Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Shropshire

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 Improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people develop well while at the home and make improvements in their behaviour and well-being. They are positive about the home and the staff team stating that, ‘staff really listen to you, they are always around to listen to you and they take the time to be with you.’ Young people are fully involved with their placement plans, attending reviews and giving their views regarding what they wish for the future. Admissions are well organised, with well thought through assessments to ensure that the right mix of young people are at the home. One young person has left the home since the last inspection, being swiftly completed by the placing authority and concerns raised at the time have shown that the placement they moved to was not appropriate. The Registered Manager has attempted to offer a range of support packages to help this situation. Strong individualised work helps young people to examine feelings and their link to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

behaviours. Key working sessions support young people well and completed on a regular basis. Young people’s meetings also offer them a good forum for young people and staff to meet to look at plans within the home such as menus and activities. This ensures that all at the home are involved with its organisation. Young people develop relationships with their families and are positive about the possible future arrangements. Staff work well with parents and they are made welcome in the home when appropriate Attendance at school is high for all at the home. Strong plans are in place for future education placements that are responsive to both their interest and abilities. They are all progressing well and staff are enthusiastic about how well they have moved forwards. Monitoring systems help to develop the care provided. Action points raised by the external monthly monitor are responded to swiftly, helping to move the service

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

forward. Internal monitoring is reported to Ofsted, including a detailed document and a summary. The latter of these gives a stronger picture regarding the way the home has improved and also highlighting areas still to be worked on. Young people are aware of how to make complaints, although instances of these are rare. They are fully examined and young people provided with feedback following concerns being raised. The manager raises notifications regarding incidents within the home, these are again minimal and show that the staff team are responsive to events. Young people are consistently encouraged to behave well, through staff encouragement and a daily token system. They are fully aware of how to achieve long and short term rewards, with one of the current goals being having hair extensions. Previous rewards achieved include trips out, posters, DVDs and meals out. Restraints are rare, with only one being necessary since the last inspection,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

highlighting the staff’s ability to diffuse situations without the need for physical intervention. Records of behaviour management have improved following the requirement made at the last inspection, and completed well by staff, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of sanctions. When concerns regarding the safety of young people are raised the home works well with the placing authority, safeguarding teams and the Police to evaluate events and ensure young people are well looked after. The staff team have also worked well with health professionals and education providers, developing a service that encompasses all aspects of the young people’s lives. Two requirements and one recommendation were made at the last inspection. Behaviour management records are now appropriate and young people now have a DVD library to decrease future risks of them having inappropriately aged films available. The last inspection raised concerns regarding the maintenance of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

building, specifically young people’s bedrooms. Significant improvements have been made with the condition of their rooms, which are now pleasant environments that they personalise. Some cosmetic upgrading of the building is still necessary and a plan is in place to dramatically change the layout of the home, necessitating a major variation of the home in the future.

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Information about this children's home

The home is part of a large private organisation. It offers care to two children primarily with emotional and behavioural difficulties within an age range from 8 to 18. It is set within a rural environment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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