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

Inspection report children’s home: SC065378 1 SC065378 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 part of a large private organisation. It offers care for up to three young people who have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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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: 10 January 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: SC065378 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/01/2018 Full Good 04/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Good 10/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC065378 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (2) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (2)(a)(iii)) 31/12/18

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(c)) 31/12/18

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  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 homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report children’s home: SC065378 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people said that the best thing about living at the home is the staff. Young people build strong relationships with their key-workers and other staff who know them well. As a result, young people develop a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each young person has made positive progress. They are settled in the home and have built relationships with the staff and with each other. All the young people are in full-time education, which is a significant achievement. The staff and managers have a child- focused approach and encourage each young person to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy regular visits and events with their families, depending on their needs and personal circumstances. Staff recognise how important this is for young people and provide emotional and practical support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people to take part in new activities, both in the home and in the local community. Young people take part in a wide and varied range of social activities and leisure pursuits. This allows them to learn new skills, develop new hobbies, make new friends, and grow in confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff educate young people about staying healthy. The staff run workshops on subjects such as the effects of puberty, and healthy eating. Key-work sessions take place often and focus on young people’s individual needs. Staff encourage young people to explore their identity, race and culture. Consequently, young people develop a sense of curiosity and social awareness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to express their views. Young people know how to complain, and they receive a prompt response when they make a complaint. However, staff have not considered young people’s individual needs to help them to understand decisions that are made.

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

Staff give young people consistent guidance and boundaries. Young people are rewarded for positive behaviour and can choose a reward of their choice. Sanctions are put in place if young people make the wrong behavioural choice. These are used sparingly, and young people are given the opportunity to work towards reversing consequences by demonstrating positive behaviour. This supports young people to make safe choices.

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

Young people can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any concerns. Key-work sessions show that staff hold meaningful conversations on a regular basis with young people. Key-work sessions are also used to repair relationships between staff and young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC065378 5 Staff ensure that risk assessments are regularly updated and reflect the level of current risk that the young person presents.

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

Staff understand risks relating to young people going missing from home and this is included in young people’s risk assessments. There is a clear plan of urgent response which staff mainly follow. However, independent return home interviews do not routinely take place, and staff are not challenging this with the placing local authority. Consequently, staff do not gain additional information to help them understand why a young person has chosen to go missing from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high expectations of herself and others. She is confident in challenging other professionals when their actions or inactions have a negative effect on young people. She recently escalated her concerns when a young person was not given a school place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are appropriately qualified and subject to safe recruitment processes. The registered manager knows her staff well and encourages them to achieve their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and are up to date with their mandatory training. Some receive additional training to ensure that they understand the needs of young people. However, staff have not received training in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. They are not enabling one young person to make informed choices relating to treatment for this condition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is decorated and maintained to a high standard and provides a welcoming environment. Young people’s bedrooms are bright and clean and are decorated to their wishes. However, the kitchen has an institutional feel because some cupboards have locks, although these are not used; and some cupboards are broken.

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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: SC065378 6 Inspection report children’s home: SC065378 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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Inspectors

Karen Gillingwater, social care inspector Lisa O’Donovan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC065378 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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