Children's Home run by Caridon Young Living Ltd in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2852525 1 Registered provider: Caridon Young Living Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to 4 children who have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home and the manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 3 children were 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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2852525 2

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Summary of findings

The home has a warm atmosphere. Staff said they feel supported by the company and the manager. Staff are curious to understand children’s experiences and ensure the right support is in place when required. Children are encouraged to share their views in a number of ways and family time is promoted.

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Summary of findings

Some areas of the home require attention to match the modern feel of other rooms. Several incidents took place involving one child which resulted in another child becoming visibly distressed. There was no evidence that the staff checked on the child’s wellbeing following these incidents. Children’s risk assessments do not consistently reflect full insight into children’s experiences. Not all the staff have completed training to support the needs of the children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were 3 children living in the home and 2 of the children spent time with the inspector. No children have moved out since the home was registered. Staff support children to move into the home in a planned way. The staff have involved one child’s professional network to start planning for their future. As a result, the child is supported and decisions are well planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for the children to access education provisions that meet their needs. For one child, the staff have created a detailed plan to work towards integrating them into a specialist provision. As a result, the child will be supported to have a predictable experience, which will help reduce any anxieties they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to have fun and try different experiences. They do activities they enjoy such as trampolining, visiting theme parks, shopping and going to the cinema. This allows the children to build positive memories. Staff build positive relationships with the people who are important to the children. Loved ones visit and spend time at the home; the staff support them to be involved in activities and important events. This approach helps children maintain important relationships. One parent said, ‘The staff team are brilliant with [name of child]. They fully involve me in everything.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure the children have various opportunities to share their views. A suggestion and complaints box is available for children to share their opinions privately. The staff also encourage children to share their thoughts in meetings and during time spent together. As a result, children’s views are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to learn new ways to keep themselves safe. Meaningful key-work sessions are completed to explore topics of feelings, expressing emotions, experiences and areas of risk. This allows children to learn new tools to manage and reduce risk in a positive way. Staff celebrate diversity. Each month staff choose information which is Inspection report for children's home: 2852525 3 displayed in the home and used to educate children on relational issues. As a result, children develop their understanding and are helped to embrace differences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most parts of the home have a homely feel and are modern. However, some areas of the home, such as the stairwell and landing, require attention to match the warm look of other areas.

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

Since the home opened, the staff have not used physical restraint. Staff use de- escalation techniques well to avoid escalation of incidents whenever possible. As a result, the least restrictive methods are used. Staff have good knowledge of the children’s experiences. They are guided by detailed behaviour management plans to manage situations when children experience heightened emotions, and this reduces risk of escalation. Staff support the children to manage their feelings in a positive way. This approach has resulted in a significant reduction in incidents for 2 children since they moved into the home. One child said, ‘Staff will be helping me to manage my anger as this is something I struggle with, and I can get angry quickly. I can speak to staff about anything. They are really nice.’

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

Incidents are well managed by staff. The manager reviews all incidents to identify any areas for development of staff practice and to ensure therapeutic approaches are implemented. This provides continuous learning for staff and improves the care provided to children. Staff create incentives for children to reach agreed targets. Children are helped to build life skills and independence through set goals, which they are rewarded for once achieved. This helps children stay motivated.

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

When children go missing, staff respond quickly. Staff follow procedures, involve loved ones, maintain contact with children where possible and conduct local searches. This supports children to return home safely. Staff carry out room searches when concerns are identified that require this. Searches are proportionate and the staff are professionally curious when items are found, discussing their worries with children and identifying additional information. As a result, risk is reduced.

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

Children and staff are informed promptly of fire procedures when they are new to the home. Fire drills are conducted when children move in and when new staff start working at the home. One child who recently moved in was able to say where the emergency meeting point is. This helps to ensure children are kept safe.

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

Several incidents took place involving one child which resulted in another child becoming visibly distressed and expressing a wish to leave. Despite acknowledging this, there was no evidence that the staff checked on the child’s wellbeing following the incidents. Children’s risk assessments do not consistently reflect full insight into children’s experiences. For one child, a significant incident that had occurred before they moved in, and subsequent bail conditions, were not identified. This means information may not be available when staff are supporting children. Inspection report for children's home: 2852525 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is working towards the relevant level 5 diploma in residential childcare. He works closely with the responsible individual to provide effective oversight of the home. Staff feel supported in their roles. One member of staff said that the manager is ‘approachable, genuine and so open. He takes on board feedback and suggestions and listens to everyone.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides staff with regular supervision. New members of staff are supported through more frequent supervision. Staff also access learning in team meetings. One member of staff said the child-focused aspect of supervision ensures staff know everything about children and their families. This helps the staff to build meaningful relationships and support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work effectively with other professionals. The manager proactively involves the wider network when concerns arise or additional support is required. As a result, children are well supported. One professional said, ‘The home and staff are very good, communicative. I witness them attending to [name of child]’s needs whenever they are there.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers follow thorough safer recruitment processes to help protect children. Recruitment records demonstrate suitable checks are completed before staff begin work for the company. This helps to keep children safe. Staff are supported to complete the relevant qualification within the required timescale. One member of staff said the company recognises and values the work staff do. They have been supported to progress and complete their level 5 relevant qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers review staff knowledge from training they have attended. Staff competency is monitored through written exercises which require the staff to reflect on their learning and how they will embed this in practice. This ensures the staff are using training effectively. However, not all the staff have received training to support the particular needs of the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2852525 5

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

risk assessments include all relevant information, to help to inform risk management;

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Requirement Due date

staff consider the impact on all children of incidents that take place in the home, complete debriefs when necessary and identify support needs. 3 September 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff receive training in line with children’s needs, to support development of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained and seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children's home: 2852525 6

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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: 2852525 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Caridon Young Living Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: AGK, 1 Kings Avenue, London N21 3NA

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Inspector

Sophie Levy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2852525 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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