Children's home run by Castle Homes Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC413106 1 SC413106 Registered provider: Castle Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It offers care and accommodation for up to six children who, according to the home’s statement of purpose, ‘due to the circumstances of their young lives, require residential accommodation’.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since October 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 8 November 2018

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has moved on since the last inspection. This was the result of a placement breakdown but was managed in a very considered and positive manner and the child had made progress in several areas. The remaining child is increasingly settled and being strongly supported to re-engage in formal schooling. Her emotional well-being continues to improve.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff are becoming increasingly refined in their approach to understanding the needs of, and risks to, the child, and how the child can be best supported. This relates to both the immediate and longer-term issues and makes her safer and is preparing her for the future. The staff’s understanding and expertise in Inspection report children’s home: SC413106 2 effectively meeting her needs can, however, be further improved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership of the home is confident and competent in the way it works with external agencies to ensure that the child makes the best possible progress. The leaders and managers are strong advocates for her regarding decisions that are likely to be the most favourable for her future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the registration requirement still not being met, the management and leadership of the home has remained stable. The same manager has been in post since April 2018 and her application for registration with Ofsted is currently underway.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been meaningful improvements made to the physical environment of the home. The office area is more compact and efficient and the living area for the children has been expanded.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a positive and clear response to the requirements set at the last inspection and improvement achieved across all the highlighted areas. More work is needed so that leaders have a more accurate understanding of key risks and clear and meaningful steps to address these.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/01/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/11/2017 Full Inadequate 24/01/2017 Full Requires improvement

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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 provider must ensure that the person who manages the home is registered, as any person who carries on or manages an establishment or agency of any description without being 01/04/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC413106 3 registered under this Part in respect of it (as an establishment or, as the case may be, agency of that description) shall be guilty of an offence. (Section 11 of the Care Standards Act 2000)

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; and have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)) 07/06/2019

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Recommendations

 Staff should understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour, using positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) In particular, ensure that such strategies are clearly described in the child’s plan. Inspection report children’s home: SC413106 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 Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector:

John Pledger, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC413106 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:

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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