Children's Home run by Children of the Mangrove Limited in Merton

Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 1 Registered provider: Children of the Mangrove 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 children’s home provides care for up to 5 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since September 2025. A manager has been appointed but is yet to submit an application to register.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke with both children.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 2

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A suspension notice was issued following an assurance inspection on 5 November 2025. This action was taken due to serious and widespread concerns identified during the inspection, including concerns relating to the care provided to children and the home’s leadership and management arrangements.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring inspection carried out in January 2026 found that sufficient improvements had been made. As a result, the suspension notice was lifted.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2025 Full Good 15/04/2025 Full Inadequate 30/07/2024 Full Good 13/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive nurturing care from staff who are supportive and enjoy caring for them. Children are making progress from their starting points and are developing greater independence, enabling them to spend time with their friends and engage in activities they enjoy. Despite changes in the management team, children continue to receive consistent care and benefit from strong safeguarding practice that helps to keep them safe. The recently appointed manager has strengthened oversight of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are positive about their experiences and relationships with staff. Both children have settled well in the relatively short time they have lived there. Staff have invested time and effort in developing positive, trusting relationships with children, helping them to feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Changes in the management team have not adversely affected the quality or safety of care provided to children. Staff understand children’s individual needs and strengths. As a result, children are making progress from their starting points. Staff encourage children to engage in education and are working with one child to identify strategies that will motivate them to attend school more consistently. There were plans to support another child to return to education in September, with managers continuing to consider how risks can be reduced to support greater independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time engaging with children in activities they enjoy and support them to develop their interests. One child enjoys baking and trying new recipes. There were plans to support children to pursue their hobbies and interests during the school holidays, and children are involved in choosing what they want to do. For one child, positive progress has enabled them to spend some time away from the home without staff. They value this time they can spend with their friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is clean, tidy and suitably furnished. Children can personalise their bedrooms and other communal areas. This provides a comfortable and homely environment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Records provide staff with effective information about children’s needs and risks, and they use this knowledge to provide individualised care and support. However, some records are not consistently accurate. Managers have acknowledged this and are committed to strengthening their oversight.

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

Children are safe in the home. Staff understand the vulnerabilities and risks associated with each child and take appropriate action to reduce these risks. Safeguarding concerns Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 4 are managed effectively, and staff respond appropriately when children are at risk of harm, including when they are missing from the home.

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

Staff receive training to develop their safeguarding knowledge and understanding and recognise and respond to risks for children. Staff work with children to help them understand risks and develop strategies to keep themselves safe. Staff also work effectively with other safeguarding professionals and partner agencies to ensure that children receive appropriate protection and support.

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

Information provided by the local authority designated officer as part of this inspection showed that the details shared following a provider investigation did not fully reflect the action taken by managers. Evidence confirmed that further action had been taken, including holding staff supervision and other agreed actions. Managers have agreed to provide an updated report to the local authority designated officer.

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

Recruitment practice has improved. Leaders and managers have strengthened the recruitment processes to ensure that appropriate checks are completed, including to explore employment histories and to obtain overseas police reports where required. This helps to ensure that only suitable people are employed to care for children.

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

The home has had 3 different managers since the registered manager left in September 2025. Part of this period was during the home’s suspension, when no children were living at the home. Throughout this time, the responsible individual has remained in post and has provided continuity and stability for the home.

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

Leaders have appointed a manager who is jointly responsible for this home and the organisation’s other home. The manager has not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted. Two deputy managers are in post and provide support to the manager in overseeing the home.

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

Despite the changes, staff report feeling well supported in their roles. They continue to receive regular training, supervision and support through team meetings. Staff spoke positively about the steps managers have taken to strengthen the team. They said that the period when no children were living in the home provided an opportunity to reflect on practice, develop their skills and strengthen team working. This was evident in the positive and respectful relationships observed between leaders, managers and staff.

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

Leaders, managers and staff are committed to providing children with good-quality care and positive experiences. They have a clear understanding of children’s needs and are focused on helping them to achieve positive outcomes. Managers and staff communicate effectively with other professionals involved in children’s care, sharing relevant information and working collaboratively to respond to children’s needs. These effective professional relationships help to ensure that children receive the support they need and contribute to their safety, wellbeing and progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 5 The leadership team has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and the areas requiring further development. Leaders and managers have strengthened oversight and monitoring arrangements, resulting in most of the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection being met. However, the requirement relating to the

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

submission of the home’s quality of care review has been restated, as reports have not been provided to the regulator. Recommendations have also been made in relation to the accuracy of children’s records and the submission of an updated statement of purpose, in line with regulatory requirements. Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality-of-care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities, and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the quality of care review is submitted in a timely way, and it meets the requirements of regulation, including an improvement plan.

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Requirement Due date

This has been restated. 25 September 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should ensure that care records kept for individual children are consistently accurate, including the dates of when they were written or events occurred. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should review the statement of purpose and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 7

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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: 1235653 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children of the Mangrove Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chester House, Fulham Green, 81-83 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Knowlton Crichlow

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Inspector

Thobekile Bandama, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1235653 9 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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