Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)
Children's Home run by Catch22 Charity Limited in Sutton
Summary
Jo Mitchell (lead), Stella Namakula
What we read, and from where
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- Group verified
Catch22 Charity Limited
- Inspection date verified
28 Apr 2026
- Inspectors verified
Jo Mitchell, Stella Namakula
- Helped and protected verified
Inadequate
- Leadership and management verified
Inadequate
- Overall effectiveness verified
Inadequate
- Name on report verified
2660251
- URN verified
2660251
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2025.
- OverallInadequate
- Helped and protectedInadequate
- Leadership and managementInadequate
5% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Inadequate (12,716 inspections).
Tone of the report
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In line with other reports of this type graded Inadequate.
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How the report reads, start to finish
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Strengths
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No standout praise found.
Concerns
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- There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress. p.1
- The lack of appropriate boundaries causes children to feel unsafe in the home. p.3
- Children are not being kept safe, their experiences and progress are adversely affected because of serious and widespread weaknesses in leadership and management. p.3
- There is insufficient analysis of serious incidents and learning is not identified. p.6
- This combination of a lack of adequate oversight and professional curiosity, with a failure to identify or apply learning to address shortfalls and to improve practice compromises the welfare and safety of children. p.6
Next steps
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- In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff take effective action to protect children, and respond appropriately, taking into account children’s needs and risk assessments. p.8
- In particular, leaders and managers must have effective oversight of the home. p.9
- In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s health needs are understood and managed safely, such as nut allergies. p.10
- Leaders and managers must ensure that staff support children around leading healthier lifestyles and educating them and helping them to reduce risks of vaping. 31 May 2026 p.10
- In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff provide children with consistent boundaries and expectations within the home and help children to understand socially acceptable behaviour and not to vape in the home or swear. p.11
- The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— p.11
- In particular, when considering new children moving into the home, leaders and managers must fully consider the needs of children already living there and those moving into the home, as well as whether the staff have the skills to meet the needs of all children in their care. p.12
- Leaders and managers must ensure that children are sufficiently prepared and supported to move out of the home and that their belongings are not packed into bin bags when they leave. p.12
What the report dwells on
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Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 16
- Words of findings
- 3,528
- longer than usual (typical 2286)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 50, typical 50
- Average sentence
- 19 words
- Next steps
- 8
- typical 8
- Hedged sentences
- 7%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 1 Registered provider: Catch22 Charity Limited
p.1
Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework
p.1
Information about this children’s home
This home is owned and managed by a charitable organisation and cares for up to six children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in February 2022. The registered manager has submitted their voluntary cancellation form prior to this inspection and is due to leave in July 2026.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
There were four children living in the home at the time of this inspection. Three children were spoken to during this inspection.
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
children and young people, taking into account
p.1
inadequate
How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate
p.1
inadequate
The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate
p.1
inadequate
There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.
p.1
inadequate
Overall judgement at last inspection: good
p.1
inadequate
Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 2
p.1
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement
19/08/2025 Full Good 06/08/2024 Full Good 08/08/2023 Full Good 22/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 3
p.2
Summary of findings
Children are not being kept safe, their experiences and progress are adversely affected because of serious and widespread weaknesses in leadership and management.
p.3
Summary of findings
Since the last inspection, five children have moved into the home and four have moved out. This includes one child who moved in and out within three weeks. Staff were unable to keep this child safe, leading the home to give notice on the child’s placement.
p.3
inadequate
Staff do not provide children with clear and consistent boundaries to help them develop and keep themselves safe. Children are not supported to learn how to communicate effectively or develop healthy routines. Staff do not respond appropriately to children. For example, staff do not challenge children when their behaviour has a negative impact on themselves and others within the home. Children are regularly up during the night and in bed until late in the day. The lack of appropriate boundaries causes children to feel unsafe in the home. One child called the police to attend the home after being threatened by another child during an altercation.
