Children's Home run by Capstone Care Provider Limited in Nottinghamshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last full inspection in June 2015, the performance of the home was judged as good. Since this time, the home has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has addressed the two requirements set at the last inspection. Staff have a greater understanding of the home’s statement of purpose, and how the regulations and quality standards relate to their work. Additionally, the manager has revised the content in the statement of purpose. These two improvements ensure greater clarity about what the home offers, and how the home operates.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have provided care for a number of young people. Some have moved on from the home to planned placements. Others moved due to emerging issues not known at the point of admission. Parents and professionals identify that young people benefit from a child-centred staff team. There are positive relationships between the staff and young people, which enable young people to feel valued. Young people confirmed that they liked living in the home and that staff, ‘Show us they care for us.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s records are generally clear, up to date and stored securely. This ensures that records contribute to an understanding of young people's lives. However, the case records for young people who have left the home were not accessible on the day of the inspection. This inhibits the inspector’s ability to review the quality of care for all residents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Supervision of staff professional practice is regular, with the exception of the manager, who has not had formal supervision for a significant period of time. Additionally, annual appraisals of staff performance are out of date by a considerable period of time. Consequently, competence and professional development cannot be fully assured in relation to providing a good quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Training records are generally unclear. Electronic and hard copy records are not up to date and do not provide a complete account of current staff training needs or their experience. The registered manager confirmed that mandatory training for staff was not up to date. He could not be certain what training was required or was out of date. Consequently, staff knowledge and competence cannot be assured in relation to promoting the welfare of, and safeguarding, young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independent quality assurance reports are sent to Ofsted. However, the frequency of submission is inconsistent. This does not enable the regulator to review the home’s performance in a timely manner. In addition, the external monitoring system does not include consultation with young people or stakeholders as part of its process. As a result, the evaluation of the quality of care is limited. Lastly, the reports lack analysis, and fail to make clear what actions are necessary. As a result, it is unclear how the registered manager can clearly demonstrate improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Fire safety arrangements present a potential safeguarding issue. The installation of a new fire door is incomplete, and would fail to provide protection in the event of a fire. An assessment of the fire safety system by an external contractor highlighted that the current system does not comply with current fire safety standards. Lastly, a fire risk assessment for recent changes in the home has not been undertaken.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The maintenance and the décor of the home are of a generally inadequate standard. Areas of improvement which need attention include the replacement of an old and worn kitchen, and renewal of the decoration and plasterwork in the hallway, dining room and spare bedroom. Additionally, hygiene and health issues were evident, such as an unsealed kitchen bin and a bad odour in the first-floor hallway. Efforts to ensure a more homely and non-institutionalised environment are needed. The manager does not have a current development plan in place for this home. This means he cannot illustrate how he plans to improve upon the home environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager understands the shortfalls of the home and is clear that an action plan to address poor care practice is urgently required.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s home. The home provides care for up to three children and/or young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 Interim Improved Effectiveness

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(d) the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. 14/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must, after consultation with the fire and rescue authority, take adequate fire precautions against the risk of fire and make adequate means of escape from the home in the event of a fire. (Regulation 25(1)(a)(b)) 23/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development, receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience, and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(3) (a)(b)(c)) 14/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once a month and must help the independent person to interview in private such children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. The report about the visit may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home, and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44(1)(2)(a)(5)) 14/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Some records may be kept electronically (regulation 38) provided that this information can be easily accessed to anyone with a legitimate need to view it and, if required, be reproduced in a legible form. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 14.2)  Access to records and sharing requirements require that if a provider runs other homes, the case records must be kept in the nearest home, as required by regulation 36(4)(a)(b). (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.8)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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