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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 1 SC419330

p.1

Castle Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to accommodate up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a large private organisation.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out following the children’s home being judged inadequate at the full inspection on 13 December 2017. Five requirements were issued from the previous inspection. The focus of this inspection was to monitor the progress in meeting these.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, the registered manager was present. There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The registered manager was considering new referrals. Staff have been redeployed to work at other homes run by the provider. The registered manager is transferring to manage the organisation’s sister home. The deputy manager will be a temporary manager until a permanent manager is appointed. The registered manager will continue to oversee the home to ensure that any improvements are embedded.

p.1

care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

The particular steps required relate to a delay in reporting an incident to the local authority which occurred due to deficiencies in quality assurance processes and lack of training in use of e-compliance recording systems.

p.1

care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

The registered manager and deputy manager have now been trained to use the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 2 recording systems. However, four staff are not trained to use the web-ex system. There are plans in place for these staff to be trained.

p.1

care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

Quality assurance processes necessitate incident forms being sent to the head office or regional office for approval prior to being sent out externally. This process should occur within five days but the registered manager reported that this can take longer.

p.2

care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

The registered manager can request agreement for an incident report to be fast- tracked and sent to external professionals prior to being quality assured. However, there was no evidence of this agreement being formalised.

p.2

accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

In particular, the step was to ensure that staff challenged the local authority if they believed plans for children were inadequate.

p.2

accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

The registered manager was able to show recorded evidence of liaison and challenge to professionals in regards to the children who had recently moved on from the home. The responsible individual also provided an account of how the move for the young person was managed on the day. This occurred after the inspection and evidenced that management challenged the social worker.

p.2

accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

This step has been met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

p.2

appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is

intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation.

p.2

appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is

In particular, this step was in relation to ensuring that parents are aware of serious incidents regarding their child.

p.2

appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is

The registered manager confirmed that the local authority has informed a young person’s parent about a serious incident that occurred in the home and the move from placement. The inspector spoke to the mother of the other young person who reported that, ‘Communication has been good. I have no concerns.’ Positive contact was also made with this young person’s extended family.

p.2

appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is

This step has been met and will be further tested at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 3

p.2

12 (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected

from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make

arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.

p.3

information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make

In particular, this step refers to clarity in relation to the administration of the use of medication.

p.3

information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make

The registered manager discussed lessons that had been learned following the full inspection and actions taken as a result. The admission process had missed vital sharing of information in regards to the young person’s medication. The registered manager has devised a new form to ensure that medication arrangements are clear and that all parties sign agreements for the medication being administered to children. The registered manager recognised that the forms used were contradictory and unclear. She reported that in the future they will ensure that they have the correct information and that this is clearly recorded.

p.3

information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make

In addition, the registered manager recognised that she did not establish clarity about what a staff member had reported during a handover. She stated that she will ensure that she challenges staff in the future.

p.3

information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make

It has not been possible to test out the new system due to no children being placed. Therefore, this step is not met.

p.3

home that—

In particular, this is in relation to a young person’s experience of living in the home and her emotional welfare.

p.3

home that—

The registered manager discussed learning points and recognised that better planning and systems in place would have improved the young person’s experience of living in the home. She also recognised that miscommunication led to poor decision making by the deputy manager and staff.

p.3

home that—

Supervisions and team meetings have not addressed the failures or lessons learned following the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 4 This step is not met.

p.3

meet the needs of each child;

This particular step is in relation to ensuring that all staff, including agency workers, have the necessary qualifications and skills to care for children.

p.4

meet the needs of each child;

The registered manager confirmed that if they need to employ agency staff in the future they will ensure that the staff have the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England).

p.4

meet the needs of each child;

In relation to increasing staff’s experience, the registered manager has completed research in relation to trauma. Staff have been booked on to training on 19 March 2018 regarding epilepsy and dissociative trauma. The registered manager and the deputy manager completed training regarding completing impact risk assessments, care plans and placement plans on 20 February 2018. New staff recruited are presently undertaking an induction programme.

p.4

each child;

In particular, this step refers to one young person’s experience of living in the home and moving from the home.

p.4

each child;

