Children's Home run by McRae Residential Care Services Limited in Croydon

Inspection report for children’s home: SC025813 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: McRae Residential Care Services 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 owned and managed by a private provider and can provide single-sex occupancy care for up to 8 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 1997, and the manger was registered with Ofsted in March 2007.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. The inspector spoke with this child as part of the inspection. Another child has moved into the home and moved from the home since the last inspection.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC025813 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/10/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/05/2025 Full Inadequate 26/02/2025 Full Inadequate 06/09/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC025813 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Summary of findings

The child is progressing well in their independence, education and wellbeing. A consistent team of staff listen to the child and provide nurturing care.

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Summary of findings

The child currently feels safe and well-supported. Following a single incident, safeguarding procedures were immediately implemented, and valuable lessons have been identified to improve future practice.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers have improved oversight through training and monthly audits which measure practice and children’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child makes good progress, especially in their personal care and independent skills. Staff know the child’s individual needs and offer steady guidance. This support improves the child’s confidence and enables them to take greater responsibility for their own routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child engages positively in education. Staff promote regular attendance at school and recognise the child’s achievements. This helps the child to make good educational progress and reinforces the child’s motivation to learn.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child takes part in activities that match their interests and supports their wellbeing. Staff encourage regular participation in physical activities, such as the gym, which contributes to the child’s mental and physical health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has warm, trusting relationships with staff, who provide care that aligns with the child’s plan. The child has stability and a strong foundation on which they make good progress. The child can express their views, and staff advocate for them while promoting independent advocacy. This ensures the child feels listened to and that their views are acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has regular conversations with staff. Care planning is collaborative, with the child actively involved in decisions, which provides the child with a sense of involvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has a comfortable home environment. Their bedroom reflects their preferences, which helps the child to create a sense of belonging. The back garden requires maintaining to ensure that it is a usable for children.

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

The child says that they feel safe at the home. The child is relaxed, settled and has valued relationships with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025813 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

There are times when the child has been missing from their home. Staff have guidance to follow to reduce the risks during this time. On one occasion, staff were not aware of a child leaving the home because the agreed number of staff required to support the child were not on duty. The child returned home safely after a short period of time. The registered managers’ prompt review identified learning that they implemented effectively to reduce the likelihood of the situation reoccurring.

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

Staff confidently apply a range of alternative strategies to support when children are upset. Their consistent use of these approaches develops confidence in managing difficult situations.

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

When serious incidents occur, leaders and managers respond to children’s emerging needs and risks appropriately. They do not, however, always inform Ofsted about serious incidents. This impedes regulatory oversight of safeguarding practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the home. They implement effective monitoring systems and plans that help to develop and improve the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers carry out safe recruitment checks of new staff and implement good recruitment practice. They consistently explore and challenge gaps in new workers’ employment histories. Through these checks they ensure that only safe and suitable people work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported through regular supervision, training and the daily guidance leaders and managers provide. They work as a team, providing consistent care through which the child experiences stability and trusting relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Relevant, good-quality training helps staff meet the child’s needs. The commitment to staff’s professional development does not ensure that all staff complete the required qualification in the anticipated timescale. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025813 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma").

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 29 August 2026

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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; and 29 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC025813 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments reflect the number of staff agreed to provide support.

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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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 29 August 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with a welcoming and homely domestic environment. This specifically relates to ensuring that the garden area is a fully usable space for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC025813 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: McRae Residential Care Services Limited

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Inspector

Richard Wyper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC025813 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

regulates 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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