Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 The children‟s home provides effective support that helps, protects and cares for all young people.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Staff place the well-being of individual young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the significant challenges the young people sometimes present.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit from a safe, nurturing, warm, and caring environment with staff who clearly want to spend quality time with them.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Clear boundaries are maintained and staff encourage good routines. This supports young people‟s progress and development.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people are making good progress in their education provision.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people are fully supported to attend all health appointments and staff ensure that their emotional well-being is of paramount importance.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people have access to a wide range of social and recreational opportunities both inside and outside of the home.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people are supported to maintain contact with important people in their lives. This enables young people to maintain their identity.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 The registered manager regularly reviews the quality of care provided, identifies areas of development and makes improvements. Strong leadership means this home is organised and managed effectively.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Staff receive regular supervision and training to further their skills and knowledge when working with young people.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Areas for improvement are around the home‟s records, including medication records and supporting young people to take appropriate risks in accordance with their age and level of understanding.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child. The records must include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child, are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 30/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all children‟s case records are kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

 Ensure to keep records of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child‟s needs and developmental-stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 53, paragraph 10.11.) In particular, providing learning opportunities for staff about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and „legal highs‟.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children‟s home provides care and accommodation for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/01/2016 Full Good 25/11/2015 Full Inadequate 25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/01/2015 Full Good

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Good

Young people benefit from individualised and well-planned care, provided by a competent, enthusiastic staff team led by a knowledgeable manager. Through warm, caring relationships, young people have grown in confidence and developed a positive self-image. One young person said, „I cannot believe the progress I have made since I moved here. I have not been in trouble, I have stopped running away and I am actually happy. The staff are always willing to listen to us and want us to do the best we can. I think we are lucky as the staff are great.‟ Social workers and parents are also extremely positive and complementary of the staff and the quality of care provided. They all confirmed that the home is very good and that they all receive regular and detailed updates. One parent said, „I could not ask for more. [Name of young person] is happy, safe and making progress.‟

p.6

Good

Since the last inspection, two young people have been successfully supported to return to live with family members. Transition plans were developed in consultation with young people, their families and the local authorities. The plans were reviewed regularly and additional support was provided to the families of young people in preparation for the move. Young people continue to contact the home to let them know about any changes to their lives and maintain positive relationships with staff that previously cared for them. New young people have also received high levels of support and guidance. Prior to moving to the home, young people have the chance to visit and they receive a copy of the new children‟s guide. This contains a personal letter written by a young person telling them about what they can expect when they arrive. This has helped to alleviate some young people‟s fears and has supported their move into the home.

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Good

Young people attend school, college or training. They are learning and making progress. Staff encourage young people who refuse to attend school to understand the importance of education. There are clear education plans in place, which ensures that staff are consistent in their approach to encourage young people to return to their education placements. The registered manager and staff had identified that the on-site education provision has limited some young people‟s learning. For example, young people have struggled with care staff attending school with them and providing 24-hour care. Young people have also struggled with being educated in the same building where they live. The provider is currently looking at other off-site locations to relocate the school setting. This will enable young people to have the same opportunities as their peer group to learn and develop.

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Good

Young people are confident that staff listen to them and are happy to discuss their complaints and concerns, as well as their future plans. Young people have used the formal complaints process and were happy that they were provided with someone independent from the home to listen to their concerns, wishes and feelings. One young person said, „I felt that I was really listened to and they took what I said seriously. Although I did not get what I wanted in the end, it was explained to me why. I would feel confident to make another complaint if I needed to.‟ Furthermore, young people also have access to advocates and social workers, which means that they have other adults to turn to if they are worried or concerned.

p.7

Good

Improving young people‟s physical and emotional well-being is a high priority for staff. All young people are registered with relevant health services and they confirm they are supported to attend routine and specialist appointments. In addition, young people have access to the provider‟s in-house therapeutic support. This enables young people to begin to address their past experiences as well as any current concerns around their emotional health, relationships, and behaviour. Therapeutic support is also provided directly to staff, enabling them to reflect on and understand young people‟s needs and the reasons underpinning their behaviours. These approaches mean that young people are beginning to develop their own coping mechanisms to keep safe, and prevent situations escalating.

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Good

Young people receive care from staff that are committed, enthusiastic and artistic. Consequently, they are supported to engage in a wide range of social and recreational activities including cadets, youth clubs, go-karting, motorbike racing and swimming. They also enjoy movie nights, arts and crafts, cookery and board games. As a result, young people enjoy a variety of different experiences and are fully supported to continue with their hobbies or develop new interests. Furthermore, they have leant new skills and this has improved their confidence, self-esteem and social skills. One young person said, „I went to try cadets and the staff went with me and waited for me. After I had been a few times I decided it was not for me. Staff were fine and got me to think of something else I might like to do instead.‟

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Good

Young people have appropriate, carefully assessed and supported contact with their families, friends and other people who are important to them. For young people who live a long distance from their families, staff continue to support and encourage regular and meaningful contact, in accordance with their local authority care plans. When issues about contact arise, including young people requesting additional time at home or with their friends, staff liaise with the local authority and look at any changes that could improve the quality of all contact arrangements. These changes might include longer time scales and friends coming to the home for tea. This has improved and sustained young people‟s relationships with their families and others who are important to them.

