Children's Home run by Aspris Care Central Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 1 SC379357 Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by a private company, provides care for up to three children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma and family or placement breakdowns. The children may display challenging behaviours. The manager was registered with Ofsted on 26 July 2016.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/11/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/05/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, make immediate arrangements to ensure that all of the fire doors are repaired. 12/06/2018

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Recommendations

 The information set out in the statement of purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered person and placing authority that a placement in that home is the right one for that child, and that the home will be able to respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.6) In particular, make clear that children who are not looked after can be accommodated as part of an agreed school placement.

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Recommendations

 Children’s homes should work closely with the placing authority to understand the child’s relationship history and the impact that the child’s arrival may have on the group living at the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.3)

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Recommendations

 Children’s homes should encourage children to understand that they can speak to Ofsted inspectors or other relevant persons if they have concerns about their safety. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.11) Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have positive experiences and make good progress. They benefit from a well-established staff team that cares about their well-being and meets their needs. The staff have nurturing, strong and positive relationships with the children that are underpinned by open, honest and consistent communication appropriate to the children’s level of understanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children attend school full time, they have high attendance and make good progress in their education. The staff understand the importance of education. They take the children to and from school, have regular contact with the school staff and attend parents’ evenings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from a wide range of activities that reflect their individual interests. These activities include cinema trips, playing football, theme park trips, arts and crafts and airplane spotting. One child has joined a local football club and is enrolling in air cadets. This enables him to develop his skills and knowledge, as well as enhancing his social peer group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home gains the views and opinions of the children through weekly house meetings, individual key-working sessions and consultation documents. The children receive feedback about decisions made. This inclusive approach means that the children are involved in the planning of their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home arranges and facilitates contact between the children, their families and other significant people. One child has regular contact with their previous foster carers. The home celebrates important family dates and events. One parent said, ‘They [the staff] arrange for [the child] to send cards and presents for mine and my husband’s birthdays and Father’s and Mother’s Day, which is really nice.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The strong relationships between the staff and the children mean that the children will say something if there are issues. The children know how to make a complaint. However, some additional means to complain to external adults have not been made known to the children.

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

The children can sometimes present with difficult and challenging behaviours. The staff de-escalate these behaviours to good effect. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. Rewards and positive incentives are used effectively to discourage unwanted behaviours.

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

The staff are well trained in effective safeguarding practice. They are experienced and understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard the children. There have been no incidents of the children going missing from the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 5 The staff realise the value of effective multi-agency work, and create strong, positive relationships with families and external professionals to meet the children’s needs and safeguard their well-being. Feedback from professionals is consistently positive. One child’s therapist said, ‘He is really making progress. Since he has moved into the home, he has settled and his behaviour has improved, which then makes it easier for his parents when he goes home.’ Another child’s social worker said, ‘Since [the manager] took over, I can’t fault her. She keeps me informed about everything; weekly updates, phone calls, emails. She is child-focused and has a very inclusive way of working, which

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

The home has a welcoming and nurturing feel, it is well decorated throughout and it is homely. However, essential fire safety measures are lacking, with three fire doors not closing securely. The manager made immediate plans to have them repaired as this poses a risk to children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2016. She is child-focused and has the relevant qualifications, experience and skills to manage the home. The staff are well trained and suitably qualified. One member of staff is awaiting confirmation that they have successfully completed the level 3 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager consults children, families, staff and stakeholders. The results of these consultations contribute to the comprehensive internal monitoring and review of the quality of care that the home provides. Monthly external monitoring visits are of a good standard, they offer appropriate challenge and the reports provide action plans for the manager to address. The manager has produced a detailed development plan for the home to be implemented over the next 12 months.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager supports the staff well and she is accessible to staff and children. The manager has good oversight of paperwork, and all records are regularly updated. However, the home’s statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the criteria for children’s admission to the home. This omission may prevent an appropriate referral being submitted for consideration by the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s files are detailed, concise and updated regularly. Risk assessments, behaviour management plans and key-working session records are thorough and evidence participation by children. Impact risk assessments detail individual children’s behaviours and areas of risk. However, they do not adequately consider the potential that the existing children may have on a new admission. This could lead to a child experiencing a difficult transition and possible placement breakdown.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular, practice-led supervision and annual appraisals. The staff value child-focused and personal development discussions in supervision meetings and say that they feel well supported. The children are discussed in detail at regular team meetings and are the primary focus in the home. One child said, ‘All of the staff talk to Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 6 me and are nice. We have house meetings that [the manager] attends. We also fill out forms that ask us questions about the home and what we like and do not like.’

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Ricky D’Arcy: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC379357 8 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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