Children's home run by St Caspian Care

Inspection report for children's home: 2637521 1 Registered provider: St. Caspian Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children aged between 8 and 17 years, who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home also supports young people who have turned 18 to move into semi-independent or independent accommodation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 18 October 2021. This is the home’s first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children and one 18-year-old young person living in the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke to both children and the young person.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2637521 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported to form close and trusting relationships with staff. One child told the inspector, ‘I feel respected and understood. When I feel low, they talk to me for hours because they don’t want me to hurt myself.’ The other child told the inspector, ‘They tell us they are proud of us; they guide and encourage us.’ This demonstrates that staff create feelings of stability and security for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to have their say. They are encouraged to give their views during key-work sessions and meetings or directly to staff, who take time to listen to them. Children contribute to decisions made about them. For example, one young person was able to express her views about her future accommodation and contributed to her care plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from key professionals and a family member is positive. They praised staff for their child-centred relationships and the stability and care they provide to children and young people. They also said that staff provide verbal and written updates and communicate concerns promptly. Staff advocate on behalf of the children and support them to spend time with their families. Consequently, children experience consistency from everyone involved in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points. All children are in full-time education. Children are supported to attend their health appointments and live healthy lives. When additional support is needed to promote children’s health, staff ensure that there is a good multi-agency approach and make referrals to relevant services. Staff support children to develop their independent living skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to participate in a range of activities in the home and the community. The manager and staff understand that this helps with building children’s self-esteem and gives them a sense of achievement. Staff capture these moments through taking photographs for children to keep.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children appreciate the family-style atmosphere in the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their taste. The home is very well furnished and maintained and provides ample space for children. For example, there is a mini-gym in the garden house where, under supervision, children can exercise to improve their fitness or to wind down when feeling frustrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to follow their interests, including art, and caring for their pets at the home.

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

The manager and staff work hard to ensure that children are protected from harm. Staff work creatively with children to explore risks and vulnerabilities and to help Inspection report for children's home: 2637521 3 them to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, children are encouraged to take part in workshops on issues such as bullying, online safety and consent. Children said that they know there are trusted adults who they can approach if they have any worries or concerns.

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

The manager and staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Children’s risk assessments are reviewed regularly. They include all known risks and set out specific actions regarding how staff should respond to and manage these risks. Staff support children to take age-appropriate risks, for example through the use of free time.

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

Children who go missing from the home experience a well-coordinated response. Staff take action to locate children and encourage their safe return home. Staff work collaboratively with families and key professionals to safeguard children and there is a clear plan of action in place to safeguard them.

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

Records of restraint demonstrate that the use of restraint is proportionate and necessary to keep children safe. Debriefs with children are completed after each incident and there is good management oversight of these incidents. However, records of staff debriefs do not always include the views of every member of staff who were involved in the measure to enable the registered person and staff to review the use of restraint to identify the effective practice and respond promptly when any issues or trends of concern emerge.

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

There have been no allegations made against staff since the home was registered. The manager and staff demonstrate a good understanding of the procedures to be followed when an allegation is made. This demonstrates that staff are able to respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns relating to other staff and managers.

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

Children know how to complain. When complaints are made, they are investigated appropriately and appropriate action is taken to resolve any issues. This makes children feel respected and listened to.

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

Staff recruitment and vetting practices are thorough and all required checks are in place. This confirms that all staff are suitable to work with vulnerable children.

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

Action is required to improve fire safety at the home. The inspector identified that the lint trap in the home’s tumble dryer was full on the day of this inspection, which poses a risk of fire. The manager assured the inspector that this will be addressed without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager demonstrates a genuine commitment to the children in her care and creates a culture of high aspirations for them. The leaders, managers and staff strive to make a positive difference to children’s lives. There is a stable and Inspection report for children's home: 2637521 4 passionate core staff team in place, providing children with a consistent level of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The monitoring systems implemented give the manager a clearer understanding of children’s outcomes and the good progress that they make. These systems help to identify themes, triggers and patterns, which in turn help to target training and de- escalation strategies and result in improved responses from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The feedback provided by staff about the leadership of the home is, without exception, highly positive. Staff reported feeling valued and listened to. Staff reported being able to approach leaders and managers with any suggestions or requests, knowing that their views would be taken into consideration. Staff appreciate access to additional support, including counselling.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leaders and managers have created a learning environment for staff. Staff have access to regular training. Team meetings are used as learning and development opportunities. Staff benefit from a good induction and regular one-to-one supervision sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When children are not settling into the home, leaders and managers ensure that children’s plans are reviewed promptly. The manager challenges the placing authority when she feels the decisions made are not in the best interests of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are clear about the expectations of staff and have set clear boundaries for children. This has led to a respect for the ethos of the home, which is nurturing and respectful of difference. Inspection report for children's home: 2637521 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of staff debriefs following the use of restraint include the views of all staff who were involved in the restraint to enable the registered person and staff to review the use of restraint to identify the effective practice and respond promptly when any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the fire safety risks. In particular, this relates to ensuring that the lint trap in the tumble dryer is emptied as necessary. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children's home: 2637521 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: St. Caspian Care Limited

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Inspector

Aneta Wasilewska, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2637521 7 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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