Children's Home run by Area Camden Limited in Camden

Inspection report for children’s home: 2535376 1 Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in August 2019 and the manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024. The registered manager also manages a second home within the organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was not present during the inspection. The responsible individual and deputy manager were present on both days of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were 3 children living at 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: 2535376 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2025 Full Good 08/05/2024 Full Good 19/04/2023 Full Good 06/12/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2535376 3

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from stable, consistent care from an experienced team of staff who know the children well. Staff build trusting relationships with children, promote their education, health and independence. Staff work effectively with children’s families and professionals to help children make good progress.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers provide effective oversight and support staff to deliver individualised care. Staff understand and manage risks well and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns. One requirement has been raised to improve management oversight of children’s risk assessments, including that they are updated promptly following significant changes in children’s circumstances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled and benefit from consistent care from a stable and experienced staff team. They have lived together for some time and experience continuity from staff who know them well. Staff understand children’s individual needs, strengths and vulnerabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are valued and are reflected in their plans and risk assessments. Staff encourage children to contribute to decisions about their care and support them to join important meetings. When children are upset or frustrated about decisions that are made, staff explain how the decision was reached and ensure the child’s voice is heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in education. Children did not attend education when they moved into the home, and all are now enrolled. Staff understand the barriers children face following periods out of education. They work closely with education professionals and children to support their reintegration. One child is waiting for their GCSE results and is positive about their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s health and wellbeing effectively. They ensure that children attend routine and specialist health appointments and advocate for children to receive the support they need. Staff cook freshly cooked meals and support children to cook and think about having a healthy diet. Staff also work with children to try to establish better routines. For one child, staff have bought a foot spa to help establish a relaxing nighttime routine that helps them to sleep better.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children maintain relationships with their families and friends. If appropriate, friends and family are encouraged to spend time with children at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate children’s achievements, however small. Bunches of flowers, trips out for Bubble Tea and notes of recognition help children to build trust, confidence and self- Inspection report for children’s home: 2535376 4 esteem. Staff provide children with opportunities to develop important life skills through discussions about healthy relationships, substance misuse and preparation for independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At times, children choose to spend extended periods of time in their bedroom. This limits the opportunity for children to spend time together to build and maintain a positive relationship with each other and resolve any difficulties they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a homely feel. Children decorate their rooms, which are spacious and comfortable. Each bedroom has an ensuite bathroom. There are plenty of arts, crafts and activities in the home and opportunities for children to go out and about locally.

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

Staff talk to children to help them understand any risks or vulnerabilities. Staff work effectively with social workers and have particularly strong relationships with the local missing person and exploitation police teams. Safeguarding arrangements for children are strong because of this collaborative approach.

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

Staff respond appropriately when children go missing from their home or are at risk of harm. They follow agreed procedures and ensure that children receive timely support when they return home or require emergency assistance. Staff work with children in a calm, non-judgemental way, helping them to understand and reduce risk rather than focusing on blame. When existing arrangements no longer promote children’s safety, staff work with children and professionals to review plans and identify safer approaches.

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

Staff use a range of creative resources and direct work to help children understand risks. They are proactive at finding specialist support for children when needed. Staff understand safeguarding procedures, including whistleblowing, and are confident to raise concerns if necessary.

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

Leaders and managers respond to concerns raised about consistent levels of supervision of children, particularly when children are in their bedrooms. They identify and actively address concerns when staff practice can improve.

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

Children have comprehensive risk management plans that staff understand and follow. The risk assessment for one child when they turned 18, however, was not updated. The assessment did not reflect the change in the child’s legal status and differing associated risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced and suitably qualified registered manager who is supported by an experienced deputy manager and senior staff team. Together, leaders and managers have high expectations for children and understand their individual needs and progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2535376 5 Strengths and areas for service development are well understood. Leaders and managers use effective monitoring systems to review children’s experiences. They identify and implement change where improvements are needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers advocate for children to receive the services they need. They routinely seek children’s views and ensure that these influence decisions about their care, helping to provide individualised support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a positive and supportive culture. Leaders and managers provide regular reflective supervision, facilitate team meetings and ensure that staff access training that reflects the needs of the children living at the home. Staff value the support they receive and speak positively about opportunities to develop their knowledge through face-to-face training, including trauma-informed practice. This helps staff provide consistent care and respond confidently to children’s changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from being part of a wider group of homes, providing additional opportunities for shared learning and professional support. Leaders and managers work hard to promote an open culture where staff feel valued and confident to raise concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2535376 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s risk assessments promptly reflect any significant change in the child’s circumstances, and ensure that staff consistently implement each child’s risk assessment in regard to welfare checks. 8 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the time children spend in their rooms does not impact on opportunities to develop social and group living opportunities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)

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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: 2535376 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Polaris, Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2535376 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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Inspector

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