p.3
inadequate
Leaders and managers fail to effectively identify children’s needs and how they will be met before they move into the home. In addition, the potential impact that they may have on the children already living there is not sufficiently explored. One child’s pre-admission assessment identified significant safeguarding risks and stated that staff would receive appropriate training to be able to safely manage these. However, this was not provided. A series of safeguarding incidents occurred during the child’s time in the home, some of which involved the other children, leading the manager to give notice on the child’s placement within three weeks. Staff did not have adequate, suitable luggage for the child’s possessions to be packed in time for her leaving the home. As a result, some of her belongings were put into bin bags.
p.3
inadequate
Children’s health needs are not understood or managed appropriately. One child moved into the home with an EpiPen. Leaders and managers did not establish whether the child required the EpiPen due to a nut allergy. Furthermore, they did not ensure that the home was safe for the child due to the possible allergy, which could have placed the child at significant risk. Another child was taken to hospital at night due to an injury. When the child was not seen by a doctor within a few hours, the Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 4 staff member made the decision to leave the hospital with the child before the child was seen by a health professional. This does not demonstrate that leaders and staff understand the importance of meeting children’s health needs.
p.3
inadequate
Staff aim to help children to independently maintain their personal spaces. However, this is not implemented consistently in practice. At the time of the inspection, children’s beds were unmade, clothes strewn over the floor, surfaces covered with clutter, and old food and drink left lying around. Despite the very poor and unhygienic condition of children’s bedrooms, staff did not intervene during the inspection to support and teach children the necessary life skills to clean and tidy their bedrooms.
p.4
inadequate
Although staff support children to see their family members. Leaders, managers and staff do not always work effectively with parents and other professionals. One child’s social worker is concerned about the lack of routines, boundaries, reflection, and follow-up after incidents. Another child’s social worker gave some positive feedback but highlighted a concern that the child’s risk-taking behaviour increased in the first two weeks of living in the home. Some parents shared that they feel that their children are not being kept safe and have seen inappropriate behaviour and risks escalate. Parents say that they do not feel that staff understand their children’s needs or take on board feedback from them as parents.
p.4
inadequate
Despite the shortfalls found at this inspection, staff offer children a variety of activities. This includes bike sessions, going to concerts and attending cadets. This contributes to some children forming positive relationships with staff. One child who have moved on from the home stays in contact with leaders and staff. Some children spoken to on this inspection also said that they have positive relationships with some staff.
p.4
inadequate
Multiple safeguarding concerns were identified at this inspection.
p.4
inadequate
Children spend increased time away from the home. Staff report the children as missing from home to the police although police state that the quality of information provided is poor. Staff do not undertake local area searches. There is an over reliance on children telling staff where they are, which gives staff misplaced reassurance about their safety. One staff member reported that they were ‘not overly worried’ because they knew where the child’s phone was through a tracking app.
p.4
inadequate
Shortfalls in staff and managers’ understanding of the reasons for missing-from-care episodes and taking effective action to prevent or reduce them, places children at an ongoing risk of harm when away from Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 5 the home. Some children’s risks increase while they are living in the home. For example, one child who has previously never been missing from care went missing twice in their first two weeks in the home, including once overnight. Another child went missing after staff did not appropriately supervise them. On one occasion, a staff member drove two children to a train station after their curfew at night. The children caught a train and then went missing. This action placed them at risk of harm.
p.4
inadequate
Children have contact with unknown adults that is not adequately risk assessed. This includes children spending regular time with people about whom there are known safeguarding concerns. Furthermore, children’s social workers are not informed of the arrangements that staff have agreed or who children are spending their time with. Leaders, managers and staff failed to take adequate steps to ensure that children are safe when away from the home.
p.5
inadequate
Risks are not always well understood or well managed. Although children’s risk assessments are mostly updated following a significant event, they do not provide staff with clear direction on how to keep children safe. They are vaguely worded and lack practical measures to reduce risk. Managers do not always have sufficient oversight of the writing of risk assessments to ensure that staff understand risk and respond as directed to support children and keep them safe.’
