Children's Home run by Curam Domi Solutions Ltd in Barnet

Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 1 Registered provider: Curam Domi Solutions Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately run home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people. The home’s statement of purpose confirms that the home cares for young people who have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since December 2018. The acting manager has been in post since October 2019 and is still to submit an application to Ofsted for formal registration.

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Inspection date: 9 March 2020

Date of last inspection: 11 November 2019

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Inspection date: 9 March 2020

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 9 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 2

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children 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 declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Eight requirements and four recommendations resulted from the last full inspection. The home has addressed two of the requirements and partially addressed one. An additional requirement results from this inspection. The home has addressed all of the recommendations made at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following this visit, the interim manager stated that he intends to apply for formal registration with Ofsted by the end of March 2020. He said that he understands the importance of the application and the uncertainty caused by not applying sooner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The progress of young people is mixed. Despite young people indicating that they feel happy and settled, this inspector noted that both young people remained in bed until late morning. Case records showed that the same young people had been allowed access to mobile phones and televisions the previous evening, prior to going to bed at three o’clock in the morning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s levels of attendance to education is erratic. One young person is engaging well in education: his allocated social worker attributed this to the ‘support and proactivity of staff’. Less positively, another young person has not been in education since February. Furthermore, the young person was absent from the home on 12 occasions between February and early March.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff turnover remains a concern. Four staff members have left the home since the last inspection; this results in uncertainty and inconsistency for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Practice in relation to the staff roster and staff training needs is improved. The home now keeps accurate records for previous and forthcoming staffing levels in the home and a revised workforce development plan now evaluates staff training needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff morale is positive. The staff member spoken to during this inspection reported feeling valued and appreciated. A new lone-working risk assessment for staff is in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s risk assessments require updating. One risk assessment failed to assess and evaluate one young person’s offending behaviour. More positively, a recent admission to the home was only completed once a full impact risk assessment had been completed. Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 3 The home environment is improved. Previous concerns regarding a window blind in one of the bedrooms, a wardrobe door and the home’s stair carpets have now been addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff recruitment practice is more rigorous. The responsible individual now verifies each reference. She has been unable to obtain a reference for the interim manager, despite extensive efforts.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The concerns surrounding the risk assessment of the local community are partially addressed. The current assessment now contains accurate crime figures; however, the assessment fails to address the risk of gang activity in the local area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff practice when young people go missing from the home is more robust. Staff liaise closely with placing social workers to ensure that independent return to care interviews occur and that any relevant information is shared with the professional network. Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/02/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 5

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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 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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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 31/05/2020

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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—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 31/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 6 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(i)) Appointment of manager

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(2)(a)(b)) 01/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. 01/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 7 For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

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Requirement Due date

within the last 5 years, worked for at least 2 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children;

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Requirement Due date

worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role; and

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Requirement Due date

the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 5 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma. Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)((i)(ii)(c)(2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) Review of premises

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person (Regulation 46 (1)(2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should assess the risk of gang activity in the local area. 31/05/2020

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, 31/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 8 where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8(2)(a)(i)(ii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This is with reference to ensuring that the home supports young people to progress at school by limiting access to television and the internet late at night, prior to going to school on the next morning.

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1257182 9

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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, Greater London EC2A 4NE

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1257182 10 to 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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