Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 1 SC020545

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Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of a large private organisation. It provides care for up to five children with complex behaviours due to their childhood experiences. The home was registered with Ofsted in December 1998.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

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Inspection date: 14 July 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A compliance notice under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, was issued following the home’s full inspection on 11 May 2022.

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Safeguarding arrangements in the home are not always effective.  Some staff do not have the skills, experience or knowledge to consistently meet the children’s needs.  Recruitment practices are deficient. Agency staff are not safely vetted.  Leaders and managers fail to respond effectively when children raise complaints.  Management oversight and monitoring of the home is inadequate.  Leaders have not taken sufficient action to address requirements made at previous inspections.  Staff do not consistently receive regular supervision and annual appraisal of their performance.

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The care of children

During this inspection, the inspector identified serious and widespread concerns in the leadership and management of the home. The monitoring and oversight of the home have failed to identify several shortfalls that have had an impact on children’s progress and day-to-day experiences at the home. In response, Ofsted has issued a notice restricting accommodation at the home. In addition, compliance notices were issued under regulations 12 and 32. Furthermore, a compliance notice under regulation 13 has been issued for a third time.

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The care of children

Leaders and managers fail to respond effectively when children raise complaints. On one occasion, a complaint was made by a child to the registered manager. The complaint made by the child related to the practice and conduct of staff. However, the registered manager failed to record the complaint or take any action in response to the child. Failure to respond to children’s views leaves them without a voice and vulnerable to harm.

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The care of children

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. Since the last inspection, one child has left the home. This move was well planned and supported by staff. Also, the child was able to enjoy a leaving party with staff and leaders. This means that children feel supported and have a positive experience when leaving the home.

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The care of children

The responsible individual has taken action since the last inspection to address shortfalls in relation to the home’s fire doors. This means that they are now compliant with regulations. As a result, the home’s environment has become safer. However, there are areas of the home that now require redecoration and Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 3 development. The responsible individual has an action plan to ensure that this work is carried out.

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The care of children

Some children enjoy positive relationships with some staff. One child had returned from a short holiday with staff during the inspection. She spoke positively about the experience. Also, staff advocate well for children. For example, they have raised concerns about the performance of external professionals when they have not completed actions identified in one child’s care plan. This reassures children and helps them to feel supported.

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The safety of children

Safeguarding arrangements in the home are not always effective. Children’s risk assessments do not reflect children’s known risks, are inaccurate and are not routinely updated. For example, one child’s risk assessments do not specify that the child is allowed unsupervised time in the community. Furthermore, leaders have failed to ensure that clear guidance and protocols are in place for staff to follow to keep children safe online. This means that staff do not have up-to-date information to help them manage risks to children. This places children at risk of harm.

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The safety of children

Recruitment of staff to work in the home is not safe. Leaders have failed to ensure that the recruitment agency commissioned to provide agency workers to the home always explores the employment history of staff. This was not identified by leaders before the staff member started work in the home. In addition, the registered manager has failed to ensure that references provided for agency staff are consistently verified by the agency. This leaves children at risk of care from unsuitable adults.

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The safety of children

Some staff do not have the skills, experience or knowledge to consistently meet the children’s needs. Due to staffing shortages, non-permanent staff have been required to lead shifts in the home. On one occasion, inadequate planning by the registered manager meant that two agency staff were left working alone with the children. This led to one child raising a complaint to the registered manager. A lack of diligence by leaders and managers in ensuring that children receive care from experienced staff who know them well has left children vulnerable to harm.

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The safety of children

Children rarely go missing from the home. On one occasion since the last inspection when this did happen, staff managed the incident well and followed the child’s plans. They remained in communication with the relevant professionals and searched areas known to be used by children. This ensured that the child returned to the home promptly. However, the child did not receive a return home interview with an independent person. In addition, this was not challenged or raised as a concern by the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has been subject to an ongoing internal investigation into her practice and has been absent from the home. Also, Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 4 she has submitted her notice to leave her role and was not working in the home during the inspection. As a result, the responsible individual and a manager from another home in the company have been providing leadership support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff do not consistently receive regular supervision and annual appraisal of their performance. In addition, staff informed the inspector that they do not receive records from the registered manager following supervision sessions. This means that staff are not given opportunities to reflect on their practice and consider how they are promoting the welfare of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has not ensured that all staff complete the qualification required to work in the home within the compulsory timescales. This has the potential to impact on the quality of care received by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management oversight and monitoring of the home are inadequate. Monitoring systems used by the registered manager have failed to identify the wide-ranging shortfalls in the quality of care provided in the home. Ineffective monitoring systems do not support the protection of children or improve the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders have not taken sufficient action to address requirements made at previous inspections. At the last full inspection, Ofsted raised 10 requirements and one recommendation. However, leaders have failed to meet seven of the requirements and the recommendation. This inspection found that a compliance notice regarding regulation 13 was unmet, despite it having been issued twice. Repeated breaches of regulation and failure to meet a compliance notice on two occasions do not assure Ofsted that leaders have the capacity to take effective action to bring about the change necessary to improve the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home’s responsible individual has recently become more involved in the day-to- day running of the home. During the inspection, she demonstrated that some action has been taken to safeguard children. For example, formal investigations into staff practice have started. Furthermore, new monitoring systems have been put in place to promote the welfare of children and there have been improvements in the external monitoring of the home. However, it is too early to determine their impact. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 28/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/11/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 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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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement 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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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; and

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff are skilled in recognising and understanding the impact that children’s previous experiences may have on their emotional and behavioural presentation.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 September Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 7 *The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments contain up-to-date, clear and specific guidance for staff to follow. The registered person should also ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is planned effectively to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 September

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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

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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

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;

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Requirement 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 25 September Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 8 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they have systems in place to identify shortfalls in relation to poor practice, children’s risk assessments and recording of complaints.

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Requirement Due date

Also, the registered person should ensure that children are cared for by staff who know them well and understand their needs. In addition, leaders and managers should ensure that they have clear systems in place to understand and improve children’s experiences and the quality of care they receive.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma").

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (3)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all staff working in the home have achieved the appropriate qualification within the required timescales.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 September

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 25 September Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 9 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that agencies commissioned to employ agency staff carry out all the relevant checks to ensure their suitability to work with children.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1) (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to the registered person ensuring that all staff, including agency staff, receive regular practice- related supervision and an annual appraisal.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 September

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3)) 25 September Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 10 In particular, the registered person should ensure that any complaint made by a child is acted on in line with the home’s policies and procedures.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home environment is homely and domestic and does not have an institutional feel. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020545 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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