p.5
inadequate
Staff intervene to keep children safe when they are a significant danger to themselves or others. However, leaders and manager’s oversight of physical intervention practice is not effective. Management oversight does not provide staff with guidance on potential shortfalls in this area of practice or how future incidents resulting in a restraint can be minimised. Furthermore, children are not always spoken with, to help them to understand their own actions and feelings and so to reduce the likelihood of further incidents.’
p.5
inadequate
Staff lack professional curiosity. When one child told a staff member that they use drugs to help them sleep, there was no follow up. Another child returned to the home with an expensive laptop, which they said was from a friend. This was not understood as a potential sign of criminal exploitation, which is a known risk for the child.
p.5
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate
The leadership and management arrangements in this home are ineffective. The responsible individual does not have sufficient oversight of the home. An unregistered manager runs the home on a day-to-day basis. This manager supervises the registered manager, whose role is part time and who is physically present in the home only one or two days each month. The registered manager does not review the independent visitor’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 6 monthly reports that report on the children’s wellbeing in the home. Overall, the management arrangements seriously compromise the registered manager’s operational oversight. For example, she was not involved in the decision to admit a child whose placement ended within three weeks and was unaware of the shortfalls identified at this inspection.
p.5
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate
Team leaders provide some management cover for the deputy manager on a rotational basis after she reduced her hours to part time. Although leaders made this decision to support the professional development of team leaders, this arrangement further fragments management oversight of staff practice and care of children.’
p.6
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate
The statement of purpose implies that the unregistered manager is the registered manager and names the registered manager only as being a ‘quality assurance manager. Furthermore, the home’s complaints policy states that the manager is the registered manager, which is misleading for anyone wishing to make a complaint. Leaders amended documents during the inspection but only following inspectors informing leaders that the home’s statement of purpose, website and complaints policy are confusing and misrepresent who is responsible for running the home.
p.6
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate
Leaders and managers do not maintain an effective presence in the day- to-day running of the home. Staff report that the managers base themselves upstairs, which is a significant distance from the ground floor, in a very large building. The emergency services were called to the home on three consecutive days in relation to one child. Regardless of the child’s serious and ongoing risks, on the third day the responsible individual left the home during the incident and there were no managers present when the police were called and removed the child from the home. Overall, this lack of operational presence seriously limits leaders and managers’ oversight of children’s safety, the quality of children’s care, and their lived experiences in the home.
p.6
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate
There is insufficient analysis of serious incidents and learning is not identified. Leaders and managers do not discuss safeguarding incidents with the staff who were involved. After the police raised their concerns and made a complaint about the lack of control staff had over a safeguarding incident, the manager investigated and concluded that there were no lessons to be learned. This lack of reflection prevents the development of more effective practice. This combination of a lack of adequate oversight and professional curiosity, with a failure to identify or apply learning to address shortfalls and to improve practice compromises the welfare and safety of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 7 Leaders and managers are unclear about their responsibility for notifying Ofsted of serious incidents. Consequently, the regulator has not been informed of significant safeguarding incidents or about allegations against
p.6
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate
staff. Notifications that have been made, were delayed and they did not include the practical steps being taken to reduce future risk. This shortfall reduces Ofsted’s oversight of the home, limiting their ability to ensure that the provider is maintaining proper safeguarding standards for children.
p.7
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate
Due to the serious and widespread shortfalls identified at this inspection, a notice restricting accommodation was issued with immediate effect. Two compliances notices have also been issued. Ofsted will continue to monitor the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 8
p.7
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.8
Requirement Due date
* The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.
p.8
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.8
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.8
Requirement Due date
help each child to understand how to keep safe;
p.8
Requirement Due date
have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;
p.8
Requirement Due date
understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;
p.8
Requirement Due date
take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and
p.8
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.8
Requirement Due date
that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished, and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(d))
p.8
Requirement Due date
In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff take effective action to protect children, and respond appropriately, taking into account children’s needs and risk assessments. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff have a document 31 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 9 which sets out all known risks to the child and which includes clear directions for staff to follow and practical measures to reduce risk; leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the training and support needed to have the skills to identify and act on children’s risk of harm; staff must ensure that children’s bedrooms are maintained to a clean, hygienic and safe standard.
