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 provides care for children who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children and two young people who are over the age of 18 years were living in the home. The registered manager was present for the inspection. He is in the process of completing a formal leadership and management course.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered, alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection, to inform inspectors’ judgement.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: good

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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

16/03/2022 Full Good 03/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC483623 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children achieve good outcomes and enjoy extremely positive relationships with staff. A young person described how managers agreed to increase the car insurance on a staff member’s car so that he could use the car to practise driving skills. This was prior to him taking his driving test, which he passed. This ethos enables the development of very strong attachments and promotes the success of children’s experiences and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s learning outcomes are good. The home has a registered school on site which some children attend. Children make excellent progress in education, with some on track to attend university and enrol on apprenticeships. The communication between care and school staff is frequent and effective. This promotes children’s learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live healthy lifestyles. They have access to primary healthcare and specialist services as needed. Staff provide children with excellent support and advice in relation to key healthcare issues. This is particularly the case in relation to children’s emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home offers care which is based on an effective therapeutic model. Children and staff are able to meet with the organisation’s psychotherapist to explore a range of mental health issues. Children speak openly about the mental health issues that they are working through with staff. They acknowledge the very positive impact this work has had on improving their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people have lived at the home for a significant length of time, some for more than three years. One child chose to return to live at the home after leaving a foster care placement. The longevity and success of children’s placements is a clear strength of the home. This provides children and young people with a strong sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living at their home and being cared for by staff who understand their complex needs. They have very positive experiences, have fun, and readily approach staff with any concerns they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children, staff, managers and leaders celebrate children’s achievements and differences are embraced. Staff encourage children to make positive choices. These include, for example, choice of college courses, holidays abroad and in one case, the purchase and care of a pet hamster. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483623 4

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improvement to be good

Children say that they feel safe at the home and are very comfortable with staff. There are clear child protection policies and procedures in place. Staff receive regular safeguarding and de-escalation training. Despite this, a recent restraint incident resulted in a member of staff causing injury to a child.

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improvement to be good

The member of staff responsible failed to comprehensively complete records detailing the restraint as expected. Staff also failed to promptly inform social workers of other children living in the home of the incident. This does not demonstrate that all staff have a good understanding of behaviour management and child protection procedures. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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improvement to be good

Staff speak regularly with children about the risks posed when they are missing from the home. Staff devise risk assessments that offer staff good guidance about managing children’s absences from the home without permission. There is good liaison between staff, the police and social workers. In recent months, there has been a decline in the frequency of children being missing from the home.

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improvement to be good

Children receive help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings. Staff praise and reward positive behaviour. Strategies to prevent risk-taking behaviour are largely effective. For, example there has been a reduction in the number and severity of children’s self-harming incidents.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to understand the risks that they may face. Key-work sessions and safety plans have a keen focus on things that children can do to help keep themselves safe.

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improvement to be good

The home’s premises are comfortable and well maintained. However, in one child’s bedroom, the walls had dents and peeling paint. The fire doors to the kitchen and games room are routinely kept propped open. These shortfalls pose potential risks to children’s health and safety. However, the provider took action to address this during the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Communication between staff and safeguarding professionals is largely consistent and effective. A social worker said: ‘The home offers [child’s name] stability. Historically, there has been [episodes of going] missing, self-harming and suicide attempts. Staff have managed [their] care well.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well managed by a strong leadership team. The registered manager is experienced and is supported by a deputy manager. The responsible individual regularly visits the home and meets with children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483623 5 Leaders have high aspirations for all children. The care provided is successful in supporting them to make good progress. Leaders’ monitoring of the home is effective. This helps to promote continual improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The vetting and recruitment of new staff requires improvement. Managers do not consistently explore gaps in applicants’ work history, and they do not always obtain confirmation of applicants’ qualifications. Managers are currently recruiting for additional staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The members of the staff team are very well supported by their line managers. Staff receive an induction, and regular, meaningful supervision. Staff appraisals take place annually. This demonstrates that managers are meeting staff development needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training opportunities are good. Staff’s learning and skills development is enhanced by the work of the home’s therapist. Staff attend regular therapeutic consultation sessions with the therapist. This helps staff to meet the needs of children, and illustrates the positive difference that staff are making to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider is financially viable and staff use resources creatively. Leaders and managers ensure that the home’s planning processes are effective. This is particularly the case when children move to adult provision. Staff ensure that any new provision is safe and tailored to meet children’s needs. This helps to promote children’s continued progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483623 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

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

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;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(i)(ix)(xi)) 14 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 14 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483623 7 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

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. This includes obtaining documentary evidence of formal qualifications and a full employment history, together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment in writing. 14 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)) 14 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483623 8 In particular, the registered person must ensure that the manager and staff review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of children. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation. This relates to fire doors to the kitchen and games room being propped open and the repair to dents and peeling paint seen in one child’s bedroom. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC483623 9

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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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Inspectors

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Maud Pipim-Addo, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483623 10 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 r children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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