Children's home run by Capital Children’s Care Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2730101 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 home is owned by a private provider. They provide 52-week care for up to two children, aged between six and 18, with social and emotional difficulties. The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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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: 2730101 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. Since the home opened, one child has returned to being cared for in the hospital due to their health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress at this home. They benefit from a calm, nurturing and positive environment. Staff know the children well and have positive relationships with external agencies and professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s specific ethnic, cultural and identity needs are well understood by staff. The home continues to promote these through the cooking of cultural dishes and key-work sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The use of language that cares is well understood and used widely. As a result, children identify the home as somewhere to call their own and are proud to call it ‘their home’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to receive education through local mainstream schools, colleges and alternative provision. The management team communicates consistently with other professionals regarding plans for educational provision, especially when a move to the home results in a change of educational provision for a child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff praise children when they have made positive choices. Staff use a range of rewards that help children to build self-esteem and confidence. On the occasions when consequences have been used, they have been well considered. This helps children learn from mistakes and make better choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A weekly meeting for children ensures that they are listened to and their wishes captured. Menus are planned weekly, and children’s likes and dislikes in regard to food are listened to and acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is set in an urban area. It is spacious, clean and modern, which creates a cosy and extremely homely feel. The garden is well maintained and allows children to spend time outside in the summer months.

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

Children are well looked after by a safe and well-trained staff team. Recruitment checks are strong. Staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They are confident to raise concerns to keep children safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2730101 3 Incidents are well recorded and have management oversight. Risk management plans are individualised and highly detailed. A chronology of specific risks allows staff to identify patterns and trends easily and quickly. For one child, for whom there were specific concerns, contact with specialist external professionals to offer education was evident.

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

A strong and proactive response when children go missing from care is in place. Staff search for children, police are quickly informed and staff work intensively with professionals to ensure children are returned safely. Relationships with the local policing team are well developed.

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

The deputy and manager quickly identify external agencies that can offer additional support to children in respect of child sexual exploitation. A robust assessment of local risks within the vicinity of the home is in place. Free time in the local area is risk assessed with the placing authority, and staff remain curious and mindful of the risks to vulnerable children.

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

Staff know children well and use de-escalation strategies effectively. A number of physical interventions have taken place with one child, and debriefs with children and staff were not clearly recorded. As a result, there were missed opportunities to allow the physical intervention to be fully understood.

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

Two safeguarding concerns were well recorded, and input from the local authority designated officer was evident. However, leaders and managers did not always notify Ofsted of these concerns. This affects Ofsted’s ability to regulate the provision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified, with a strong and consistent approach. A highly capable deputy manager joined the home when it opened and contributes significantly to the running of the home. They are working towards their level 5 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An internal operations manager completes monthly audits and provides the manager with information to make improvements. An independent visitor ensures further scrutiny, and feedback gained from children, parents and professionals is evident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is in place for all staff. All staff have completed a thorough induction alongside mandatory training modules. Specific training on a variety of topics such as self-harm, exploitation and online safety is in place. A number of staff hold the level 3 qualification, and new staff are enrolled once their probation is successful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular team meetings where children are discussed in detail. This helps staff to review the progress that children make. Inspection report for children's home: 2730101 4 Frequent supervision sessions enable the staff to review and develop their childcare practice. The staff said that they value supervision and find this to be highly supportive and reflective. Inspection report for children's home: 2730101 5

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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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if —

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 19 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that —

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 19 October 2023

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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: 2730101 6

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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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Inspector:

Emily Stevens, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2730101 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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