Children's home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report children’s home: SC413078 1 SC413078 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

The home is privately owned. It provides care and accommodation for two young people up to the age of 18.

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Information about this children’s home

Young people may have experienced a breakdown at home or another placement. They may have suffered abuse and display challenging behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2018.

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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 outstanding

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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: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC413078 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2017 Full Good 27/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/06/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC413078 3

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The progress and experience of the child in this placement is very good. He is receiving good-quality care. He spoke extremely positively about his experience of living in the home. The child said, ‘I don’t want to run away because I like it here. It’s better than my other placements. The staff are all really nice. I know they would help me if I needed them to.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys positive and trusting relationships with a committed and caring staff team. Management and staff have worked exceptionally hard to understand the underlying causes of the child’s behaviours. Staff have been able to build a strong relationship with the child in a short space of time. This is impressive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Management and staff are skilled at engaging the child. Clear boundaries and proactive behaviour management are effective in providing the child with consistency, stability and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is receiving an alternative education package. Management and staff encourage and fully support the child to do well in his education. Staff are tenacious if the child pushes boundaries or tries to reject their help. This helps to build the child’s self-worth and enables him to invest in the relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Management and staff encourage the child to take part in activities, to stay active and to follow his interests. The child is listened to, respected and valued by the staff. The social worker said, ‘Staff understand his behaviours. They support him, listen to him and make every effort to ensure that his needs are met. They have got to know him quickly and they know how to manage his very challenging behaviours. The placement is just what this child needed.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into and out of the home are carefully managed. The nurturing, insightful Inspection report children’s home: SC413078 4 and enthusiastic staff team ensures that these transitions are as smooth as possible. Because of the ongoing support and reassurance offered by the staff, a young person who has recently left the home continues to contact staff and ask for advice and guidance.

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

The child feels safe in this home. He is happy and settled. The family environment created by the staff provides the child with a strong sense of safety and well-being. A fostering worker said, ‘He has significantly changed for the better since being there. He seems a lot happier, and there has been a definitive difference in his presentation. He physically looks so much better and appears relaxed.’

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

Despite the child having a significant history of going missing from care, such incidents have stopped. This reduction in incidents has been significant in reducing the child’s vulnerability and ensuring his safety and protection.

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

There are very few incidents necessitating the use of physical intervention. There are detailed records of all incidents, which are reviewed by the management team. Positive relationships ensure that staff are able to distract the child and diffuse challenging behaviours.

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

Multi-agency working is a strength of the home. Good relationships and strong advocacy ensure that clear plans are put in place to address any concerns. This joined-up, child- centred approach greatly improves the safety of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an aspirational and highly committed individual. His skills in working with children who have a history of trauma are exceptional.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff were very complimentary about the manager. A member of staff said, ‘The manager is amazing. He is open and honest with all staff. He is fair and professional at all times. He is one of the best managers I have ever had.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s approach ensures that the staff team feels valued and fully supported. He has created an open, honest and nurturing culture in the home. Staff share his ambition to provide the highest standards of care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is supported by a deputy manager who also provides strong and consistent leadership. The manager and deputy manager are a strong team. A member of staff said, ‘The deputy manager and the manager are just great. They each bring very different skills, but that is what the home needs. They work as a very good team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a stable staff team that enjoys working in the home. Staff morale is high. The management and the staff all demonstrate a kind and compassionate approach to caring for the child in this home. Inspection report children’s home: SC413078 5 Staff reported receiving good supervision that gives them the opportunity to reflect on their practice. Staff also attend regular team meetings. The emphasis on reflective practice is excellent. This ensures that practice is adapted in line with the child’s changing and emerging needs.

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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: SC413078 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Armstrong

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Inspectors

Davinia Lawton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC413078 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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