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

Inspection report children's home: 1205501 1 Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately-run children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2016

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement

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Key findings from this inspection

This children's home requires improvement to be good because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 There has been no registered manager in post since April 2016. Since that time, there have been two externally appointed managers to the home, and the Inspection report children's home: 1205501 2 deputy manager has also taken charge for a period. There is now another new manager in post. Such changes of management have not provided consistent or clear leadership or oversight.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Since the last inspection, several members of staff have resigned. An active recruitment campaign is under way to secure more permanent members of staff, but there has been an increase in the use of agency staff. This impacts on young people in relation to the consistency of care they receive.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Case file records do not consistently present as up to date, or contain all necessary information relating to young people. A lack of management oversight and a lack of systems to audit files are apparent.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The wishes, views and feelings of young people have not been consistently sought or responded to by staff or managers. Records do not clearly reflect action taken by managers in response to all requests or issues raised by young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Due to the lack of consistent management, annual appraisals of staff members’ performance have not been undertaken for all staff. This undermines managers’ ability to ensure that there are no concerns or needs in relation to staff performance, or the fitness of staff to undertake their roles.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people’s case records do not include clear or specific information in relation to delegated authority from the placing local authority. This undermines the ability of staff to make decisions about young people’s care.

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Key findings from this inspection

 All young people living in this home now have educational provision in place and attend on a regular basis. This is a significant improvement since the last inspection.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff and managers work well with other agencies to ensure that the holistic needs of young people are known and met. This is particularly evident in relation to the working relationship between the home’s staff and the local child and adolescent mental health services.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have increased in confidence and have developed independence skills. They form peer relationships and engage in paid and unpaid activities in the local and wider community.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people get to spend time with family members and significant others, in line with agreed contact plans and agreements. Staff are very committed to ensuring that young people maintain contact with those who are important to them. Inspection report children's home: 1205501 3  The recording of and responses to allegations involving staff members is now clearer and includes full information about actions taken by managers, and the outcomes of any investigations.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Independence planning work and systems are in place for eligible young people. This will enable staff to commence work with relevant young people and assist them in identifying the skills and support they will need in preparation for a move to adult services.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Despite there still being no registered manager in post, a new permanent manager has very recently commenced employment. This is likely to provide both young people and the staff team with stability and consistency, and improve management oversight of the home once more.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 08/09/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report children's home: 1205501 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

Ensure that case records for each child are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(b)(c)) 31/05/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children are consulted on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that each child’s placement plan sets out the permissions that their placing authority has delegated to the registered person. This should provide clarity on the home’s ability to give permission for school trips, sleepovers or the child’s involvement in sporting, leisure and cultural activities. Wherever possible, the home should secure the appropriate authority to support children to be involved in the same positive activities as their peers. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.2)

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improvement to be good

There has been some noticeable and positive progress made by young people since the last inspection. However, shortfalls in leadership and management restrict the judgement for overall experiences and progress. Inspection report children's home: 1205501 5 Young people feel confident in being able to raise any concerns or complaints they may have. Those complaints considered during this inspection were responded to by managers quickly, and to the satisfaction of the young people. Staff also hold regular meetings with young people to elicit their wishes, feelings and views. Recent records from such meetings do not indicate that managers have responded to young people. This is important, as young people need to know how any comments or requests they make will be acted on by managers.

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improvement to be good

Staff carry out room searches of young people’s bedrooms, when they have concerns. Records from recent searches were not clear and did not include the views of young people. As most room searches were conducted without the young people being present or aware, it is vitally important that they understand the reason for such action, and that their views are taken into consideration.

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improvement to be good

Staff write daily diaries for each young person, to reflect each day’s events. There is a section for young people to record their comments. The comment sections that were considered during this inspection were mostly blank and did not indicate that the views of young people were being sought or recorded. Their views are sought and recorded in other documentation, and managers intend to consider if the daily diary report format needs to be changed.

