Children's Home run by CASC (Barrow) Limited in Cumbria

Inspection report for children’s home: 2631221 1 Registered provider: CASC (Barrow) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider manages this home. Care is provided at this home for one child regardless gender.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager. An acting manager is currently overseeing the home and is in the process of applying for formal registration.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2631221 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2631221 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in this home has received high levels of supervision, care and support in line with their current needs and agreed care plans. The support and care provided is of good quality and has helped children to progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive relationships formed between staff and the child have aided open discussions about the child’s previous experiences and recent traumatic events. Because of this, staff have been able to support the child to understand and process these experiences and access further support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Appropriate education is sourced in line with the child’s complex needs. There is a lack of engagement in formal education at present. However, staff are utilising this time to ensure that the child attends important appointments and completes safety work, and to manage and support the child’s emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide help and support to encourage good health. The child has good sleep routines and benefits from improved personal care. Furthermore, the child has attended and engaged in difficult health appointments. Because of this, children have improved physical and emotional health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Robust impact assessments ensure that careful consideration is given to children moving into the home. For this child, this means that staff were able to dedicate a large amount of time and attention to the child. As a result, the child feels cared for, valued, and listened to, and has built strong, trusting relationships in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home is maintained to a good standard. However, not all health and safety precautions have been taken. Not all doors provide sufficient protection from fire. This has the potential to put the child and others at risk of harm. A requirement has been made to address this.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safety plans in place to protect the child are comprehensive. Protocols included to respond to unsafe behaviours provide staff with clear, detailed and effective guidance. Staff have a detailed understanding of these procedures and follow them. This reduces the risk of harm and ensures consistent behaviour management.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff take quick and effective action to respond to incidents of the child missing from home. During these incidents, staff follow and make continued efforts to contact and locate the child while absent. Because of this, the child has been located quicker and returned to the home. As such, episodes of missing from home have significantly reduced. Inspection report for children’s home: 2631221 4 Incidents of self-harm or threats to self-harm have been managed well. Staff have intervened where necessary and have sought medical attention where required. Assessments have been completed to support mental and emotional health. This ensures the required support and intervention is provided and improves safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff regularly complete safety work in the home. The child has engaged with this and demonstrates increased understanding of online safety and bullying. This increases the child’s risk awareness and understanding and helps the child to manage personal risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is currently overseen by an acting manager. She has the necessary skills, experience and qualifications to oversee the home. She is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. The previous registered manager remains in close contact and continues to work alongside the acting manager. This has provided good continuity of care for the child and has ensured consistent oversight and strong leadership of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have advocated well for the child. They have challenged professionals, where necessary, to ensure the child’s views and opinions are not overlooked. The child is confident in raising concerns or injustices, and has been helped to access children’s rights and advocacy services to consult with the local authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the time of the inspection, leaders and managers had requested some outstanding information from professionals. This related to a psychological assessment required for the child and updates in relation to two historical incidents. This was causing the child undue distress. The manager had not sufficiently escalated this with senior managers in order to obtain the information and assessments required within a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is supported by a qualified team whose members receive regular training. Because of this, staff are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities in caring for and protecting children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and feel well supported by managers. Staff are happy and confident in their roles and provide a stable and nurturing environment for the child. Because of this, the child feels safe and well cared for and has made good progress in several areas. Inspection report for children’s home: 2631221 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (1)(b)(c)) 4 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)) 4 March 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Recommendations

In particular, the review should assess the wider area to include locations surrounding the home that may pose a risk to children or which children regularly visit.  The registered person should ensure that the quality-of-care report clearly identifies any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2631221 6  The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes

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Recommendations

regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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 for children’s home: 2631221 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CASC (Barrow) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 2, Unit 2, T Brady’s Yard, Walney Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 5UT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Hilary Southward

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Inspector

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2631221 8 regulates and inspects 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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