Children's home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people remain settled and continue to make good progress. They have good, trusting relationships with staff. Key working with young people continues to be of a high standard and is one of the home’s strengths. Young people’s strong relationships with staff enable them to be open and able to discuss issues affecting their lives. One social worker said, ‘Staff are brilliant. [Name of young person] has made so much progress. Staff keep me up to date and send me lovely monthly updates to keep me informed.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are involved in personalising the home. They regularly invite friends home. Young people are also becoming more confident about staying overnight at their friends’ homes. This helps young people’s social development as they make and sustain friendships with peers in the local community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are all in full-time education and have excellent attendance at school and college. They are studying for GCSE exams and have good predicted grades. Staff have developed effective links and attend meetings with education professionals. This helps with information sharing about young people and provides opportunities to discuss behaviour management to ensure consistent practice at home and in education. This collaborative working ensures that young people have the necessary support to avoid any possible exclusions. A school liaison officer said, ‘Staff are really good. They keep me informed about any issues and come in to discuss any concerns. Staff always ring me back.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people engage well in therapy. The presence and involvement of staff in therapy sessions ensures that support is available immediately when needed. This helps young people to deal with issues from their past, with improvements in their emotional well-being resulting in a significant reduction in self-harming behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s sense of belonging and security means that they trust staff to keep them safe. They are encouraged to take appropriate and calculated risks according to their age. Staff provide information about risks and dangers. Young people no longer go missing from home and consequently are at reduced risk of child sexual exploitation. There are very few negative outbursts in the home because of young people’s strong relationships with staff. The manager deals with any complaints swiftly and effectively. Young people can see the action taken, so that they feel listened to and valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has left. This was a planned move, with the young person remaining at the home until a more specialist placement was found. This helped to make the move a positive one and the young person did not face unnecessary extra moves. Staff have reflected on their management of the young person’s negative behaviour, using this as a learning experience to inform future placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

During transition, staff provide young people with advice and information. They explore the different options with young people, educating them about living independently. Young people who have left, remain in contact with staff due to the relationships developed while they were at the home. They also speak to the current young people about the realities of living alone to encourage them to stay longer at the home. Staff continue to work on developing independent living skills prior to a young person leaving to make them emotionally resilient.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The experienced manager effectively runs the home and has extensive knowledge that she imparts to her team of long-standing and new staff members. There is effective and supportive team working, with staff working cohesively to ensure positive outcomes for the young people. Regular, good-quality reflective supervisions and team meetings take place. The manager feels supported in her role, and alongside her supervisions has regular informal practice discussions with her line manager. Training and development take place at external team meetings with other managers. These provide advice and ongoing professional development.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/11/2016 Full Outstanding 29/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/11/2015 Full Outstanding 04/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  It is good practice for a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions to be kept and to ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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 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 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

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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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