Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC020576 1 SC020576

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Castle Homes Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a large national provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five boys who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 24 and 25 January 2018.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring inspection is to review the progress made by managers and staff to improve the standard of care provided to young people. This inspection showed that some improvements have been made. However, other areas require further development.

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This monitoring visit

Education arrangements do not meet young people’s needs effectively. Although a tutor comes to the home on a regular basis to provide greater oversight, the staff are not sufficiently trained to offer a full-time curriculum. The facilities within the home and the environment are not suitable for young people to receive formal education. Furthermore, the home is not registered as a school. Consequently, the home and staff are not equipped to promote young people’s learning and enable them to reach their full potential.

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This monitoring visit

All young people’s placement plans have been updated. These contain information which reflects the young people’s individual needs and shows the progress that they have made while living at the home. Risk assessments have also become increasingly personalised, mirroring the individual risk management plans.

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This monitoring visit

No physical interventions have occurred since the last inspection. The staff team members have met to discuss different techniques that they are able to use in the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC020576 2 event that physical intervention is required. All members of the staff team are up to date with their restraint training and in the recording of such incidents. The home’s management team encourages the staff to become more involved with young people and to engage them in activities. This has improved relationships between the young people and decreases possible confrontations.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s statement of purpose has been updated twice since the last inspection. This document now includes up-to-date information about staff working in the home and the current education arrangements for young people.

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This monitoring visit

Young people now have access to all communal areas of the home. A new protocol is in place and should any internal doors need to be locked for a time-limited period, and for safeguarding reasons, then this practice is monitored and can be reviewed. The management team has reassessed the need for signage around the home, which has reduced the institutional feel to the home environment. In addition, new pictures now hang on the walls, creating a more homely environment.

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This monitoring visit

Arrangements to support young people who go missing from the home have improved. There are now clear arrangements in place for placing authorities to undertake return home interviews. Since the last inspection, one missing from home incident has occurred and a return interview was carried out within the 72-hour timescale. Because young people now receive a return interview, they have the opportunity to speak to someone independent about the reasons that they were missing or absent from the home without permission. This information may also help to reduce further incidents from occurring.

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This monitoring visit

The ability of the leadership team to inspire young people to develop to their full potential is to be examined further at the home’s next full inspection. The manager has shown that the home’s systems have developed, and young people have benefited from some of the changes that have been made.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/01/2018 Full Inadequate 02/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2016 Full Good 11/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC020576 3

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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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1)(vi)(viii)) 30/04/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)) 30/04/2018

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC020576 4

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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

Andrew Hewston, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC020576 5 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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