Children's home run by Curam Domi Solutions Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 1 Registered provider: Curam Domi Solutions 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

This privately run home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s statement of purpose states that the children’s home is for young people who present with challenging behaviours and who are in need of additional support. The home offers short-term and medium- to long-term accommodation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager have been registered with Ofsted since 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: this is the first inspection

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 2

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

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)) 30/04/2020

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The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 30/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 3 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who–

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understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6(1)(a) (2)(b)(iii)) 30/04/2020

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The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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the individual is of integrity and good character;

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the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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In particular, the registered person must ensure that employees’ written references are verified, that the reason for gaps in employees’ employment and education histories are recorded and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks must be provided. 30/04/2020

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The registered person must ensure that all employees— 30/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 4 undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a))

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In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff undertake training to meet all of the needs of young people living in the home. The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 30/04/2020

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Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)(b))

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In particular, the registered person must keep a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and records of the actual rosters worked. 30/04/2020

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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.

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In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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the quality of care provided for children;

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the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. 30/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 5 After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5)) The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(1)(3)(a)(b)) 30/04/2020

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The health and well-being standard is that—

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the health and well-being needs of children are met. (Regulation 10 (1)(a))

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In particular, food hygiene standards must be maintained in the home. 30/04/2020

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Recommendations

 Children’s homes should be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the children. They will in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 6 (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that ongoing maintenance in the home is completed, including resealing bare plaster in the hallway, repairing the front doorbell and the loose stair carpet and replacing the cracked bedroom window.  If it is likely that there might only be one member of staff on duty at any time, the manager should make a formal assessment of the implications for the children’s care, including any likely risks. This assessment should be recorded and available for inspection by Ofsted and placing authorities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.18)

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improvement to be good

Young people’s education outcomes are mixed. Staff support young people living in the home to engage with in-house tutoring and one young person has successfully completed end-of-year examinations. However, a virtual school head reported that staff should provide more encouragement and routine to increase a young person’s very low school attendance. Very low school attendance will limit young people’s ability to fulfil their potential.

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improvement to be good

Hygiene in the home is not always well maintained. One young person complained to the inspector that the kitchen plates and cutlery are dirty and that out-of-date food is served. The inspector found out-of-date food in the fridge. This is a health risk. The responsible individual said that she had addressed this issue.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not treat young people’s details sensitively. One young person said that they had overheard a telephone conversation between staff where her own confidential and personal family information was discussed. The young person was upset and reported that this was rude and unprofessional. The responsible individual said that she has addressed this concern with the staff and the young person.

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improvement to be good

Maintenance issues in the home detract from a homely environment. The central heating and outside wall have recently been repaired. However, peeling paint in the hallway, the broken front doorbell, loose stair carpet and a young person’s cracked bedroom window have not been repaired or replaced.

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improvement to be good

The young people living in the home make some progress. Young people’s weekly targets identify goals such as to attend their health appointments, and engage positively with staff and in their personal development sessions.

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improvement to be good

The young people are suitably rewarded when their targets are met. However, the home’s statement of purpose states that reviews will take place to consider whether the young people are making sufficient progress and whether the placement continues to Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 7 meet their needs. There is no evidence that progress and placement suitability reviews have taken place.

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improvement to be good

The young people are encouraged to engage in their regular key-work and personal development sessions. Age-appropriate discussions between staff and the young people address topics such as sexual health, the risks of young people going missing from the home and independence planning. This supports young people’s healthy development.

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improvement to be good

Young people contribute to their weekly planners. The planners schedule opportunities for cooking, shopping and choosing personalised activities such as trips to the cinema or manicures. This helps increase the young people’s participation in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always check the identity of visitors to the home. The inspector was able to inspect the home without signing in or being asked to provide identification verification. This means that unknown individuals may be able to enter the home who may be a risk to staff and young people living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Care plans identify the level of staff support and supervision the young people need to help keep them safe. However, the staff rota does not reflect the requirements for one- to-one staff support as set out in the young people’s care plans.