p.8
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.9
Requirement Due date
helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and
p.9
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—
p.9
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.9
Requirement Due date
ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;
p.9
Requirement Due date
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.9
Requirement Due date
demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—
p.9
Requirement Due date
feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and
p.9
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)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))
p.9
Requirement Due date
In particular, leaders and managers must have effective oversight of the home. This must include systems which identify potential issues and safeguarding concerns, and the action taken to rectify these; ensure that adequate oversight, reflection and follow-up with staff following incidents, concerns and complaints; exercise professional curiosity and practice following 31 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 10 incidents or disclosures involving children; and ensure that all staff, including leaders and managers, put in place and enforce effective and appropriate boundaries that keep children safe.
p.9
Requirement Due date
The health and well-being standard is that—
p.10
Requirement Due date
the health and well-being needs of children are met;
p.10
Requirement Due date
children receive advice, services, and support in relation to their health and well-being; and
p.10
Requirement Due date
children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.
p.10
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.10
Requirement Due date
achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;
p.10
Requirement Due date
understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;
p.10
Requirement Due date
understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))
p.10
Requirement Due date
In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s health needs are understood and managed safely, such as nut allergies. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff support children around leading healthier lifestyles and educating them and helping them to reduce risks of vaping. 31 May 2026
p.10
Requirement Due date
The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—
p.10
Requirement Due date
an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and
p.10
Requirement Due date
positive responses to other children and adults.
p.10
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 31 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 11 that staff—
p.10
Requirement Due date
meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;
p.11
Requirement Due date
help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;
p.11
Requirement Due date
encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;
p.11
Requirement Due date
communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))
p.11
Requirement Due date
In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff provide children with consistent boundaries and expectations within the home and help children to understand socially acceptable behaviour and not to vape in the home or swear.
p.11
Requirement Due date
The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—
p.11
Requirement Due date
a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;
p.11
Requirement Due date
an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;
p.11
Requirement Due date
there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;
p.11
Requirement Due date
there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(e)) 31 May 2026
p.11
Requirement Due date
The care planning standard is that children—
p.11
Requirement Due date
receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and
p.11
Requirement Due date
have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.
p.11
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 31 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 12 that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;
p.11
Requirement Due date
manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii))
p.12
Requirement Due date
In particular, when considering new children moving into the home, leaders and managers must fully consider the needs of children already living there and those moving into the home, as well as whether the staff have the skills to meet the needs of all children in their care.
p.12
Requirement Due date
Leaders and managers must ensure that children are sufficiently prepared and supported to move out of the home and that their belongings are not packed into bin bags when they leave.
p.12
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.12
Requirement Due date
details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;
p.12
Requirement Due date
the date, time, and location of the use of the measure;
p.12
Requirement Due date
a description of the measure and its duration;
p.12
Requirement Due date
details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 31 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 13 the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;
p.12
Requirement Due date
the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and
p.13
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.13
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")—
p.13
Requirement Due date
has spoken to the user about the measure; and
p.13
Requirement Due date
has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and
p.13
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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))
p.13
Requirement Due date
In particular, leaders and managers must have appropriate and effective oversight of the use of restraint in the home and ensure that children are spoken with following incidents.
p.13
Requirement Due date
The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))
p.13
Requirement Due date
In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose clearly states who is the home’s registered manager. 31 May 2026
p.13
Requirement Due date
* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.
p.13
Recommendations
The registered person should ensure that children are regularly and consistently offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home and that they are encouraged to participate in those activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 31, paragraph 6.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 14
p.13
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: 2660251 15
p.14
Children’s home details
Registered provider: Catch22 Charity Limited
p.15
Children’s home details
Registered provider address: Catch22 Charity Ltd, 27 Pear Tree Street, London EC1V 3AG
p.15
Children’s home details
Responsible individual: Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang
p.15
Inspectors
Jo Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Stella Namakula, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2660251 16 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.
p.15
Inspectors
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p.16
Inspectors
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p.16
Inspectors
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
p.16
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