St Christopher’s Safe Steps children’s home has been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating in all areas in their latest Ofsted inspection.

The inspector praised the home’s incorporation of educational and therapeutic support, as well as their participative approach to involving young people in their care and the running of the home. They praised staff’s creativity around safeguarding, mindfulness and key work​ sessions and the efforts they have made to address contextual safeguarding risks in the local area.

The report evidences how the service is impacting young people’s lives not only while they live there, but after they have moved on too:

• “Children make exceptional progress in a fun-filled home, where laughter and humour are commonplace.”
• “Children continue to remain in contact with staff after they move on from the home, and for many children the home is considered their ‘base’.”
• “One parent commented, ‘I can’t praise the home enough for what they have done.’ And a placing social worker stated that she was ‘amazed’ by the improvement in her allocated child’s behaviour​.”

Opening in 2015 as part of the Department for Education Innovation Programme, the home supports girls and young women at risk of child sexual exploitation, grooming and other community threats. It has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted since 2018.

Congratulations to our Safe Steps team!