Children's home run by Castle Homes Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413106 1 SC413106

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Castle Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It offers care and accommodation for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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This monitoring visit

This visit followed the children’s home being judged as inadequate at the full inspection on 15 November 2017. A restriction of accommodation and three compliance notices were issued. The focus of this visit was to assess the progress in meeting the steps of the compliance notices and adhering to the restriction of accommodation notice. In response to the findings of the previous inspection, the organisation undertook a range of activities to address the identified areas of shortfall and failure. These included a review of the home’s care planning system, including compatibility decisions; a review of key working and risk assessments; and a review of the home’s monitoring systems. A plan of staff training was also developed to ensure that staff are sufficiently skilled to implement the changes required. At this visit, well- considered progress across all areas is evident, but further time is required to

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This monitoring visit

complete and embed the changes and improvements.

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 14(1)(a)(2)(b), the care

The provider was required to review the home’s care planning system and admissions procedures, with specific reference to how needs and risks are understood when new referrals are being considered. A plan of action was required to address the identified gaps. A strategy for improving the quality of key working was to be implemented that included ensuring that staff are competent to deliver this. The second part of this compliance notice was to produce new care plans for the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413106 2 young people currently in the home and to ensure that the guidance for their care is clear. Further, to ensure that key working is linked to care planning and that care plans are updated in response to significant incidents and changes for a young person.

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 14(1)(a)(2)(b), the care

A review of the care planning system has been conducted and, as a result, the organisation’s prescribed template for considering the impact of needs and risks associated with new referrals to home was found to be unsuitable. This is to be covered at an event scheduled for 23 January 2018 when staff will undergo training in care planning and impact risk assessing. A full review of key working has been conducted and a range of relevant improvements have been made to the system. Clear guidance for key working has been written and the understanding and competence of the staff in delivering effective key working has been tested. Half of the young people’s plans have been reviewed and reformulated. Overall, the steps specified in this compliance notice have not yet been met.

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 12(2)(a)(i), the

The steps in this notice required the provider to design an improved impact risk assessment process for new referrals and to apply this to the young people currently in placement. Further, to apply this information to the relevant plans that include specific actions by staff that will reduce risks. The provider was required to monitor plans to show if risks are reducing and to also monitor staff’s use and understanding of the relevant tools. Staff training has been designed and scheduled for 23 January 2018 to increase staff’s understanding and competence in risk assessment and reduction. Overall, the steps specified in this compliance notice have not yet been met.

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 13(2)(e), the leadership

The steps in this notice required the provider to review staff’s understanding of risk and behaviour management practice and to use the findings to provide an appropriate training plan. Further, to review the home’s monitoring systems with particular reference to regulation 44 and 45 processes; and to use these processes to understand any patterns and trends and detail how these will be addressed and progress measured. Also, to provide manager training for the effective conducting of regulation 45 reviews. A staff training plan has been developed with objectives to address the assessed areas for development and improvement. Some training has been completed, and any further training required has been scheduled. The responsible individual, acting as interim manager, has completed a regulation 45 review for the three-month period of his management involvement. The findings of the regulation 44 reviews Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413106 3

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 13(2)(e), the leadership

have been incorporated into this to develop a clear action plan, and key indicators for progress in the relevant areas have been identified. The manager training for completing regulation 45 reviews is still to be scheduled. Overall, the steps specified in this compliance notice have not yet been met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/11/2017 Full Inadequate 24/01/2017 Full Requires improvement 15/11/2016 Full Inadequate 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413106 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

*12: The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)) In particular, to ensure that all staff are able to formulate and follow clear and effective plans to manage and reduce the risks and self-defeating behaviours for each child. 29/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

*13: The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care for each child and also understands the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(e)(f)) In particular, to ensure that all staff are able to formulate and follow clear and effective plans for the progress of each child; and also, effectively use available monitoring sources to inform improvement in the quality of care provided. 29/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

*14. The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14(2)(b)(ii)) In particular, to ensure that effective mechanisms are used 29/01/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413106 5 to understand the needs and risks of children before they move into the home and understand how these might be managed; and also, to consider how these might affect children already in the home.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person must seek ways to increase the homely and nurturing atmosphere and environment of the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Castle Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fifth Floor, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Wells

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Inspector:

John Pledger, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC413106 6 to 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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

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