Children's Home run by Capital Children’s Care Ltd in Essex

Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 1 Registered provider: Capital Children’s Care Limited Full inspection 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 three children aged between 10 and 18 with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the organisation in June 2022. An acting manager has been in post since June 2022, but has not yet applied for registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 22 December 2021

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/12/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. One of these children has spent the past six months living with their family. One child moved into the home recently.

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improvement to be good

The manager explores children’s needs before they move to the home. However, children do not experience planned moves. This means that they are not prepared for this significant change, involved in the planning or given the opportunity to express how they feel.

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improvement to be good

There have been several staffing changes at the home recently. This has affected children’s experiences and sense of stability. One child said, ‘The staff are nice, but some have different rules than others which can be confusing.’ The manager ensures that staffing ratios are safe by using bank and agency staff. However, the lack of consistent staff means that children may struggle to develop safe and trusting relationships.

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improvement to be good

Two of the three children are in part-time education. Staff understand the barriers that children face to attending school full time. Children talk to staff about their anxieties and concerns. However, one child has not engaged in education for six months. The manager has failed to challenge the child’s placing authority in respect of seeking appropriate education provision. This was raised as a shortfall at the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

Children live in a modern and spacious home. There have been improvements to the garden, which encourages children to spend time outside. However, inside the home there are scratch marks on the walls and two door frames have been damaged. One child’s bed base has stains on the fabric. This does not provide a homely environment for children.

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improvement to be good

Care plans are not consistently available for staff to read. One child moved into the home recently but does not have a care plan. Children are not encouraged to express their preferences for how they are supported and cared for. One care plan had not been reviewed for a significant time. Consequently, staff do not work consistently with children or have the most relevant information about children’s needs.

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improvement to be good

Information in risk assessments and behaviour plans about children’s health needs is not consistent. One child was not referred to appropriate health services to support them with smoking cessation and managing substance misuse. The child was not helped to understand the dangers and risks associated with smoking and substance misuse. One child was referred to smoking cessation support services and successfully stopped smoking. This inconsistent approach to children’s health needs Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 4 means that children do not all receive the support that they need. This was raised as a shortfall at the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of children spending time with people who are important to them. Children spend time with friends outside the home. Staff take children to see their families. Children are helped to stay in contact with other children who have moved out of the home.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged with their hobbies and interests. Staff arranged for one child to attend a music studio, where he wrote his own song. One child has a pet. One child attends the gym and is starting to eat healthy foods. Children enjoy a range of activities, such as going out for meals and to the cinema together. Staff focus on children having positive experiences and building self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Children have agreed targets. One child is making progress with their independence skills. One child is making progress with their appearance and looking after their own health and well-being. Staff help children to build confidence and feel a sense of achievement.

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improvement to be good

Children are at risk of harm when they go missing. Despite detailed missing-from- care guidance, staff have failed to follow procedures. Children have been missing for a significant time before staff have looked for them and reported them as missing. Staff failed to realise that one child was not staying at an agreed place. This placed the child at risk of harm. Return home interviews are not consistently carried out. Children are not provided with space to talk with staff about their experiences when they have been missing.

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improvement to be good

Staff failed to view a safeguarding concern between two children as bullying or intimidation. As a result, one child’s placement was ended due to the risks, which staff could not manage safely.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are tailored to each child and detail risk-reduction measures. However, they are not reviewed when new risks are identified. Staff have managed exploitation risks for one child well. However, the risk assessment was not updated with the relevant information. This does not provide clarity for staff on how to reduce risks.

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improvement to be good

Sanctions are not restorative in nature. Children are given financial sanctions in line with the organisation’s policy. However, this approach has not helped children to learn and unwanted behaviours have therefore continued. This was raised at the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff spend time with children in activities that the children enjoy. Staff listen to children when they are worried. As a result, there have been no restraints since the last inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager left in June 2022. The deputy manager, who joined the home in April 2022, was promoted to acting manager. They have not yet applied to register with Ofsted. The responsible individual did not provide a detailed or thorough handover to the acting manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The acting manager is suitably qualified and experienced for this role. However, they were unaware of the last Ofsted inspection report and requirements. The acting manager was unable to locate some records and unable to answer a number of questions during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The acting manager does not have effective monitoring and review tools in place and lacks professional curiosity. There is insufficient oversight of the home to make continuous improvements to the quality of care. Children’s progress, plans and assessments are not reviewed by the acting manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Members of staff spoken with during the inspection were not familiar with the home’s statement of purpose. Consequently, they are unable to meet the home’s objectives as they do not know what they are.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The acting manager is proactive in recruiting new staff. Safe recruitment processes ensure the suitability of prospective staff. However, the induction programme for new staff is not consistently completed. The acting manager has not reviewed the competency of staff during their probation period. This means that training for and the practice of new staff have not been monitored effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision which helps them to reflect on their practice and gives them the opportunity to discuss any safeguarding concerns. The acting manager focuses on the relationships that staff have with children and staff’s well- being. Staff said that they feel supported by the acting manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The acting manager works proactively with other agencies to build positive working relationships. Feedback about communication has been positive. One professional said, ‘Whenever I ring, the staff are available. We have a positive working relationship and the staff are always helpful.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, three requirements have been met. Three requirements are not met and are restated. Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 6

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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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Requirements 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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Requirements Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirements Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirements Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirements 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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Requirements Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirements Due date

In particular, help children to engage in education.

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Requirements Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 22 July 2022

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Requirements Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirements Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirements Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirements Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 22 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 7 In particular, ensure that children are provided with support and information in regard to substance misuse and smoking cessation.

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Requirements Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirements Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirements Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirements Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirements Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirements Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirements Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirements Due date

In particular, provide clear behaviour management strategies that guide staff in the use of sanctions and help children to learn from their behaviours.

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Requirements Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 22 July 2022

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Requirements Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirements Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirements Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; 22 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 8 help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirements Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirements Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirements Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirements Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirements Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(d))

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Requirements Due date

ensure that staff recognise the risks that children face when they go missing from care and that staff follow missing-from- care procedures within the relevant timescales;

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Requirements Due date

ensure that staff are equipped to recognise when children’s behaviour is bullying and intimidating to other children and that staff act effectively in response;

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Requirements Due date

update risk assessments when risks for children change;

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Requirements Due date

repair the broken door frames and damage to walls and ensure that children have clean beds.

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Requirements 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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Requirements Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirements Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirements 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; 22 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 9 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirements Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirements 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)(a)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirements Due date

ensure staff are familiar with and act in accordance with the objectives set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirements Due date

ensure that children receive continuity of care;

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Requirements Due date

ensure that the manager in day-to-day charge of the home has a full understanding of the shortfalls, previous inspection report and areas for development;

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Requirements Due date

use effective monitoring and review tools to measure the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirements Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirements Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirements Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirements Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirements Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; and

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Requirements Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(iii)) 22 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 10 In particular, ensure that children receive planned moves into and out of the home.

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Requirements Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirements Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b)) 26 August 2022

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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: 2575372 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Capital Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Pike Way, North Weald, Epping, Essex CM16 6BL

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2575372 12 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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