Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC377825 1 SC377825 Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a large provider and is a registered for up to three young people who have complex needs which may include autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and complex associated difficulties. The manager has submitted an application to become the registered manager.

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC377825 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2018 Full Good 02/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/08/2016 Full Outstanding 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC377825 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(2)(c)(i)(ii)) 31/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff keep the children’s guide and complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation 7(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the children’s guide is accessible to younger children. 31/08/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people have positive experiences living in this home. They are offered a variety of activities that are individualised to meet their needs. One child attends drama classes and cubs. This has increased his confidence and provided him with additional experiences such as attending a camping trip with the cubs and having a role in a play.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people had not been in formal education for some time. However, due to the manager’s determination she has now secured appropriate education provisions for each child and young person. This will support their learning until longer- term plans are put in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people have developed positive routines since being in education. This has had a positive impact on the progress they have made with improvements in Inspection report children’s home: SC377825 4 their behaviour being evident. For example, the number of missing episodes for one young person has decreased.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have good relationships with children and young people. The stability of the staff team provides the children and young people with consistent care from adults who have the necessary skills and experience and understand the children and young people’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in supporting children and young people’s cultural needs, particularly when they are far away from home. For example, staff encourage one child to speak his native language (English is not his first language) and promote family relationships through different mediums such as telephone and email communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is looking dated and is lacking a homely feel, with furniture such as the settees in the living room being damaged through general wear and tear. The manager is aware of the condition of the home and is starting to make improvements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A children’s guide is in place for the children and young people within the home. However, due to how this is presented, not all children are able to understand the content. This puts some children at a disadvantaged as they cannot access important information.

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

Staff are proactive in teaching children and young people about risks and dangers that are relevant to them. This is done through life-coaching sessions that are engaging and creative.

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

Staff carry out monthly anti-bullying workshops with children and young people and cover current high-profile media topics, for example knife crime, refugees and bullying. These sessions are informative and educate children and young people, helping to keep them safe.

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

Physical interventions within the home have reduced as children have become more settled and are better able to manage their emotions in a positive way.

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

Staff have an awareness and understanding of safeguarding procedures and paperwork relating to this. This includes risk assessments and behaviour management plans. As a result, staff keep children and young people safe because they respond quickly and appropriately if needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since April 2018 and has submitted her application to become the registered manager. Since being in post, the manager has made some positive changes and is motivated to continue this. The manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and areas for development within the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC377825 5 The manager is relatively new in post. However, she is well supported in her role with regular supervision and mentoring sessions. She also offers this support to new members of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision that is focused on practice and the children and young people’s needs. Staff feel supported by the manager and are accepting of the positive changes that she is making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager proactively challenges professionals to secure the best outcomes for children and young people. This is particularly evident by her efforts to get children and young people into education and ensuring that one young person’s exclusion from education was revoked.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff keep professionals up to date about the children and young people whom they care for. In addition, social workers are sent a comprehensive monthly report detailing the month’s events. Parents are also provided with a monthly written update focusing on the children and young people’s achievements and progress.

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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: SC377825 6

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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

Lisa O’Donovan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC377825 7 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

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