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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 1 Registered provider: Capital Children’s Care Limited

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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 manager has been in post since June 2022 and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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. Inspectors have 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: 2575372 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child left the home in an unplanned way, and staff supported the child well. The manager ensured that the child continued to receive support from the staff until they settled. This included funding an extra month’s gym membership for the child so they could continue to improve their fitness.

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The care of children

In August 2022, one child moved into the home in a well-planned way. The manager completed a thorough matching assessment before the child moved in. The child spent time at the home before the move. The staff’s nurturing approach helped to reassure the child. Consequently, the child experienced a smooth introduction to the home.

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The care of children

Children are not regularly attending school. However, for some children, there is an improvement in their engagement in learning. Staff ensure that children are provided with educational activities when they refuse to go to school. Partnership working between the staff and schools has ensured that the children are provided with home-learning packages. The manager has a positive relationship with the headteacher of the virtual school and will challenge when education offers do not meet the child’s needs.

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The care of children

Staff establish trusting relationships with children. Interactions between the staff and the children are warm and supportive. Children are encouraged to have hobbies, such as going to the gym, swimming and keeping pets. This enables children to develop healthy lifestyles and care for animals.

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The care of children

The house is comfortable. Children are encouraged by staff to keep their bedrooms and bathrooms tidy. However, this is not working. Children’s bedrooms have piles of personal belongings, clothes and rubbish on the floor. One bedroom door frame has been badly damaged. This does not provide a homely or well-kept environment for children.

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The safety of children

Children’s plans are clearly written. Risk assessments for children are detailed and include appropriate strategies to support staff in managing risks. These assessments are regularly reviewed and updated following any incidents. Staff attend staff meetings with a strong focus on children. These help the staff to feel confident and respond consistently to the children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 3 There have been incidents of children going missing from the home. Staff’s understanding and response to missing-from-home incidents have improved since the last inspection. Staff have responded in line with individual protocols to help find and return the child as soon as possible. Children are warmly welcomed when they return home. The staff responses and management of incidents have reduced the number of missing-from-home incidents.

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The safety of children

Staff spend time with children talking about issues that are important to them. Staff use these conversations to inform and improve children’s understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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The safety of children

Physical intervention is used appropriately to keep children safe. Staff have the required training. There has been one restraint since the last inspection, and this was reasonable and proportionate.

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The safety of children

Despite involvement from relevant professionals, staff have been unsuccessful in preventing some children’s substance misuse. Staff have been unable to engage children with support services and raise the children’s awareness of the consequences of substance misuse. Therefore, this continues to pose a risk to children’s health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has been in post since June 2022 and is suitably qualified. The manager leads an established team of committed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff work well as a team. They cover additional shifts and support each other to make sure that the required number of staff are available. The manager ensures that staff cover is provided from familiar staff. Therefore, children benefit from consistent staff each day.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff said that they feel well supported by the manager and they receive regular supervision. The manager is highly visible and makes herself available to staff for support and advice. The manager works on shift and acts as a positive role model to the staff. She has established trusted relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

New staff receive a well-planned induction which includes a range of training and shadow shifts with experienced staff. Good induction, support and training help staff to meet children’s needs and provide continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The recruitment records for new staff and agency staff fail to demonstrate that all necessary checks and verifications have been carried out. This places children at increased risk as potentially unsuitable staff could be working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home has recently moved to an electronic record-keeping system. As a result, some documents were not easily accessible during the inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 4 The manager has met five of the seven requirements from the last inspection. Two requirements have not been met and have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/12/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance 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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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; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are provided with support and information in regard to substance misuse and sleep hygiene.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 16 December

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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 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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, repair the damage to door frames and walls and ensure that children’s bedrooms are clean.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 16 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 16 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 7 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 which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, 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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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records and information stored electronically can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view it and, if required, be produced in a legible form. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 8

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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

Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 9 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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