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Good

Safeguarding young people is a priority of the staff team and central to practice at this home. Young people said that they feel safe and secure in the home. The registered manager and staff were able to demonstrate their understanding of safeguarding issues and they consistently review safe working practices to help them to meet individual young people‟s needs. They are alert to potential risks and encourage young people to let them know if they have any worries or concerns. The home has good links with safeguarding professionals, such as social workers, the police and the safeguarding designated officer. This promotes effective partnership working when safeguarding concerns arise. For example, following a potential allegation, immediate action was taken to make all professionals involved aware and a full and detailed report was compiled for the relevant meeting. This ensures that appropriate action is taken and young people are protected.

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Good

Detailed risk assessments and behaviour management plans provide staff with clear guidance and strategies on keeping young people safe. Although some risk assessments had been updated, they were not always signed or dated by the author, making it difficult to track young people‟s needs and progress.

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Good

Young people arrive at the home with an extensive history of going missing and are potentially at risk of child sexual exploitation. Robust risk management plans and effective relationships between staff and young people are dramatically reducing safeguarding concerns. Young people rarely go missing; when they do, staff react promptly and this ensures that the young people are returned to the home quickly and without incident. One young person said, „The staff come after you when you run off from here. They ring us and follow us in the car; they do that because they care about us and want us to be safe.‟ Young people benefit from behaviour management strategies that are effective. They receive positive and constructive praise for good behaviour, including daily rewards and incentives. They also receive fair and balanced restorative consequences for negative behaviour. For example, young people have been

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Good

involved in repairs to the home environment, with the help of staff, when they have caused damage. This promotes a sense of personal responsibility for young people and helps them to understand the consequences of their actions. Staff implement clear and unwavering boundaries consistently. This helps young people to develop an understanding of what acceptable behaviour is. As a result, the staff do not have to rely upon punitive methods of behaviour management. The young people listen to the staff. The use of negotiation, discussion and compromise has become the preferred method of resolving difficulties.

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Good

Occasionally, physical intervention is necessary to prevent significant damage to property or assaults on staff. All incidents are well-managed and records are detailed, showing all actions that were taken before, during and after the event. Furthermore, young people and staff who are involved in or witness an incident are provided with a full debrief. As a result, incidents are used as a learning opportunity and outcomes are discussed in team meetings and supervision to identify if anything could have been done differently. This is a good piece of continued reflective practice within the home.

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Good

Although there have been improvements in the management of young people‟s medication, some recording errors were found. For example, the dates recorded in the control drugs book were incorrect and indicated that young people had received two lots of medication in one day. Although a second staff member verified these, the error was not identified at the time. However, further documentation was provided to demonstrate this was a recording issue, as other records confirmed that the administration of medicine is safe. This was brought to the attention of the registered manager, who took immediate action to address the areas of concern.

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Good

Young people‟s home environment is both safe and comfortable. Health and safety is of crucial importance and, as such, all required checks are undertaken in a timely manner. Judgement grade

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Good

The home is managed well by an efficient, experienced and suitably qualified registered manager. She has young people at the heart of her practice and she demonstrates strong leadership. Professionals describe her as, „A good manager who clearly advocates and fights on behalf of all the children in her care.‟ Staff also reported that the manager is „helpful‟, „not afraid to roll her sleeves up and get stuck in‟ and „someone who only wants the best for the children living in the home‟. As a result, there is a clear ethos in the home, which is warm, safe, consistent, and based on high expectations and aspirational care.

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Good

Staff receive supervision regularly, enabling them to reflect on their practice and focus on key aspects of their development. Staff members all reported that they feel they are „supportive and consistent as a team‟ and „not afraid to challenge each other when needed‟. Team meetings take place regularly. Managers and staff take the opportunity to review their practice, share experiences and reflect on appropriate strategies in caring for young people. They also consider the young people‟s individual experiences and progress. However, further consideration could be given to ensure that all young people are supported to take appropriate risks in accordance with their age and level of understanding. This will ensure that they are being provided with the same life experiences as their peer groups. In particular, spending time in the local community or with friends.

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Good

A comprehensive training plan is in place that reflects the individual and collective needs of the team. Development opportunities are available to those who have completed mandatory courses, ensuring staff keep up to date with their learning and broaden their knowledge base. Staff have either completed or are enrolled on the qualification in residential childcare. However, more specialist training in areas, which include ADHD and „legal highs‟, would further support staff to manage and understand all young people‟s specific needs.

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Good

The registered manager has a very good understanding of the individual needs of each young person and continues to keep all placement plans under regular review. As a result, young people receive individualised care. Where there are concerns about progress or significant events, the manager liaises effectively with placing authorities to ensure the situation is swiftly addressed. When decisions have been made to end a placement there are clear safeguarding reasons for doing so. Moves out of the home have been planned and managed in the best interests of the young people.

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Good

Internal and external quality monitoring takes place regularly. The registered manager is taking account of recommendations made by the independent visitor, and this is helping to improve the service. In addition, the statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure it always accurately reflects the current aims, policies, practices, and staffing of the home. The registered manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and needs of the service and can verbally outline her plans for the future development of the home.

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Good

Appropriate systems are in place to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons of significant events that occur. The quality of information provided is good, enabling the recipient to analyse risk and understand what action is being taken to minimise this. Consequently, people are well-informed and this means that young people‟s welfare is promoted.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against the „Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection‟. An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

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What the inspection judgements mean

are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being harmed or at risk of harm, or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 that 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 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

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Information about this inspection

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 0300 123 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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