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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 1 Registered provider: Ardent Residential Children’s Service Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to 4 children with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 2 children lived in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since October 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 10 February 2026

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/02/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/09/2025 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 3

p.2

Summary of findings

The home is graded requires improvement primarily due to shortfalls in the management and oversight of safeguarding concerns in the home. Managers have not established effective systems to ensure robust oversight and responses to allegations, accidents and behaviour management practices.

p.3

Summary of findings

Children have positive day-to-day experiences. They settle well in the home and make progress in their education. They develop new interests and hobbies. There are some delays in obtaining relevant plans and ensuring that care planning actions can be monitored to ensure that barriers to progress and children’s needs are understood.

p.3

Summary of findings

Leaders have not maintained an up-to-date statement of purpose and have not implemented systems to ensure that they review the practice, support and care offered to children in line with their aims. Systems implemented have not been effective in driving improvement and, as a result, two previous requirements have been restated.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are delays in obtaining children’s relevant plans from the placing authorities. Children’s care plans and subsequent reviews are not recorded and stored in a manner which is accessible to staff. Managers attend reviews and relevant meetings; however, actions agreed are not incorporated into children’s plans to ensure that progress can be monitored and measured. As a result, there is a delay in the home seeking and obtaining an assessment for a child, which impacts the staff and wider professionals’ ability to fully understand the child’s needs.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children benefit from well-considered and planned moves into the home. Managers take the time to get to know children and their needs, speaking with social workers, family and the child to explore their needs. As a result, children benefit from effective planning and settle well in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are making positive progress in education. Staff and managers recognise the importance of finding children the right education. They work closely with schools and placing authorities to ensure children’s educational needs are recognised and met. One child who was previously educated at home is now attending school full time and is enjoying school.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are supported to spend time with people they identify as important. Families feel their time with their children is prioritised. Children are supported to have a mix of formal and informal opportunities to see and speak with their parents, brothers and sisters. Leaders and managers think carefully about the barriers and challenges that may Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 4 prevent children from engaging in family activities. As a result of thoughtful and careful planning and support, children have been involved in family occasions, events and celebrations.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to try new things. They are supported to explore new hobbies and interests; staff sign children up to trials and help them to purchase any items needed. There is a range of positive activities on offer inside and out of the home, which include puzzles, cooking activities, playing golf, visiting local castles, swimming trips and trips to London. Children’s achievements and engagement are rewarded and, as a result, their engagement is increasing.

p.4

improvement to be good

Managers have not maintained effective oversight of safeguarding in the home. Poor recording and monitoring practices have impacted managers’ ability to ensure that responses to accidents, restraint and management of allegations align with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.4

improvement to be good

Arrangements for the management of allegations against staff are unclear. Managers have verbally agreed a protocol with a child’s social worker which has not been formalised into an individualised plan. Following this agreement, there have been inconsistencies in the reporting and recording of concerns against staff. Managers have been unable to determine when concerns have met the threshold for consultation with the local authority designated officer. In addition to this, they have not maintained clear records of how they have explored and followed up on concerns raised by one child. A lack of a clear and monitorable protocol has created vulnerabilities in ensuring the child’s voice is heard and taken seriously.

p.4

improvement to be good

Physical restraint is only used when absolutely necessary to keep children safe and, for one child, the need for physical interventions is reducing. However, records of restraint and interventions used by staff are poor. Staff have not recorded information which clearly identifies the holds and techniques they have used to keep children safe. Managers have identified when recordings lack detail; however, they have not followed up to ensure information recorded is clear and accurate. In addition, managers have not sought contextual information in their follow up with children and staff to evaluate the proportionality or effectiveness of the interventions used.

p.4

improvement to be good

When accidents happen, managers do not take effective action to reduce ongoing risk. There is not a system in place to ensure that managers review injuries and accidents to consider any learning or any action that can be taken to prevent recurrence. As a result, children have had continued access to an item which injured a visitor to the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practices are effective. Staff working in the home are checked to assess that they are suitable to work with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 5

p.4

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

Leaders and managers have not maintained effective systems to monitor and have oversight of the quality of care and interventions for children. Monitoring systems that are in place to review care planning and incidents have not identified the shortfalls discussed in this report.

p.5

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

Managers have not maintained accurate records of the staffing and visitors to the home. There have been occasions when the manager or responsible individual has visited the home and not been recorded in the signing-in book. In addition, there are times they have worked directly with children as part of their staffing allocation, and this has not been recorded on the home’s roster. As a result of these records being unclear, it is not evident if staffing levels have been maintained in line with those agreed with children’s placing authorities.

p.5

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

Managers have not maintained and updated the home’s statement of purpose. There have been substantial changes to staffing, therapeutic models and behaviour management strategies which have not been updated or shared with children, staff, families and professionals. This impacts on the manager’s ability to ensure that staff have clear and cohesive guidance on the aims, ethos and practice expected in the home.

p.5

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

Staff benefit from a range of training courses and induction activities. Courses and activities undertaken are linked to the needs of the children in the home. There are shortfalls in the recording of inductions for staff, which limit managers’ ability to oversee and monitor progress for individual staff. However, supervision records reflect that inductions are taking place and staff development is a regular topic.

p.5

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

Staff receive regular and effective supervision. They value the support they receive from managers and have a range of in-house and external support mechanisms available to manage the impact of their work. Supervision sessions are frequent and provide a good opportunity for staff to think about the support they provide children and the impact of their work. Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1 )(2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi)(b)(e))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 2 August 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the name of the child; 2 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 7 details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.7

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.7

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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 2 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 8 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.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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)(f)(g)(ii)(f))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.8

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(iv)) 2 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 9

p.8

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: 2843791 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ardent Residential Children’s Service Ltd

p.10

Children’s home details

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

p.10

Inspector

Georgia Carty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2843791 11 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.

p.10

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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11