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improvement to be good

Staff have received some training to meet the particular needs of the young people living in the home. However, the staff training matrix shows that on occasion some staff are working in the home on their own with young people, without having received safeguarding or first aid training. This leaves staff and the young people vulnerable.

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improvement to be good

The young people living in the home are vulnerable to particular risks when out in the community. Staff have not received training in the risks posed to young people, such as radicalisation, child criminal exploitation or child sexual exploitation. Staff spoken with during the inspection did not display sufficient knowledge or skills to explain the risks or identify examples of how to reduce them.

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improvement to be good

The home’s lone-working policy for staff sets out that leaders and managers will risk- assess individual lone-working arrangements. However, no lone-working risk assessments have been completed.

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improvement to be good

Less than half of the staff team have received training in physical intervention techniques. The combination of staff working alone, without having received appropriate physical intervention training, means that the risk of them reacting inappropriately to young people’s challenging behaviour is increased.

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improvement to be good

Despite this, behaviour management plans are comprehensive and help staff to understand the young people’s behaviours and the strategies they must follow to de- Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 8 escalate any challenging behaviours. There have been no incidents of physical restraint since the home opened.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers appropriately consider the impact of new young people coming to the live in the home. The young people’s risk assessments are completed when they arrive in the home. However, one young person’s file, described as the staff’s important ‘go-to file’, did not contain up-to-date risk assessments. This limited staff’s knowledge of the young person’s current risks and the strategies required to minimise them.

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improvement to be good

Regular staff meetings encourage reflective discussions. Staff consider and implement creative strategies to further support young people in the home. Where needed, staff refer the young people to local youth mentoring and counselling services for additional therapeutic support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

At the time of the inspection, the registered manager was on annual leave while the deputy manager was off work with illness. Therefore, the responsible individual facilitated much of the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Insufficient checks are carried out on the suitability of the staff who work in the home. Staff have worked in the home without previous employer references being verified and with incomplete employment and education histories. Furthermore, one employee’s enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks had not been confirmed. As a result, staff recruitment is not safe, and this may put young people at risk of unsuitable people working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The inspector could not be satisfied that there is sufficient staff cover in the home at all times. The responsible individual said that she takes steps to ensure that there is sufficient staffing in the home by moving staff across from the provider’s other children’s home. In addition, the deputy manager of the other home, with no responsibility for this home, has signed off key-work sessions for a young person in this home. None of these arrangements provide the young people with consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

At times staff work long shifts. On one occasion, a member of staff worked a 24-hour shift. These staffing arrangements could mean that staff are physically and mentally vulnerable, which may limit their ability to respond to and manage emergency situations appropriately.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Young people’s files do not meet the regulatory requirement. Placement action plans and support plans are not dated or signed. One young person’s personal education plan and looked-after review are not up to date. Leaders and managers ask all staff to read and sign young people’s plans. This has not happened. This means that staff will be unsure of the young people’s changing support needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Communication between leaders, managers and the staff team is ineffective. One member of staff did not know or understand the qualification that leaders and managers Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 9 have enrolled her onto, while another member of staff did not know that she was a co- key worker for a young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff spoken with provided conflicting views regarding the purpose of the shift handover book and the daily electronic summary. This may mean key information is not shared between staff during their shift handovers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Other administrative tasks have not been completed satisfactorily. The home’s statement of purpose is out of date and the home’s quality of care review does not meet the regulatory requirement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite these shortfalls, professionals reported sharing good communication with the staff. Staff provide regular updates regarding the young people to them, and they recognise that staff take time to develop positive relationships with the young people. Staff say that they feel supported. The responsible individual recognises that the home has a new team and that there has been some staff turnover and said that ‘work is being done to embed the team’.

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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: 2505172 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Curam Domi Solutions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 86–90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE

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Inspector

Victoria Jones, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2505172 11 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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