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

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home. The provider operates two small homes close to one another. The provider’s statement of purpose indicates that it offers care and accommodation for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. The interim manager has worked at the home since September 2019 and his application is being processed by Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Declined in 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:

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Information about this visit

 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. Assurance visit report: 1257182 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children are well cared for and they have positive relationships with staff. The feedback from professionals and families supports this. One social worker said that the staff are good at ‘communicating children’s needs’ and are very ‘child focused’.

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The care of children

Children have been encouraged to maintain safe contact with their family and friends throughout lockdown and the ongoing pandemic. This has been facilitated through visits at the home and support to visit family members at their own homes. One parent said, ‘I’m so happy to have him there. I can go there to visit, and they take care of him.’

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The care of children

Children’s views have been sought through key-work sessions and gathered from complaints and during meetings. Clear records of children’s views on sanctions, care plans and other records were seen during this visit.

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The care of children

Children’s needs are met, and they receive individualised care. Staff and managers know the children well and give them appropriate encouragement and support to achieve and to believe in themselves. Children have continued to have opportunities to progress, learn new skills and maintain their physical and emotional health.

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The care of children

The staff and manager have fully supported and advocated for children to engage in education. One child has returned to college despite a significant absence from education and is engaging well. This is supported through positive feedback from the college.

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The safety of children

Children are being kept safe by the actions of the staff and the manager. Children have been advised about the risks of COVID-19 and the importance of washing their hands regularly. Children have completed an online course to raise their awareness and are happy to wear masks and use hand sanitiser when they are outside the home.

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The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments are comprehensive and outline relevant background information and risks which may be present. These assessments give staff strategies to manage behaviours and they are regularly updated. In their current format, the risk assessments are long documents. A reduction of information to a summary of the essential points would make them more easily accessible to staff.

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The safety of children

Records relating to missing from home incidents are clear and return home interviews are requested, completed and recorded. Children are encouraged not to Assurance visit report: 1257182 3 go missing and are contacted when they are not back within their curfew time. When required, children have been reported to the relevant authorities.

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The safety of children

Staff challenge children’s behaviour when necessary. This has led to some incidents where sanctions were required and, on one occasion, an allegation and investigation. Staff are not deterred from teaching children right from wrong and have maintained boundaries, despite some challenge. The manager recognises that some sanctions were not effective and has reflected with the staff team on this for future learning.

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The safety of children

There has been one child protection incident reported appropriately to the local authority designated officer and investigated internally. Correct processes took place to manage this situation safely.

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The safety of children

Setting boundaries and expectations has supported children to take responsibility for their actions. However, following a review of the effectiveness of sanctions, the staff team believes that positive reinforcement has more impact.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers know the children well and are passionate about improving outcomes for children. Careful consideration has been given to the timing of admissions to the home. This ensures that children’s needs are met and that the placements of children already living in the home are not disrupted as a resort of new arrivals.

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Leaders and managers

Clear plans have been in place to support and keep staff and children safe throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Leaders and managers

There is good external monitoring of the home and this is aligned with Ofsted’s requirements, which is helping the service to improve.

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Leaders and managers

Internal monitoring is helping the manager to identify where action is needed to improve services, and this has led to an action plan and a staff development plan.

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Leaders and managers

Better systems have recently been put in place to support staff and the effective running of the home. These include a supervision and training matrix, development plans, management oversight of records and better compliance with training.

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Leaders and managers

There is good evidence of partnership working. Various professionals have been contacted and provided positive feedback for this visit.

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Leaders and managers

Four of the six requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Two have not been considered at this visit and have been restated. There has now been a manager in post since September 2019 and his application was received by Ofsted in April 2020. The suitability of the interim manager will be tested at the upcoming suitability interview. Assurance visit report: 1257182 4

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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)) 29/01/2021

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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— the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and 29/01/2021 Assurance visit report: 1257182 5 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

by the relevant date, attained— the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 5 Diploma"); or 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))

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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

Christine Kennet, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1257182 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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