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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 1 Registered provider: Capital Children’s Care Limited Full inspection 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 years old with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 2

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. One child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in since the last assurance inspection. The child who most recently moved in has been supported well by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have created a nurturing environment that has led to children building trusted and secure relationships with them. All the children said that they are happy at the home and could name people they can share concerns with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel suitably occupied and have a sense of belonging. They have benefited from horse riding, boxing, trips to the gym and other activities tailored to their interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s engagement in education is variable. Some children have had historic issues of reluctance to engage in education. Staff work incredibly well with education professionals to encourage children to engage. Behaviour strategies have been implemented that provide both rewards and consequences regarding school attendance. This has led to some children improving their education engagement, including two children sitting a GCSE exam.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals are unanimous in their view that children’s outcomes improve because of living at the home. One social worker said, ‘My child has really turned a corner lately. I believe that it is due to the ongoing attempts by staff to engage with them and offer positive rewards. The staff have been extremely encouraging of the child to make better choices.’ Another social worker said that their child’s incidents are managed well, and the clear boundaries set by staff have had a positive impact on her child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are variable rates of progress for the children. However, it is evident that since the last inspection, children are making more positive choices, improving relationships with staff, establishing and maintaining friendships outside of the home and spending quality time with people who are important to them.

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

The frequency of children going missing from the home has reduced in the last six months. When children have been exposed to risks while being missing, staff have worked effectively with other professionals to ensure that children access the support services that they need. Staff work exceptionally well with the police to encourage children’s quick and safe return when they have been missing. One police officer said, ‘I have always had a positive experience with the staff at the home when it comes to dealing with incidents of children going missing.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 4 Staff hold regular discussions with children about the dangers of substance misuse, going missing from the home, online safety, the importance of education and sexual health. Such discussions increase children’s awareness of potential dangers. This has led to improved and positive decision-making by children.

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

Staff make it their business to know who children are spending time with when away from the home. Staff act as sensible parents to keep children safe.

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

Advocates make weekly visits to the children at the home. Staff fully encourage these visits, which provide children with an additional outlet to discuss any concerns or issues that they may have.

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

Risk assessments are subject to regular review and, overall, they sufficiently assess risk. However, one risk relating to specific substance misuse was not recorded in one child’s risk assessment. Information in the location risk assessment did not fully explore the risk of accessing drugs and alcohol or child sexual exploitation. Opportunities have been missed to identify and mitigate some of the risks that children are exposed to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for the children in her care. She has created impressive change, which has led to positive outcomes for children. Improvements in recruitment have led to children benefiting from a skilled and experienced staff team. The manager has driven improvements in boundary setting. Consequently, children’s safety and well-being have improved in recent months. The manager has a clear vision for improvement. She has addressed all requirements and the recommendation raised at the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been vast improvements in the decor and maintenance of the home. It appears homely, and an abundance of real plants add to the attractiveness of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the responsible individual fully understand the needs of each child. Leaders and managers keep a keen eye on children’s progress and are quick to identify when children need additional support. Leaders and managers work exceptionally well with a wide range of professionals to ensure that the children’s best interests are at the heart of their decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, risk assessments and placement plans reflect children’s needs. The records help staff to adopt a consistent approach when working with each child. However, the manager has not ensured that the most recent local authority care plans are maintained at the home for each child. Despite this, the staff have been working towards the targets set by the local authority effectively in the absence of these records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training and development activities are effective. Staff are generally appropriately skilled to meet the children’s needs. However, staff have not been trained in the Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 5 awareness of substance misuse. Given the risks posed by substance misuse for children, opportunities have been missed to equip staff with this knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they feel fully supported by the manager and that induction activities are effective. Consequently, new staff have been able to quickly understand the expected ethos and culture of the home. However, new staff have not routinely been supervised in line with the home’s supervision timescales. Therefore, some formal opportunities to check in with staff and discuss their practice may be missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two staff, including the manager, have not had an annual appraisal. Consequently, opportunities have been missed for staff to reflect on past and future professional development targets. 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, The 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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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 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff undertake training in substance misuse awareness;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff receive supervision in line with the timescales and frequency set in the home’s supervision policy;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff receive an appraisal once a year. 30 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the latest plan for the care of the child prepared by the child’s placing authority is held at the home. 30 June 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when there are safeguarding concerns for a child, risk assessments include details of the steps that the staff will take to Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 7 reduce the risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 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 CM16 6BL

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Inspectors

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Leah Stannard, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 9 and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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