Children's Home run by Kartikeya Solutions Limited in Haringey

Assurance visit report: SC483623 1 SC483623

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately-run home for up to five children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home provides care and accommodation for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The provider also has a registered school on-site.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Sustained effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC483623 2

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The care of children

Children make steady progress and have positive experiences. They receive individualised care, which meets their identified needs. Often, the nature of the care provided to them is therapeutic and is focused on exploring children’s trauma and issues of attachment, loss and rejection.

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The care of children

Children share positive relationships with staff. During recent periods of lockdown, children have appreciated the opportunity to further build trusting relationships with the staff team. One child new to the home said, ‘No one cared before at my old home. If I need something here, they’ll help me out. For example, when I had a mental health issue, they gave me strategies to help me. It helps. I’m not keeping it inside.’

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The care of children

Children live healthy lifestyles. Their physical health care needs are very well met, and the home’s therapeutic approach is effective in meeting young people’s emotional health needs. Children said that they felt reassured by staff about the concerns they had regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

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The care of children

Children’s identity needs are well met by the home. Staff ensure that any dietary needs due to faith practices are adhered to. In recent months, children and staff have explored current social events. This included a focus on the Black Lives Matter movement. Children have designed and erected a poster highlighting images and their thoughts about their exploration and learning.

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The care of children

Children have good opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings with the staff team. They are regularly consulted about shaping the service and said that they enjoy having the choice to make decisions for themselves. Children make choices in relation to the activities they prefer, and some negotiate appropriate time spent away from the home. Staff are good advocates in ensuring that other professionals are aware of children’s wishes.

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The care of children

Children’s learning outcomes are good. During the period when schools were closed, some children gained exceptional GCSE grades. Others developed a renewed interest in their education after prolonged periods of time not attending school. Other children benefited from being enrolled at the home’s on-site school.

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The care of children

Children participate in an array of creative activities. This has been effective in keeping them engaged with each other, the staff team and providing a sense of fun during very challenging times.

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The safety of children

Children are safe at the home and staff protect them from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff receive regular training that focuses on child protection, and this features the induction of new staff. Children benefit from staff’s communication with other professionals about child protection concerns. This helps to keep children safe. Assurance visit report: SC483623 3 Some children living at the home have a prolific history of being absent from care without permission and going missing. Staff’s practices in managing children’s missing behaviour are effective. As a result, the frequency of children going missing from the home or being absent without permission has declined.

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The safety of children

Children benefit from the clear boundaries and levels of supervision set by staff. They are skilled in helping children manage their emotions and reflect on their behaviour. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of critical incidents.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments alert staff to known and anticipated risks and include strategies that help to reduce risks to children. However, some risk assessments require revision to ensure that the level of risk identified is accurate and reflects change. Similarly, behaviour management plans do not consistently include an analysis of the effectiveness of strategies or include dates to review plans as circumstances change.

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Leaders and managers

The provider has failed to appoint a registered manager as required by regulation, and the post has remained vacant since January 2020. Currently, the responsible individual is in day-to-day charge of the running of the home; he is supported by two experienced deputies. The current management arrangement has not had a significant negative impact on the quality of care provided to children.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders’ and managers’ overview of the home is generally effective. This helps to prompt improvements to the home. Although regulations 44 and 45 monitoring reports support this effort, the home is yet to devise a workforce plan.

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Leaders and managers

The home employs a sufficient number of staff to meet children’s needs. Staff have access to training opportunities that help them to develop the skills that they need to care for vulnerable children. The recruitment and vetting procedure of new staff is comprehensive.

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Leaders and managers

Managers’ support of staff is good. Staff inductions are thorough, and the staff team receives regular individual supervision alongside annual appraisals. This was not the case at the last inspection. This helps to support staff in providing children with the quality of care that they need.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers ensure that the home’s care planning processes are effective. They make child-centred decisions when exploring possible new placements. The home’s impact assessment reviews the needs of children being referred and the needs of children already living in the home.

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Leaders and managers

Staff’s communication with external partners is regular and consistent. This helps to ensure that those involved in children’s lives are aware of the child’s progress and issues. This supports the good coordination of children’s care. Assurance visit report: SC483623 4 An independent reviewing officer said of the team. ‘Staff have worked well with the local authority to consider the risks posed [to child X] and implement safety measures where possible, which appear to be successful.’

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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

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff’s recording of information is of a high quality. This relates to risk assessments and behavioural management plans. 01/01/2021

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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. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 01/01/2021 Assurance visit report: SC483623 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20) The plan should: ‒ detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of Purpose; ‒ detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding and health and safety and mandatory qualifications); ‒ detail the process for managing and improving poor performance; ‒ detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation 33 (4)(b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications

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Recommendations

completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards (2015)’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kartikeya Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Kartikeya Solutions Limited, 47 Hillfield Park, London N10 3QU

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC483623 6 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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Inspector

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