Children's Home run by Kartikeya Solutions Limited in Haringey

Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 1 SC483623 Registered provider: Kartikeya Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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

The children’s home registered with Ofsted in September 2014. The manager registered in March 2021.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 7 and 8 September 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/06/2018 Full Good 18/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapeutic model of care embedded throughout the home is the foundation of the staff’s approach to the children’s care. This promotes and safeguards the children’s overall social, emotional and physical well-being. The home has a mission statement which sets out that staff are reflective in their care approach, rather than reactive. A social worker praised the staff: ‘The children we have placed with you have exceeded all expectations, thanks to your care, staff and dedication.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to help children establish regular routines and to lead healthy lifestyles. Children know what is scheduled for them each week. This helps provide children with stability, and they make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Children’s sleep patterns and their family relationships improve. Children develop better self-esteem, improved confidence and social skills. One child said, ‘I feel at home here. Staff helped me break my patterns.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in healthy activities such as organised sports. Options include the local boxing club and gym, alongside rock climbing, cycling, swimming and horse riding. The pro-active staff also ensure that children’s interests and hobbies are planned and encouraged. These include trips to theme parks and museums, alongside chosen beauty treatments, hobby electronics and sewing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place great emphasis on children’s education. All children have a school place and attend their education. With staff support and encouragement, children increase their attendance levels, achieve exam success, and some explore opportunities in higher education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to prepare for independence. Children receive incentives to cook for themselves, do their laundry and clean their rooms. They also learn to budget and travel independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s cultural and identity needs are met well. Children are helped to follow their religious practices. Staff cater for children’s dietary requirements; however, one child told the inspector that their vegetarian food choices were limited. Another child had a grumble that they were still waiting for a new bedroom rug. The registered manager agreed to review the children’s grumbles.

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

The inspector spoke with every child living in the home. They all said that they feel safe. Children described staff as, ‘always being there for them.’ A combination of the home’s in-house child psychotherapist, individualised behaviour support plans and risk assessments help staff to understand and support the children’s complex behaviours. Children engage in key-work sessions and informal conversations with staff. Staff describe their approach as non-judgemental and Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 4 empathetic. This helps staff understand children’s individual challenges. As a result, risks, such as going missing from home, self-harm and exploitation are being reduced. One child said, ‘I am a better person now. I don’t run away now because I am more comfortable.’

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

The company psychotherapist meets regularly with the children. She also provides advice to leaders and managers on new referrals, updates for children’s important meetings and she regularly reviews children’s behaviour support plans. Sanctions are rarely used in the home, and there have been no episodes of physical restraint since the last inspection.

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

Children’s care records and other documentation are detailed and generally good. However, the inspector found that on some occasions, when children have been reported missing from care, staff have not followed the agreed police online reporting procedures. In addition, the independent return home interviewer does not share the details of the children’s interviews with the manager and/or staff. Furthermore, one child’s risk assessment was not up to date. These shortfalls have not had a direct impact on the safety of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers inspire the staff team to provide a safe, predictable and nurturing home environment. A member of staff said, ‘I think our ethos and approach is one which supports the children in the best way possible and is really beneficial for their mental health and stability.’ A social worker said, ‘Staff take a realistic approach to the child’s mental health needs and are passionate about supporting them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are involved in a new local authority initiative aimed at ensuring that children are helped to maintain important relationships during their time in care and on into independence. One child has chosen to join the scheme. As a result of their trusting relationships with staff, they have chosen some members of staff to be their agreed ‘forever friends’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive training in the home’s therapeutic model of care. This ensures that children receive care and support that is consistent with the home’s ethos. The home’s psychotherapist also provides clinical supervision to the staff team. Staff undertake a comprehensive suite of mandatory and additional training. However, due to COVID-19, some needs-specific training has not been undertaken. This is due to be scheduled.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have met the requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection. However, the home’s statement of purpose requires updating, and Ofsted do not receive the home’s independent visitor reports in a timely manner. Staff recruitment is generally safe. However, one staff reference does not include the registered manager’s verification record. This is contrary to the employer’s recruitment processes. Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that HMCI receives the independent person’s report in a timely manner. 30 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 6 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home’s recruitment procedures are followed, including verifying staff references. 30 April 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they take account of information provided by return home interviews when assessing children’s risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s missing from home procedures have regard to the police protocols. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.29)  The registered person should ensure that staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and maintain up-to-date risk assessments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should have a workforce plan. The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional

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Recommendations

development needs of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals suitable for each child’s needs. This should include suitable vegetarian options. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.8)

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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, Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 7 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: SC483623 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: 47 Hillfield Park, London N10 3QU

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Inspector

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC483623 9 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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