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improvement to be good

It is not clear as to what delegated authority has been agreed between the home and the placing authority. Placement plans for young people should set out the permissions that the placing authority has delegated to the home. This would enable staff and managers to have a clear sense and awareness of what they can give consent to without recourse to the placing authority. Such permissions being in place also reduces the potential for young people to feel stigmatised or different to their peers.

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improvement to be good

Young people enjoy good health, with staff supporting them to attend all routine health appointments. There is also a very close and positive working relationship in place with the local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Staff from CAMHS offer consultation and advice to staff at the home, as well as attending multi-agency meetings. This provides staff with the skills and confidence to support the very complex emotional and behavioural needs of young people living in this home.

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improvement to be good

Young people attend their educational provisions regularly, with staff transporting them each day. This is a very positive development since the last inspection, when not all young people were engaging in education. It is also very positive that young people have been fully involved in considering their educational placements. Two young people were able to visit the proposed new provisions and give their views. This has led to successful engagement by young people, and a renewed focus and commitment to their education.

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improvement to be good

One young person has secured part-time work with a local hairdresser since the last inspection. He independently approached the salon about a vacancy and required very little support from staff to secure the position. This is a commendable reflection of the increasing maturity and work ethic of the young person. Young people feel well Inspection report children's home: 1205501 6 supported by staff to develop interests and take part in activities. These activities include membership of organisations such as the Army cadets and cricket clubs. Such activities also enable young people to make friends and increase their sense of belonging.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the complex needs of young people and show that they are very sensitive to their relationships with family and significant others. The staff transport young people to see family and friends, and provide supervision where necessary. Young people feel able to keep in touch with family and friends, with staff fully supporting this.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people receive care and support which promotes their safety and welfare at all times. Risk assessments reflect their current and changing needs. There is a need for staff and managers to ensure that typed risk assessments are formally reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Risk assessments and other key documentation need to be clear and unambiguous, in order for staff to understand and follow them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff follow very clear and specific missing-from-care protocols for each young person. Detailed and comprehensive incident reports are completed by staff. Debriefs are held with young people, and placing social workers visit the home to undertake return interviews. Staff, social workers and other involved agencies, including the police, have met to discuss missing incidents and to agree plans to support young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The placing authority is kept regularly informed of all relevant issues and incidents relating to young people placed. One placing social worker praised the staff team for their communication skills, reporting that they call or email with any relevant information in a timely manner.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A key strength of how young people are supported relates to the work done on bullying. A member of staff has a lead role for this area of work. Detailed and comprehensive systems are in place to record any actual or potential incidents of bullying. Direct work is carried out with young people by staff on a regular and planned basis, to ensure that young people have a detailed awareness and understanding of what bullying is and how they will be supported. Young people feel confident in reporting any concerns they may have in relation to bullying, and staff respond in a very appropriate manner.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand the need for young people to develop their skills and confidence in relation to independence and risk-taking. Where concerns about the safety of young people exist, staff work closely with the placing authority to ensure that risk assessments are followed and reviewed. Communication with local police is positive. Managers demonstrate a keen desire to work with all involved agencies to address risk factors and behaviours of young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Physical restraint is only used when other techniques have not been successful, and where there is immediate concern for the safety and welfare of young people. Records provide a very detailed account of each incident and the actions taken by staff. Young Inspection report children's home: 1205501 7 people have debrief meetings with staff to consider each incident and to reflect on their behaviours and actions. Staff work positively with young people to try to understand their behaviours and to inform plans and risk assessments.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Recruitment of staff is robust and prevents unsuitable adults from working at this home. A detailed system of checks and pre-employment vetting is in place. There have been no allegations made since the last inspection. Managers have fully considered the requirement set at the last inspection. There is now clear recording evident in relation to actions taken for previous allegations involving staff members.