relationships with children to de-escalate challenging situations and console children if they become upset. The effectiveness of this approach means that physical intervention has not been used during this period.

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

Incidents in the home are rare, and there is effective reflection when incidents do occur. However, the quality of incident reports is variable. While some records capture children’s experiences and the work staff carry out with them well, others do not accurately reflect why decisions were made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He leads by example and has exceptionally high expectations for both children and staff. Children live in a home that benefits from strong leadership, which helps to ensure that children have a positive experience living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager demonstrates a highly effective understanding of the strengths and skill sets within his staff team. He uses this insight to improve outcomes for children. For example, he implemented a key-worker swap, enabling different staff members to work with different children. This approach ensured that staff skills are utilised to children’s needs, resulting in improved progress for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff take part in regular team meetings, which encompass training and development opportunities. In addition, staff briefings are held weekly. This ensures that staff are aware of changes and developments in children’s circumstances, so they can respond cohesively and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Social workers speak highly of the commitment shown by managers and staff towards the children in their care. Children’s progress is described by partner agencies as an area of strength. One professional said that ‘children receive the right support at the right time’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report high levels of morale and say that they feel valued in their professional roles. Staff benefit from monthly reflective supervision and meaningful annual Inspection report for children’s home: 2786780 5 appraisals. Staff are provided with high-quality training and opportunities to expand their learning, which they can use to inform the care they provide for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786780 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, accurate, objective and clear recording. Staff should also include the work they do with children in their case records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2786780 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Caridon Young Living Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: AGK, 1 Kings Avenue, London N21 3NA

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Inspector

Stephanie McDonald, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2786780 8 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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