Children's Home run by Castle Homes Limited in Bromley

Inspection report children’s home: SC419334 1 SC419334 Registered provider: Castle Homes 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

 This privately owned home provides are for up to four children.  In the statement of purpose, the provider states that the home caters for the needs of children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The suitably qualified manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 July to 1 August 2019

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 20 November 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: SC419334 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2018 Full Good 22/11/2017 Full Good 28/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC419334 3

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Recommendations

 The children’s guide must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21). Specifically, the guide must be in a format which is appropriate for children’s reading age and level of understanding.  Staff should understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of 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). Specifically, help children to develop strategies to express their feelings in a safe way and manage anger.  Staff should have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. Where

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Recommendations

necessary they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14). Specifically, extend staff’s training in managing challenging behaviour and understanding autism and ensure they follow the behaviour management strategy plans.  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13). Specifically, make sure that notifications to the designated officer and the outcomes of investigations are provided in a timely manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with the staff team. As there have been few changes to the staff and management team, children experience consistency in the Inspection report children’s home: SC419334 4 relationships they form. Staff take time to share their skills with children to encourage the development of hobbies and interests, such as learning to swim or to play an instrument.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children have lived at the home for approximately a year. Staff celebrate the anniversary of the date when children moved into the home if this is something the child would like. One child had to move on from the home during the year. However, they experienced a period of stability compared to their previous placement moves. After the children have moved elsewhere, it is positive that most remain in touch with staff for support and guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Engagement and progress in education mostly improve. Staff promote children’s informal learning and encourage them to read for enjoyment. As a result, one child has made significant progress in reading which has positively affected their self-confidence and interest in learning. Staff help children to identify what they need to do to achieve future training and employment goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for children to make sure that they are listened to. For example, children who felt alienated from their family members are now seeing them regularly, which improves their well-being.

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improvement to be good

Some aspects of behaviour management require improvement. Currently, behaviour is mostly settled, and there have only been a few challenging incidents. However, during one incident, staff did not follow the behaviour management strategy plan, and this may have prolonged the incident.

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improvement to be good

Although staff support children to express their feelings, some children find it hard to manage anger issues or express their feelings safely. Staff use techniques such as praise and rewards to encourage positive behaviour. Sanctions are applied to try to teach children the consequences of negative behaviour. However, these tend to be financial and do not necessarily encourage children to make reparation for their actions, particularly when their behaviour is influenced by that of another child.

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improvement to be good

Staff prioritise children’s safety. They undertake relevant training, for example, in fire safety, first aid and child protection, to promote children’s safety. Staff notify the designated officer in the local authority of matters relating to safeguarding children. However, notifications and the outcomes of investigations are not always made in a timely fashion, leading to unnecessary delay.

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improvement to be good

The building is safely maintained. Repairs to any damage are carried out swiftly so that the building remains homely for children. Action was taken during the inspection to prevent a child’s access to one area of the staircase which could present risk.

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improvement to be good

The process for recruiting staff is thorough, helping to ensure that only suitable and safe Inspection report children’s home: SC419334 5 people are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is still settling into the role. She reported having good support from the recently appointed responsible individual as well as a deputy and the staff team. The registered manager is ambitious for the children to make progress and have positive experiences in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff value the diversity of the team and the varied skills and backgrounds people bring. Staff said that they receive sufficient support and training, but that further training in behaviour management and autism would be beneficial. One member of staff noted that they find the management team ‘approachable and open to suggestions’ to develop the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring of the home is very effective. The independent visitor conducts robust visits to the home and forms clear opinions about what needs to improve. This process helps the management team to develop the service. The registered manager also conducts her own review of the service, which assists the home’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff appear to be working in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. However, the children’s guide is not in a suitable format for children of all the ages that the home admits or for varied reading abilities.

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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: SC419334 6

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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:

Jacqueline Graves, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC419334 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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