Children's Home run by Alkadine Limited in GreenwichOfsted inspection, 10 Sept 2026

Inspection report for children's home: 2862757 1 Registered provider: Alkadine Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This children's home was registered with Ofsted in June 2026.

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Information about this children's home

It provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

This is the home's first inspection. The inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns. There has been no registered manager since August 2026. A new manager is in post. This manager has not yet completed an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

Since registration, one child has lived at the home. They were reunified with family and moved from the home a few days prior to this inspection. At the time of this inspection, there were no 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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good. Inspection report for children's home: 2862757 2

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Summary of findings

While living at the home, the child had good relationships with staff and made some progressive steps as they settled in before returning to live with their family. The management of the child's risks and vulnerabilities developed through staff training, reflective review and because of the relationships that were built.

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Summary of findings

The staff are confident and enjoy their work as they feel well supported. Leaders and managers work collaboratively with professionals and, when needed, share and report important matters for the child.

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Summary of findings

An improved system for the monitoring and oversight of records is required. Senior staff and leaders understand the importance of consistent leadership and are responsive to this. However, they do not ensure that they complete sufficient safer recruitment checks when employing individuals to new management roles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and provides a homely environment that is conducive to meeting the child's needs. The child had structure and a good daily routine while living at the home during the school summer holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers made detailed assessments as to whether they could provide the child with safe and effective support before they arrived. The skills of the staff team, the home's location and local authority care plans for the child informed these decisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers worked collaboratively with the child's professional network, with a clear, child-centred focus. They helped the child to understand how their plans would progress and to prepare for their move from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff communicated effectively and quickly connected with people who are important to the child. Family members were made to feel welcome when they visited the home. With support from staff, the child spent regular time with family doing activities they enjoy, including cooking family meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child had respectful and trusting relationships with staff. Professionals and family members recognise the importance of these relationships. The child formed a positive view of living at the home, as they were comfortable and felt listened to and heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child made progressive steps while settling into the home. Staff talked with the child about what they want to achieve. They got to understand what the child liked to do. The child chose new games and activities for the home and went on activities in the local community. Inspection report for children's home: 2862757 3 Together with the staff, the child set targets and created 'motivational' plans. Active support was given for the child to have a healthy lifestyle and prepare nutritious meals, reflecting the child's self-identified aim to improve their diet and physical health. Leaders and managers ensured that staff considered and promoted the child's heritage and cultural needs, for example, when planning these meals.

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

The child lived at the home with deprivation of liberty safeguards. Through good guidance, training and reflective discussions at team meetings, the staff developed an increasing understanding of their accountability and confidence to effectively apply the agreed strategies. Staff members proactively spoke with the child to help them to understand what these safeguards meant. Leaders and managers advocated for the least-restrictive practices and met regularly with professionals to monitor the level of support that was in place.

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

Staff followed necessary procedures when the child was missing from home. The context of the child's situation and factors driving these incidents were well understood. Leaders and managers identified patterns and the triggers for these occurrences. They put in place plans to lessen the likelihood of these incidents occurring. The child met with an independent person and spoke with staff when they returned to the home. They learned about boundaries and risks and set targets to improve their safety through these discussions.

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

The responsive staff supported the child at times of emotional distress. As staff got to know the child, their ability to de-escalate these situations and help the child to make positive decisions improved.

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

Leaders and managers inform the regulator and relevant professionals when significant incidents occur. This allows a shared understanding and oversight of the child's risks and vulnerabilities and how staff manage them.

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

The staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and are confident in the procedures for raising concerns. Staff supervision and team meetings are regular forums where leaders and managers test staff's knowledge and understanding. Staff report and respond to safeguarding concerns appropriately.

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

Leaders and managers continually assess staff competencies and training to ensure that the child receives good-quality care and support. They consulted with the local authority designated officer when concerns were raised. The child and their family were informed of the outcomes of the prompt internal and external investigations that took place.

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

Significant management changes due to unforeseen circumstances mean that the staff team and the child experienced inconsistent leadership. Senior leaders are responsive Inspection report for children's home: 2862757 4 and have recruited a new manager. As an interim measure, the responsible individual has increased their presence and accountability for the day-to-day running of the home. Staff have a positive view of the support that these arrangements provide.

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

Senior leaders hold a collective responsibility for recruiting the new manager. They do not implement a rigorous safer recruitment process to inform their decision-making. They do not gain sufficient assurance and information to show how they determine the suitability of the individual appointed to this pivotal leadership role.

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

Leaders and managers value the input that external monitoring by the independent person provides. They recognise the need to develop and embed a functional internal system to demonstrate how they monitor practice in the home. Records of incidents and post-incident actions lack organisation and, at times, objective recording. The direct oversight that the responsible individual has in evaluating incidents involving the manager is not clear.

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

The staff are developing cohesive working dynamics and a positive culture. They value regular training, briefing sessions and team meetings. The manager provides staff with reflective supervision. Staff members receive feedback on their work practice and consider their individual development and learning during these sessions. Importantly, staff benefit from the clear safeguarding focus through child-centred discussions.

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

The responsible individual advocates effectively for the child. Professionals and the child's family have a positive view about communication, visiting and working with managers and staff at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2862757 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

A person may only manage a children's home if—

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 28 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that when they complete safer recruitment checks they evidence a review as far as reasonably practical to the reason why the employment ended when the individual has previously worked with children or vulnerable young people. They must record the outcomes of these checks. 25 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should implement a system to demonstrate effective organisation of records, showing how they have oversight of incidents and post- incident actions. This system should include a process to demonstrate objective evaluation and review of incidents that involve the home manager. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55 paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children's home: 2862757 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: 2862757 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 62 Morningside Close, Allenton, Derby DE24 9JP

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Inspector

Alexandra Howitt, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2862757 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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