Children's Home run by NET PEX LTD in Croydon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2674518 1 Registered provider: NET PEX LTD

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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 privately owned and provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was 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 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: 2674518 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/08/2025 Full Good 06/08/2024 Full Good 20/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2674518 3

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Summary of findings

The home provides good-quality care for children. Children have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff. Their education, family relationships and individual interests are promoted well. Staff demonstrate strong safeguarding knowledge and practice and frequently engage children in discussions about risks to help keep them safe. Managers and staff work collaboratively with other agencies to meet children’s needs. Leaders and managers ensure that the home environment enables children to have enjoyable experiences, and staff regularly provide a range of opportunities for children to achieve positive outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a nurturing home environment, where staff speak positively to and about every child and have a good understanding of each of their individual likes, dislikes, strengths and challenges. A consistent and stable team takes the time to get to know children well. The welcoming and warm space that staff provide creates a sense of belonging for children in the home. Since the last inspection, 3 children have moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships with their families are prioritised. Through staff’s support, children have better quality relationships with their families, because staff understand the importance of getting to know the important people in children’s lives. One parent praised the good communication from staff, adding that they know they can also always contact the registered manager for updates on their child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have ambitions. Children who were not in school when they moved in are now positively engaging in education. Children follow their dreams, be that attending university or starting their own clothing line. Several children have moved on to supported accommodation, where they can continue the journey to independent living that they started in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The back garden has been thoughtfully redesigned to promote children’s fun and fitness, and this encourages the children to spend time outside. An outdoor garden house has been transformed into a gym. A basketball court and football pitch provide ample opportunities for children to challenge staff to games. The children also engage positively in activities they enjoy outside the home. Children join local gyms, take boxing lessons and go on outings to the cinema, trampoline park and local parks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some internal communal areas of the home need modernising and refurbishment, such as the bathrooms and kitchen. Leaders and managers have made some improvements to the home decor, and there are plans for further renovations to the home. However, these have not yet begun. Inspection report for children’s home: 2674518 4

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

Children say they are safe in the home. Children have a designated key worker. However, all staff prioritise having positive relationships with each child so that children will feel comfortable and safe interacting with everyone who is caring for them. A staff member noted, ‘It is rewarding to see the positive relationships that develop over time, with young people gradually building trust and confidence in the adults who care for them.’ As a result, children can speak with any of the staff about their worries and concerns.

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

The known and potential risks to children are well understood by managers and staff. Risk assessments are updated regularly, are clear and detailed. The frequent key- working sessions are an effective way of speaking with children about how they perceive risk. Communication with the children’s family and professionals is excellent. The staff keep all relevant people regularly informed about the children’s wellbeing, with a sense of everyone working together to keep children safe.

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

The likelihood of children going missing from home is low. Staff manage individual situations well by following appropriate procedures and working collaboratively with other professionals. Their proactive approach helps to prevent missing-from-home episodes and ensure that children’s whereabouts are known, and that safety is the priority.

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

Staff participate in a wide range of safeguarding training, including county lines, child sexual exploitation, radicalisation, child criminal exploitation, mental health and trauma- informed practice. If there is a known risk for children at the time of referral, staff will have specific training in this area prior to children moving in. There are monthly reflective group sessions with the clinical lead to discuss each child’s progress and potential risks. This supports staff to adjust their way of working and develops their professional confidence in helping to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is an inspirational and proactive leader who brings a wealth of skills and experience to the role. They are committed to leading a dedicated team of staff, who are also passionate about their work with children. The registered manager prioritises working closely with the other professionals within each child’s network to ensure that each child experiences good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff turnover is low and this offers consistency for children. The leaders and managers ensure that their staff feel valued and supported. Supervision is reflective and focuses on the needs of children and the wellbeing of staff. Team meetings take place monthly and have a regular agenda item to recognise an employee of the month. Feedback from staff is overwhelmingly positive. One staff member said that managers ‘provide strong emotional support and are always approachable’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and staff share a common goal. They strive to make a meaningful difference to children’s lives and advocate on children’s behalf. Staff take pride in Inspection report for children’s home: 2674518 5 children’s achievements and enjoy being a positive role model for them. The registered manager has created a child-centred ethos for this home that focuses on meeting the needs of children. One staff member commented that ‘the needs and wellbeing of the children remain at the centre of everything we do’. This results in an environment where the children thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some children have moved from the home after a short period of time due to their needs being higher than expected. Leaders and managers have reflected on the reasons for these unplanned moves. They are implementing strategies to ensure that the referral process is robust, so that when children move on, they do so in a planned way and benefit from the care and support the staff provide. Inspection report for children’s home: 2674518 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment that meet the needs of its children, and it will, in most cases, be a homely, domestic environment. Specifically, this relates to any needed refurbishment such as the bathroom and the kitchen. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that suitability assessments are consistently carried out to a high standard in order to ensure compatibility of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2674518 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Offices Rear Of 93c, Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9BU

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Inspector

Julie Cresswell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2674518 8 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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