Child harmed herself at children’s home as Ofsted concerns persist

The care home has had several monitoring inspections since a full inspection in February 2026 which found it to be ‘inadequate’

A child harmed herself at a care home where Ofsted continues to raise concerns. The watchdog carried out its latest monitoring visit at Clare Lodge care home in Lincoln Road, Glinton, on May 27.

The care home, which is overseen by Peterborough City Council, has continued to be monitored by Ofsted after it was rated inadequate at a full inspection in February.

During the monitoring visit, inspectors recognised that the home generally provides a “suitable environment for the secure care of vulnerable children”. It noted that some areas require “immediate attention”.

The report outlines an incident where a child was able to use a “fitting” at the home to harm themselves and Ofsted was notified. During the May inspection, inspectors identified “the same fitting had not been repaired effectively and remained a risk to children”.

The report added: “A child’s bedroom had the same failure that had not been identified or addressed. This bedroom was not occupied at the time, but senior staff could not tell inspectors if this failure had been evident before a child recently moved out of this room.”

Items and other fittings with a “potential risk to children” were also discovered by inspectors, which were immediately raised with staff. Inspectors were told that regular security and safety checks are carried out by staff, but these have “failed to identify and address these matters”, the report highlighted.

The report added: “Some areas were unkempt and not kept a good enough standard for the children. For example, the entrance corridor to the music room was dirty with cobwebs on the walls. An outside play area used regularly by children had a number of weeds growing that appeared to have been there for some time.

“Two mirrors, one in a lounge and one in a child’s bedroom, had graffiti left from a child who has moved out of the home. This lack of care of the environment impacts on children’s perceptions of how they are valued and on their life at the home.”

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “We acknowledge the findings of Ofsted’s latest monitoring visit at Clare Lodge. The latest monitoring visit reflects the progress being made in some important areas, but we are not complacent and fully recognise that further work is needed to deliver the consistently high standards our children and families deserve.

“We accept the findings and remain focused on strengthening practice, improving consistency and ensuring children receive the right help and protection at the right time.”

Clare Lodge cares for up to 16 girls between 10 and 17 years old. At the time of the May inspection, four children were living at the care home.