Children's Home run by Castle Homes Limited in Bromley

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC419334 1 SC419334

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Castle Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children. In the home’s statement of purpose, the provider states that it provides care for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since 31 August 2020.

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Information about this children's home

Inspection dates: 23 to 24 February 2021

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to address specific issues raised in independent visitor reports and safeguarding notifications received by Ofsted. These include bullying, behaviour management strategy, quality of risk assessments and education.

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This monitoring visit

This was an off-site visit, in line with current COVID-19 (coronavirus) guidance. The inspector also held telephone interviews with the acting manager and gained feedback from children and social care professionals. They also spoke with some of the children’s family members and reviewed documents.

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This monitoring visit

There has been no registered manager in the home since 31 August 2020. However, the provider has appointed an acting manager, who has been in post since 1 September 2020. The acting manager has now submitted their application to Ofsted for registration.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have not always supervised children effectively. One child said that he feels safe most of the time, although he also noted that there have been occasions when he felt unsafe due to bullying from another child in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reflected and learned from the incidents of bullying Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC419334 2 behaviour. Staff said that measures have been put in place to better protect children, with improved levels of staff monitoring during play time and at night.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed key work sessions with children about bullying. Children have attended mediation sessions and house meetings. This has helped improvement in their relationship.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments do not always include information that explicitly relates to serious incidents or the measures implemented to prevent their occurrence. The acting manager acknowledged that this was an area that needed to be improved.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support children in their education. Children have laptops to help them to engage in online learning. One family member said that her grandchild’s behaviour and education has improved as staff help him in the home.

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This monitoring visit

One child’s educational progress has been limited due to the lack of therapeutic support and life story work, to meet his emotional and mental health needs. The home is aware of this shortfall and has liaised with the child’s local authority to improve the support package provided for him.

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This monitoring visit

Children have enjoyed a range of activities during COVID-19 restrictions. These have included playing in the garden, table tennis, taking daily exercise in local parks, cycling, and in-house activities such as board games, video games and movie nights.

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This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that children have regular contact with their families where appropriate. A former foster carer of one child living in the home praised staff for working very closely with her and maintaining frequent contact.

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This monitoring visit

Care professionals commented very positively about the quality of care provided by staff. One social worker said, ‘Staff had a very kind, caring and relational approach to supporting children.’ Another social worker commented, ‘The staff are incredible, helpful and genuinely care for children. They are the best home that I have worked with.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff told the inspector that they feel supported and that they receive regular supervision. They also said that managers are accessible and always available to support them. Staff commented that they feel the home has managed the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic well.

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This monitoring visit

This visit has led to two new requirements and two new recommendations being made. The recommendations made at the previous inspection have not been reviewed during this visit and, therefore, reappear in this report.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC419334 3 31/07/2019 Full Good 20/11/2018 Full Good 22/11/2017 Full Good 28/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC419334 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 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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child's education or training provider and the child's placing authority. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(vii)) 28 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure risk assessments are up to date and reflect the details of the incidents and measures put in place. 28 May 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the children's guide is age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. Specifically, the guide must be in a format which is appropriate for children's reading age and level of understanding. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)  The registered person should ensure staff understand factors that affect children's motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC419334 5 encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child's relevant plans. Specifically, help children to develop strategies to express their feelings in a safe way and manage anger. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the

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Recommendations

quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)  The registered person should ensure staff have the skills to respond to each child's individual behaviour. Where necessary they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. Specifically, extend staff's training in managing challenging behaviour and understanding autism and ensure they follow the agreed behaviour management strategy plans. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14)  The registered person should ensure any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are 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

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Recommendations

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)  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. Specifically, make sure notification to the designated officer and the outcomes of investigations are conducted in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)  The registered person should ensure staff play a full role in undertaking life story work or other direct work. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered person should ensure children receive a particular type of

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Recommendations

care, treatment or intervention (for example therapy relating to neglect or abuse) when needed. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children's home details

Provision sub-type: Children's home Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC419334 6 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

Gulcin Ardic, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC419334 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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