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been through a very unsettled period in relation to management. Following the previous registered manager’s promotion last April, two new managers have been appointed but have subsequently resigned before being registered. There has also been a period of time when the deputy manager has acted up as manager. Another new manager has very recently come into post, and has submitted an application to be registered with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The judgement of inadequate relates to the fact that this home has been without a registered manager for over 26 weeks. Senior managers have taken urgent action to try and secure and retain a permanent manager for the home since last year, with limited success. Such frequent changes in management have clearly had a detrimental impact on the care and support provided to both young people and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The newly appointed manager has the relevant skills and experience for the role. Before moving to this home, she was the registered manager for another similar provision, and achieved positive outcomes for young people in that provision. It is clear that, within a very short period of time, the new manager has started to develop systems to monitor and track all aspects of how the home is run.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has fully considered the recommendations from a recent visit to the home by an independent visitor. She is systematically working through the recommendations and ensuring that action is taken to meet any identified shortfalls. This is very positive and reflects the confidence and skill of the manager, and her ability to take swift action to address any areas of need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have also been changes to the staff structure since the last inspection. Four permanent members of staff have resigned. This has resulted in a recruitment drive to replace staff, and the need to use agency staff at certain times. This inspection did not identify any concerns in relation to the number of staff working to support young people at any time. Managers have attempted to ensure that the same agency staff are used, wherever possible. It is evident that young people have formed positive relationships with agency staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to staff shortages, the deputy manager has been working shifts with other staff members each week. This is positive, in that young people have a very close and Inspection report children's home: 1205501 8 positive relationship with him and enjoy spending quality time with him. The manager has recently agreed to appoint a second deputy manager to work alongside the current one. It is positive that there are clear plans in place to address the need for consistent management oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is updating the recording systems to reflect staff receiving supervision on a monthly basis. Several permanent members of staff have not had an annual appraisal undertaken to consider their performance. The manager is aware of this shortfall and of the need to ensure that all staff are fully supported and that their performance is appraised on a regular basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are very positive about the formal supervision and informal support they receive from managers and other staff. Newly appointed staff feel very well prepared for the role, via a detailed induction process. One new member of staff stated how pleased they were to be given time to shadow other staff and read files. They felt that they were given the necessary time to familiarise themselves with the young people, staff and recording systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff also report satisfaction at the training and development opportunities available to them. As well as mandatory and core training courses, staff are encouraged to attend more specialist training. This has included training on self-harm and ligatures, and attachment. Staff also have the opportunity to regularly consult and meet with staff from the local child and adolescent mental health services. Such consultations provide staff at the home with additional strategies and techniques to use with young people in supporting their complex emotional needs. Staff demonstrate a real passion to support young people in very imaginative and sensitive ways.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Case records for young people do not consistently reflect the current work or plans in place. One young person’s local authority placement plan was very out of date, referring to a previous placement. Records for searches of young people’s bedrooms are not clear or sufficiently detailed. They do not currently reflect the views or comments of relevant young people in relation to room searches and outcomes. One document considered in the education file for a young person did not have a date, author or sense of its meaning or importance. It is vitally important that case records contain current and relevant information, to clearly inform the care and support provided. Regular audits and management oversight of the case files would assist in ensuring that records are well maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The statement of purpose for the home has been recently updated and amended to reflect the change of manager and staffing. A copy has been sent to Ofsted, in order that the regulator is kept up to date with any relevant changes. The location risk assessment has also been updated since the last inspection. Managers are currently working on updating and reviewing the development plan for the home, and accept the need to ensure that management monitoring and planning remains a key focus.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard, both internally and externally. Young people have large and well-furnished bedrooms, with clear evidence of them Inspection report children's home: 1205501 9 being able to personalise the rooms to reflect their likes and interests. Any damage has been repaired in a timely manner.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children's home: 1205501 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 80 Hammersmith Road, LONDON W14 8UD

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Inspector(s)

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 1205501 11 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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