The registered manager discussed lessons learned in regards to the impact risk assessments needing improving and the absence of a placement plan. In addition to the training discussed above, the impact risk assessment form has been redesigned. The other young person experienced a more positive move from the home. Managers and staff liaised closely with her new placement to ensure a smooth transition.

p.4

each child;

This step has been met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

p.4

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous

improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.4

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous

This is in particular to ensure that essential paperwork is completed and regularly reviewed.

p.4

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous

The registered manager introduced monitoring systems ensuring that all the necessary checks in recording, paperwork and health and safety are completed within timescale. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 5 This step has been met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

p.4

(1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

In particular, this step refers to ensuring that the matching process and placement plan give the necessary guidance to staff on how to manage a young person’s complex needs.

p.5

(1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

The registered manager and deputy manager have undergone training in effective risk management and impact risk assessment. The competencies addressed are: increased familiarity with the concepts of risk management and risk assessment, writing an effective risk assessment, critically reviewing risk assessments and using risk assessments effectively. They disseminated the training to the staff group. The impact risk assessment forms are being reviewed.

p.5

(1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

The registered manager discussed the lesson she had learned following the full inspection. She reflected that staff needed training in dissociative seizures as a coping method. She also reflected that intensive work therapy options should have been in place on admission. The registered manager reported that staff needed to be better prepared for admission of children with complex needs. A psychologist has been booked to consult with staff in regards to children’s mental health, including dissociative trauma. The manager will also liaise with the Barnardo’s recovery programme to support children.

p.5

(1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

This step has been met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

p.5

(1)(b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the

In particular, this is with regard to ensuring that a move from the children’s home is sensitively managed and well planned.

p.5

(1)(b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the

Staff supported the young person remaining at the home in regards to a positive transition to her own flat with support on 13 March 2018. They secured a suitable self-contained flat and funded furniture and arranged the move of her belongings and furniture to the property. They liaised with the police to alert them that she had moved to independent living to mitigate against any increased risk of child exploitation. The registered manager and staff have been given authority by the local authority to remain in contact with the young person.

p.5

(1)(b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the

This step has been met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

p.5

The registered person must ensure that for the purposes of paragraph

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 6

p.6

Level 3 Diploma’) or a qualification which the registered person considers

to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.6

Level 3 Diploma’) or a qualification which the registered person considers

This step was in reference to the qualifications of agency workers. The registered manager confirmed that they will no longer use agency workers who do not have the level 3 qualification. They intend to significantly reduce the need for agency workers.

p.6

Level 3 Diploma’) or a qualification which the registered person considers

This step has been met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/12/2017 Full Inadequate 13/09/2016 Full Good 28/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/10/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 7

p.6

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— (a) seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; In particular, this is in relation to sending incident forms without delay and ensuring that staff are able to use recording processes effectively. (c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; In particular, this is with regard to challenging the local authority regarding its plans for a young person’s move from the children’s home. (d) seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as

p.7

Requirement Due date

the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. In particular, this is to ensure that a parent is aware of serious incidents regarding their child. (Regulation 5 (a)(c)(d)) 05/04/2018

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) 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 05/04/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 8 harm to the child. In particular, this is so that risk assessments inform staff regarding strategies to minimise risk and are updated in response to a change in circumstances. This includes clarity in relation to the administration of the use of medication. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (b) promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, this is in relation to a young person’s experience of living in the home and her emotional welfare. (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; This is in relation to ensuring that all staff, including agency workers, have the necessary qualifications and skills. (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; This is in relation to one young person’s experience of living in the home and moving from the home. (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. This is in particular to ensure that essential paperwork is completed and regularly reviewed. (Regulation 13 (1)(b)(2)(c)(e)(h)) 05/04/2018

p.8

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. In particular, this is to ensure that the matching process and placement plan give the necessary guidance to staff to manage a young person’s complex needs. (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, this is with regard to ensuring a move from the children’s home is sensitively managed and well planned. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 05/04/2018

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant 05/04/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 9 date, the individual has attained the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’) or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. In particular, this includes agency workers. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b))

p.8

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.

p.9

Information about this inspection

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

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Castle Homes Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Wells

p.9

Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC419330 10 to achieve excellence in the care of children and children, 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10