Children's Home run by Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy in Kent

Inspection report children's home: SC454294 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a charitable organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to 8 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There were 3 children living in the home at the time of the inspection. Two children have recently moved out.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC454294 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2025 Full Outstanding 04/12/2024 Full Outstanding 12/03/2024 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC454294 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Summary of findings

There are inconsistencies in the quality of care experienced by children in this home. Although some children have made progress with their education and spending time with family members. There are shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management which have not supported effective care. Staff shortages and a high turnover of staff mean children have experienced a lack of continuity in their care. As a result, children’s experiences have been negatively affected, and this has limited their ability to make progress.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, six children have moved out of the home. One child moved into and out of the home in a short timeframe. Another child has recently moved in. While pre-admission assessments were undertaken, these did not sufficiently consider the compatibility of children living together or fully assess potential risks. Consequently, staff were not provided with suitably detailed strategies to support children effectively. Leaders acknowledge that opportunities for earlier intervention were missed and have demonstrated a commitment to learning from these shortfalls.

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improvement to be good

Staff described a period of instability within the home. Resulting in an increase in incidents and which placed considerable pressure on staff. During this period staff practice became predominantly reactive and crisis-led rather than informed by effective planning and proactive support. This adversely affected the quality and consistency of care provided to children, hindered their progress and contributed to unplanned endings for some children.

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improvement to be good

The manager has not ensured that all children's belongings are returned to them in a timely manner following their moves from the home. Personal belongings for two children remain at the home. Although some attempts have been made to reunite children with these possessions, there has been insufficient management oversight and urgency to prevent delay. This fails to demonstrate due consideration for children's valued possessions.

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improvement to be good

Despite these challenges, children’s social workers acknowledged staff commitment to children through periods of difficulty. They said that effective communication and positive partnership working have been maintained. Recognising that staff made sustained efforts to support children, although interventions have not always resulted in improved outcomes.

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improvement to be good

The home has sustained some damage because of some incidents. Leaders and managers have ensured any necessary repairs are carried out promptly. Redecoration Inspection report children's home: SC454294 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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improvement to be good

work remains ongoing and further improvements are being made to the environment. Children have been consulted on their views, and a projector has been purchased in response to this. However, the extensive use of health and safety signage throughout the home detracts from its homely and nurturing environment.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to engage in education and make progress from their individual starting points. One child has recently completed secondary education and benefited from the full experience of attending their school prom. Staff continue to support children to achieve their educational potential and pursue their aspirations.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to maintain relationships with family members and others who are important to them. Staff recognise the importance of these relationships in promoting children's identity, emotional well-being and sense of belonging. When children move out of the home, the manager and staff make meaningful efforts to maintain appropriate contact with them.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff have successfully supported the children to recently experience a holiday together providing opportunities to develop positive shared experiences and create lasting memories. One child has been supported to have their first overnight away from the home without a trusted adult. This reflects the child’s increase in confidence and emotional regulation.

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improvement to be good

There has been a significant increase in serious incidents since the last inspection. Initial responses to safeguarding incidents are generally appropriate and reflect recognised safeguarding procedures. However, the frequency and seriousness of incidents have placed considerable demands on leaders and managers. This has contributed to weaknesses in management oversight and resulted in shortfalls in safeguarding practice.

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls are evident in the quality, accuracy and consistency of safeguarding records. Records are incomplete and do not consistently provide a clear account of actions taken in response to safeguarding concerns. As a result, it is not always possible to determine whether appropriate action has been taken to safeguard children. Delays in sharing safeguarding information with children's social workers have occurred and not all serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted in line with regulatory requirements. This limits effective external scrutiny and oversight of the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the known risks to children and receive training to understand their individual vulnerabilities and needs. However, risk assessments are not consistently reviewed following significant incidents and do not always provide clear, up-to-date guidance for staff on how to reduce and manage identified risks. Consequently, practice lacks consistency, and children do not always receive a coordinated response to emerging risks. Inspection report children's home: SC454294 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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improvement to be good

When children are missing from the home staff take appropriate action. They locate the children and work collaboratively with partner agencies to support their safe return. Upon return children are not routinely offered the opportunity to speak with an independent person. This is a missed opportunity to understand why the child was missing and reduce future incidents by strengthening safeguarding practice.

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improvement to be good

Not all staff have the level of safeguarding knowledge expected to safely care for children. Leaders and managers have not established effective systems to assess staff competency and assure themselves that learning from training has been understood and applied in practice. As a result, it is unclear whether all staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to respond appropriately to new and emerging risks and behaviours. This weakens safeguarding practice and limits the manager’s ability to monitor the quality and effectiveness of care.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has not ensured that their own mandatory training is kept up to date. This includes training specific to safeguarding. This weakens their ability to provide effective leadership and oversight of safeguarding practice within the home.

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

Staffing levels and morale has been affected by the staff not being able to meet the complex needs of the children. This has increased pressure on staff which has contributed to inconsistent practice, reduced staff resilience and limited their capacity to respond effectively to children's needs. Leaders and managers have not developed sufficiently clear plans to address these pressures and support workforce stability. Consequently, staff say they feel exhausted, and there remains uncertainty about their ability to consistently provide high-quality care and support for children.

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

Some staff have sustained injuries because of incidents involving children. Staff say that their emotional well-being and welfare were not always prioritised following these incidents. Managers have not consistently ensured that staff receive timely support or opportunities for reflective discussion following challenging events. This has contributed to staff feeling undervalued and has had a negative effect on staff morale and resilience.

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

The independent person’s monthly monitoring reports do not provide sufficient challenge or scrutiny. These reports do not consistently incorporate the views of relevant stakeholders and opportunities to actively seek, capture and evaluate children's views have been missed. As a result, monitoring arrangements have not provided an accurate evaluation of children's experiences or the quality of care provided. Consequently, weaknesses in practice have not been identified promptly, their effect on children has not been fully evaluated, and opportunities to drive improvement within the home have been missed. However, the senior leadership team has demonstrated insight into areas for improvement and has shown a commitment to addressing these deficits and improving outcomes for children.

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

Staff are not consistently supported with training and frequent supervision session. Managers have not ensured that all staff receive regular, reflective supervision in line Inspection report children's home: SC454294 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

with the home's policy. Training has not been maintained consistently, and leaders have not ensured that all staff possess the knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively to children's emerging and changing needs. This limits management's ability to assure itself that staff are equipped to provide safe and effective care.

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

Newly appointed staff describe a positive induction experience. Their induction includes access to relevant training and opportunities to shadow experienced colleagues before assuming full responsibilities. Staff say they feel well supported by managers and senior leaders and describe a culture that is optimistic about the future direction of the home. Inspection report children's home: SC454294 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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, 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 23 October 2026 Inspection report children's home: SC454294 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 23 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 23 October 2026 Inspection report children's home: SC454294 9 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

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)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children should be supported to understand their care plans.

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must undertake such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the registered manager has the skills needed for managing the home. (Regulation 29 (4))

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Requirement Due date

In particular that their training relating to safeguarding is regularly refreshed and maintained. 23 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 23 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 23 October 2026 Inspection report children's home: SC454294 10 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person's report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this should consider the findings from feedback gained from stakeholders. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)(c)) 23 October 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure as far as possible they maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression to ensure a nurturing and homely environment is provided to the children who live there. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, that the responsible local authority provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report children's home: SC454294 11 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 children's home: SC454294 12 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 91-95, Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0AX

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Inspector

Cassie Martin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC454294 13 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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