Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report children‟s home: SC032083 1 SC032083 Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run. It provides residential care for up to three young people who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in February 2014.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has left the home. Although he had made progress during his placement, this had begun to falter. His attendance and engagement in education were declining and the home recognised that he needed more intensive therapeutic intervention, due to his increasing emotional needs. The home worked closely with the young person‟s placing authority over several months to identify a more suitable placement that would better meet his complex needs. He was able to visit the new placement prior to his move to familiarise himself with the new environment. The team worked well to ensure that his placement ending was positive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has been admitted to the home. Due to his circumstances prior to his arrival, he had not visited in advance. The manager ensured that she had all relevant information to inform effective care planning and to have suitable services in Inspection report children‟s home: SC032083 2 place. After one prolonged episode of going missing immediately after arrival, he no longer goes missing from the home. This significantly reduces the known associated risks of his previous episodes of going missing. During the period he was missing, the home followed all necessary procedures to support his safe return.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has proactively advocated for the young person to attend a mainstream school, and he has increasingly engaged with a tutor provided by his placing authority. A clear plan is in place to ensure that he will achieve full-time attendance. The young person recognises his own progress and is keen to attend school to choose his options and to establish a social network. He is responding well to incentives put in place. He is progressing to independent time in the community due to the reduction of risk.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has robust systems in place to monitor the quality of care and how this improves children‟s experiences. She ensures that incidents are clearly and concisely recorded, and that reflective debriefs take place, both with staff and young people. Although completed, the last report of the review of care was not received by Ofsted. The manager is not advised when reports are sent from a central office and was unable to provide evidence that it was forwarded.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff value the support of the manager. They say that supervision and team meetings provide opportunities to make suggestions for improvements that support every aspect of young people‟s lives. The manager is researching a model of care to support the professional development and practice of the staff team. Staff are encouraged to develop their expertise through specialist training that supports improved practice in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager uses the home‟s development plan effectively to prioritise areas of improvement. The home provides a welcoming environment. However, repairs and redecoration are required to make further improvements to young people‟s bedrooms, for example a new carpet needs to be secured to prevent a trip hazard.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is effective partnership working with other agencies to support young people‟s progress. Regular communication, and where necessary challenge, is evident so that young people‟s needs are promoted and responded to. Advocates are in place to ensure that young people‟s views are represented. In one case, this has meant that a child has remained at the home in an area where he has established positive social networks and is due to start a traineeship in mechanics. The home has persistently worked with social workers and virtual schools for support in identifying appropriate education and post-16 training opportunities and have proactively sought local providers. Good relationships are established with specialist services to support young people‟s health needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements of the last inspection have been addressed. The manager has made significant changes to a range of documents that now clearly reflect young people‟s progress and assess relevant risks. Inspection report children‟s home: SC032083 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/11/2016 Full Good

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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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1)(4)(a)) 27/03/2019

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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) Specifically, complete repairs to bedroom doors, redecoration of bedrooms and securing of carpets. Inspection report children‟s home: SC032083 4

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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‟.

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Armstrong

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Inspector

Karen Willson, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC032083 5 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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