Tessa Baring House

Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 1 Tessa Baring House 46 Herne Hill, London SE24 9QP

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

This residential family centre is owned by St Michael’s Fellowship an independent charity. The organisation provides three residential family centres located within South London. This residential family centre specialises in offering a service to parents who have a learning difficulty. The centre can offer a residential parenting assessment for up to four families.

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Information about this residential family centre

The centre was registered in March 2004. There has been no registered manager in the centre since June 2026.

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Information about this residential family centre

At the time of this visit, 2 families were living at the centre. Two parents were spoken to during the visit.

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Inspection date: 3 September 2026

Date of previous inspection: 4 December 2024

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

We did not identify any safeguarding concerns at this monitoring visit. The manager has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Parents speak positively about the support they receive from staff and value the regular feedback provided about the care of their child. One parent said that they had ‘come on leaps and bounds’, reflecting the progress they have made. Parents particularly value practical support, including sessions on fire safety and safe sleeping, and describe house meetings as beneficial. Another parent commented that ‘everyone respects one another’. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 2 When families move into the centre, the manager ensures that a pre-admission risk assessment is completed with the involvement of staff. Information gathered through discussions with parents and placing authorities is used to identify any known concerns and support needs. This enables staff to plan effectively and provide support that is responsive to the individual needs of each family from the

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This monitoring visit

Staff encourage parents and children to take part in a range of activities, including museum visits and baking, and support them to attend local groups, such as library sessions and ‘Wriggle and Rhyme’. This helps parents to develop their skills, build positive relationships and reduce social isolation.

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This monitoring visit

Staff speak positively about working at the centre and describe a supportive and inclusive culture. One staff member said that ‘the new manager is the best manager the building has had’. Staff report feeling well supported by leaders and managers and value supervision as a safe space to discuss their well-being, professional development and the progress of families.

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This monitoring visit

The manager maintains effective oversight of complaints. Complaints are responded to appropriately and those raising concerns receive feedback about the actions taken. The manager also ensures that relevant professionals are informed of complaints when appropriate. This helps to promote transparency, accountability and confidence in the complaints process.

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This monitoring visit

Staff hold relevant qualifications in line with regulatory expectations. Leaders and managers have identified gaps in staff training records and have developed a plan to ensure that all staff complete up-to-date training relevant to the needs of the families they support. As part of their ongoing oversight of the service, senior leaders are also reviewing staffing arrangements to ensure that families receive support from a consistent staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers recognise that the communication needs of one family are not being fully met. Although interpreter support is available on a weekly basis, staff rely on artificial intelligence tools for day-to-day communication and the translation of key documents. This does not always provide the level of accuracy or independence needed for a fair and thorough assessment. As a result, there is a risk that the family’s views, experiences and understanding are not fully explored or accurately reflected.

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This monitoring visit

Serious incidents at the centre are rare. When incidents do occur, staff take appropriate action, records are detailed and managers provide effective oversight and evaluation. The manager ensures that safeguarding concerns are shared with relevant professionals to promote children’s welfare and safety. However, not all staff have a clear understanding of the external professionals and agencies they can contact when raising a whistleblowing concern or responding to an allegation. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 3 The centre is spacious and offers parents and children a bright and colourful playroom. However, the manager recognises that the garden is not yet fully child- friendly and would benefit from further investment to create a more welcoming and homely environment for families.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual acknowledges that Regulation 23 and Regulation 25 reports have not always been submitted to the regulator within required timescales.

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This monitoring visit

Not all requirements raised at the previous full inspection were considered as part of the scope of this monitoring visit. Consequently, two requirements have been restated. In addition, three new requirements and one recommendation have been raised. A recommendation from the previous inspection was outside the scope of this visit and was not reviewed. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 4

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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 Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make suitable arrangements to ensure that the residential family centre is conducted with due regard to the sex, religious persuasion, racial origin, and cultural and linguistic background and any disability of residents. (Regulation 10 (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must work with the placing authority to support families’ language needs. Regular, professional translation must be provided to ensure a fair and accurate assessment. 16 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall make arrangements, by training persons working at the residential family centre or by other measures, to prevent residents being harmed or suffering abuse or being placed at risk of harm or abuse. (Regulation 11 (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff develop a good understanding of action to take in the event of an allegation being made against senior members of staff. Staff must be aware of external professionals that are involved during the whistleblowing process.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 16 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that all persons employed by him

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Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 17 (5) (a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 16 November 2026 Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 5 The registered person shall establish and maintain a system for

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided at the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall supply to the [Chief Inspector] a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1) and make a copy of the report available to residents.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 23 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 16 November 2026

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Requirement Due date

Where the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by—

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual or one of the partners, as the case may be;

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Requirement Due date

another of the directors or other persons responsible for the management of the organisation or partnership; or

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Requirement Due date

an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

Visits under paragraph (1) or (2) shall [as far as reasonably practicable,] take place at least once a month and may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The person carrying out the visit shall—

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Requirement Due date

prepare a written report on the conduct of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to the [Chief Inspector]. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(c) (5)(a)) 16 November 2026 Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the centre provides a homely environment that is well maintained and decorated. This includes ensuring that the garden area is a child friendly space. (Residential Family Centres: National Minimum Standards, 11.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the nature of records maintained, implement a system to monitor the quality and adequacy of record- keeping and take action when needed. This relates, in particular, to risk assessments and records of residents’ house meetings. This recommendation is restated. (Residential Family Centres: National Minimum Standards, 20.1)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the residential family centre since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 7

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider: St. Michael’s Fellowship

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Residential family centre details

Registered provider address: 136 Streatham High Road, London SW16 1BW

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Inspector

Chelsea Agyeman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre – monitoring visit: Tessa Baring House 8 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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