Children's Home run by Achieving Above Average Ltd in Merton

Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 1 Registered provider: Achieving Above Average 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 cares for up to 4 children who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted on 1 October 2023.

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Information about this children's home

There were 3 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the home in response to the allegations were considered, where appropriate, alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector's judgements.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2026 Full Good 24/04/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 3

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Summary of findings

Children have made good progress from their individual starting points since moving into this home. All 3 children are settled and have lived in the home since the last inspection.

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Summary of findings

Children have developed trusting relationships with a stable, consistent and thoughtful staff team. Staff show appropriate understanding of children's needs and risks.

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Summary of findings

All children are attending school and making good progress in education.

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Summary of findings

Despite the positive practice seen on this inspection, leaders and managers do not have effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of children's care through their records to identify shortfalls in staff practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are met well. One child has a significant complex medical condition that requires a robust medication and dietary regime. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of the child's health needs and have completed relevant training to ensure that they can provide good care. They have developed a detailed care plan that incorporates the child's hospital plans. Staff ensure that any concerns are identified and responded to promptly and that the relevant health professionals are informed to ensure that appropriate support is provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities that are specific to their interests, such as playing games of their choice and taking part in community activities. Children benefit from having good routines and structure in the home and were observed to move freely and choose their activities. This gives them opportunities to have new experiences in the home and in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff take effective action when children are not in school. They talk to education professionals and provide children with educational activities at home. All children are attending appropriate education provision, and feedback from all of the children's schools is very positive about their school attendance and communication with staff. One child who had not been in school is now attending, enjoying learning and settled well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and homely. It is well resourced and spacious. Each child personalises their bedroom to reflect their personality. Staff value the importance of an environment that is respectful and maintained to a good standard, with children at its heart. Leaders and managers have a plan to refurbish the sensory room to ensure that the home is fully equipped with a variety of activities that they enjoy. Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 4

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

Staff show an appropriate understanding of safeguarding procedures. They know who they need to speak to if they have concerns. Leaders and managers report safeguarding concerns to the relevant agencies and take effective action to ensure that children are safeguarded. This sometimes includes offering more training to staff.

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

Children have good relationships with staff and are comfortable in the home. Staff are warm and sensitive in their interactions with children and show appropriate understanding of children's life experiences and how these affect their behaviour.

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

Staff have a clear and detailed understanding of children's risks and vulnerabilities. They follow children's care plans and make safe decisions about the care they provide. Managers and staff work closely with other agencies to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to keep children safe in the home. Incidents in the home are rare, and staff show appropriate understanding of children's triggers for behaviour. Staff support children to manage difficult feelings and develop coping strategies.

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

Positive behaviour is recognised and rewarded. Staff celebrate children's achievements, no matter how small, and view all behaviour as a form of communication. They talk to children about important topics using the children's preferred methods of communication. Staff help children develop self-control and resilience and work well with other professionals to understand behaviour. Incidents in the home are very rare. As a result, all children have positive experiences in the home.

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

Management oversight and reviewing systems are not robust. For example, some records lack management oversight to identify gaps in practice. In addition, the independent person's reports are of poor quality and lack analysis of the quality of care provided to children. Furthermore, visits are not completed monthly in line with regulations. Leaders and managers have identified the shortfalls and taken appropriate actions, including the recruitment of a new independent person.

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

Social workers, children’s schools, a child’s specialist hospital and the local authority designated officer spoke positively about the care provided to children and communication from staff. In the main, partnership working with professionals and parents is very good, and feedback is positive about the care provided to children. However, leaders and managers do not consistently and promptly challenge placing authorities when they do not fulfil their statutory obligations, for example ensuring that children have updated care plans that set out agreed expectations to meet children's needs. This has led to a communication breakdown between leaders and managers with one placing authority and unclear arrangements for the child's care.

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

The registered manager and staff know the children well and have high aspirations for them. They set and review individual achievable goals for each child in their care. Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 5 Staff morale is positive. Staff benefit from a variety of training that is relevant to the children's needs. Generally, training is effective and supports staff to meet the specific needs of the children in their care, including those with complex health needs. However, not all staff have received specific training about children's communication needs and the communication tools being used by staff in the home. This means that the use of alternative communication methods is not always consistent.

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

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Team meetings are used by staff to reflect on their practice and the needs of children. Staff also benefit from regular professional supervision, which is reflective and offers staff support and guidance to consider the needs and progress of children.

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

Although most staff are unqualified, the majority are enrolled on an appropriate course to obtain the relevant qualification. Staff are enthusiastic to learn and demonstrate a commitment to their role. They are caring, child focused and have a good understanding of the children's needs, interests and talents. Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 6

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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 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they have good oversight of the home and staff practice.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they maintain effective communication with placing authorities and take action to escalate concerns promptly where they consider responses to be inadequate. 8 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— 8 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 7 if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person's report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7)(a))

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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'.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have access to specialist training in the different communication methods children use to help them provide additional support to children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Achieving Above Average Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit A, Abbott's Wharf, 93 Stainsby Road, London E14 6JL

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Children's home details

Registered manager: Iheanyichukwu Wadibia

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Inspectors

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Rumbi Kawadza-Munsaka, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2733359 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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