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

Inspection report children’s home: SC031763 1 SC031763 Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It cares for young people who display extremely challenging behaviour. The home provides an overall staffing ratio of one to one.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager registered with Ofsted on 16 November 2015.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC031763 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/08/2017 Full Outstanding 12/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/08/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC031763 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have positive experiences of living in the home and are making outstanding progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have excellent relationships with staff who know and understand them extremely well. Professionals gave very positive feedback about the care and support young people receive. A social worker said, ‘This is a complex young person with challenging needs. Their relationships are generally ambivalent. However, their key worker manages to engage with them in such a brilliant way.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive an exceptional level of support educationally. Staff have high aspirations for young people and encourage them to understand the importance and benefits of education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transition plans for young people are extremely well considered. Young people are fully supported to develop social and practical skills in preparation for adulthood. The home’s individualised transition plans are outstanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The dedicated and committed staff team actively promotes young people’s relationships with their families. This is highly commendable. A young person’s mother said, ‘If she [the young person] had not gone there, we would not have the relationship we have now because it would have entirely broken down. She has made so much progress since being there. She is like a different child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are respected and valued by the staff. Their views are fully considered. Staff promote the rights of young people and advocate strongly on their behalf.

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

Young people are safe in the home. Comprehensive risk and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed and updated. This assists staff to ensure young people’s safety and protection.

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

Although some incidents of young people going missing from the home occur, these have reduced. All incidents are managed very well. A social worker said, ‘During missing episodes staff always stay in contact with the young person. They are always on standby and will immediately pick them up once they are found. This is impressive, as they often have to travel a considerable distance to where the young person has been located.’

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

Key-working sessions are frequently carried out with young people regarding their risk- taking behaviours. This is a particular strength of the home. This work is innovative and comprehensively addresses young people’s vulnerabilities.

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

Multi-agency working is outstanding. This coordinated approach ensures that young Inspection report children’s home: SC031763 4 people have the highest level of protection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership and management is highly effective. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. He is aspirational and ambitious for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s knowledge and insight into the complex needs of young people living in residential care is excellent. The manager and staff are passionate and enthusiastic. They are a tremendously proactive staff group.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is held in high regard by the staff. A member of staff said, ‘It’s a really, really nice place to work. The manager is so supportive. His door is always open if you need help. I cannot fault him.’ Consequently, staff morale is excellent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a creative, self-motivated individual who leads by example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Although robust monitoring systems are in place, the manager is committed to making further improvements to the service. He has some excellent ideas regarding how this can be achieved. This, along with all the other features of this home, is indicative of an organisation committed to improving the lives of young people and providing them with an outstanding service.

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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 differences 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 whom 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: SC031763 5

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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)

Davinia Lawton, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC031763 6 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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