Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report children’s home: SC032083 1 SC032083 Registered provider: Castle Homes Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately run and provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2020.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/04/2021 Full Good 13/02/2020 Interim Not judged 06/11/2019 Full Inadequate 12/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children continue to make good progress. They have secure attachments with staff. One child who previously had multiple placement moves has had a settled time at the home. Staff are nurturing in their approach. They provide a continuity of good care to children. Children say that they have fun and enjoy a range of activities. Positive praise books capture daily comments from staff. The comments help to remind children of their progress and raise their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is suitably furnished and provides a comfortable living space. The condition of the property requires a high level of maintenance. The provider is in negotiation with the landlord to action essential repairs. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to capture the individual personality of each child. Children with additional complex needs require extra support to help keep their rooms tidy. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they are listened to. They express their views, and their requests are promptly actioned by staff. Staff have responded to children’s requests to change their meetings based on their individual needs. Children now have individual children’s meetings with staff instead of group house meetings. This process helps to ensure that their voices are heard. Children have scrapbooks that hold pictures of enjoyable and fond memories since living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are progressing towards their independence goals. One child is moving into semi-independence and staff have worked alongside a team of professionals to progress this plan. One child will require a multi-agency support plan to ensure that his wider needs focus on additional support into adulthood. Children are encouraged to prepare towards independence and work through their independence plans. These plans require a wider subject area to ensure that children are fully prepared when they move on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted at the home. Children can follow their aspirations and future career pathways. Both children are now attending further education at college. Meetings between the home and education safeguarding staff in college ensure that children have a point of contact and support as they settle into their new learning environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The general health of children is promoted. Detailed key-work sessions promote children’s well-being and emotional health. A delay in therapy services for one child resulted in this child disengaging from appointments. The child said that it was too late and she did not wish to continue with the support. Over-reliance on overstretched services did not fully support the child’s access to mental health support. Although staff discuss health concerns with children who smoke, children Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 4 have not been referred to specialist services. A requirement is made to ensure that the health needs of children are promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with their families. For some children, relationships with their families have significantly improved. A parent spoke highly of the home and the quality of care that is provided for their child.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour support strategies are detailed assessments that are clear to understand. Documents identify all significant risks and the strategies to manage the risks. Staff regularly update these documents and they have a good understanding of the concerns.

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

Children do not regularly go missing from the home. Since the last inspection, one incident of a child going missing from care was reported to Ofsted. Consequently, children are settled at the home. One self-harm incident is noted. In both instances, staff responded effectively.

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

One serious incident occurred when a child obtained the home’s car keys. This occurred when the child was under the influence of alcohol. On this occasion, the de-escalation techniques were not successful. A manager-led investigation into the incident acknowledged that staff were not vigilant in ensuring the safe keeping of keys. Since the incident, staff have adopted a thorough system of locking keys away.

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

Door locks were observed on internal doors. These locks could be used to restrict children’s access to parts of their home. Managers said that the door locks are no longer used by staff to lock rooms off to children. However, there was no evidence to demonstrate that doors are not locked. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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

The local area risk assessment is a detailed assessment of the local area. This has been put together with information shared by the police, who identify the local area concerns. Due to the location of the home, managers would benefit from wider liaison with police safeguarding teams in the neighbouring local authorities. This would ensure a broader understanding of risks in the community. In addition, the assessment identifies county line gangs in the area but does not include the location of those gangs. The document requires revision to ensure a comprehensive overview of risks in the area. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is evidence of good leadership and management. Due to annual leave, the registered manager was absent at the time of this inspection. However, the deputy manager assisted the inspection with confidence and knowledge of both the children. Both managers are efficient. Children’s files are organised. Detailed notes Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 5 capture the progress and development of children. There is evidence of clear rationale and reflection on decisions made for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home operates a dual consultation document file containing several emails that discuss the care plan of each child. This is alongside the children’s files. The emails would be suitably placed in children’s records so that children have full knowledge and access to information relevant to their care plans. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team promotes a culture of nurture and support for children and staff. Staff have access to a well-being box filled with items, such as face masks and positive affirmation cards. Staff say that they value the support and self-care touches as these help to raise their morale after a difficult shift.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervisions are structured sessions and occur monthly. The progress of children is discussed in detail. Discussions are reflective in nature. Any additional training and/or development for staff is identified by managers and progressed by the company. Managers promote a pathway of career progression and development for all staff. Since starting, some staff have progressed towards senior roles at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have sourced additional and specialist training for all staff. The purpose of this training is to increase staff’s knowledge and understanding of autism spectrum disorder. The training has helped staff to support the children in the home by creating a thorough understanding of their needs. The training matrix requires an update to evidence that all staff have completed the training. Managers and staff require training on domestic abuse and a wider understanding of the emotional impact of domestic abuse on children who are in abusive relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose supports the mental well-being of children. It states, ‘Access to therapy services can be commissioned separately. The home has links to an independent psychology service.’ Managers did not explore alternative therapy services for a child despite therapy services being on offer with the provider. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers actively make use of the internal and external monitoring of the home. The manager provided a comprehensive overview and action plan for the home over the coming months. The independent person provides a thorough overview of the home. However, the visits do not routinely capture the views of children, parents and professionals to ensure a comprehensive overview of the home. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are several concerns that have been raised regarding the health, safety and suitability of the home operating as a children’s home. The tenancy arrangement means that repairs to the home are slow to action as permission is required from the landlord. Although some repairs to the window frames have been carried out, rotting window frames do not retain heat. A leaking water system in the loft has caused water damage to a third bedroom. An annual asbestos survey is carried once Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 6 a year. The asbestos is not concerning if it remains untouched. The home has secured these areas, so children and staff do not have access to the loft space. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 7

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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 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

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;

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Requirement 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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)(d)(e)) 31 December 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that therapeutic services are sourced to ensure that there is no drift and delay in services for children. 31 December 2022

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 31 December 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

and that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(c))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the child. This includes helping children to keep their bedrooms tidy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent monitoring (including under regulation 44) to ensure continuous improvement. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being. Where children have specific health needs or conditions, they should be supported to

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Recommendations

manage these subject to their age and understanding. When a child needs additional health or well-being support, staff should work with the child’s placing authority to enable proper and immediate access to any specialist medical or psychological support required, and challenge them through regulation 5, engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met if this does not happen. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10)  The registered person should ensure that internal door locks are removed so that children can move freely within the home. Restraint includes restricting a child’s liberty of movement by using internal door locks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 9 Regulations, including the standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.42)

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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: SC032083 10

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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

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC032083 11 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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