Children's Home run by Paramount Children Care LTD in Leicester

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 1 Registered provider: Paramount Children Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties. There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager position has been vacant since 2 December 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 29 November 2023

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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 these inspections, 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: 2627088 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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Findings from the inspection

This home was judged as good at the last inspection. The purpose of this assurance inspection was to respond to concerns received by Ofsted. These were in relation to safeguarding practices and the leadership and management of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection were not addressed at this visit and remain in place. An additional requirement has been made owing to revisions of the home’s statement of purpose not being sent to Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been many changes to the staff team since the last inspection. This has included different interim managers when the registered manager left. The recruitment of staff has been successful and experienced staff have now joined the home. A permanent manager has also been recruited.

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Findings from the inspection

The interim manager and responsible individual have conducted a thorough review of staff practice. A clear action plan for improvement is in place.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s care plans are clear and detailed. They are individual to the needs of the child. They include children’s wishes and feelings, which are central to their care. Staff support children with the choices they make regarding their identity.

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Findings from the inspection

Children like living at this home. Staff speak highly of the children and say that they like working at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to prepare for independence. This is particularly important for older children who are reaching adulthood. Staff help them to develop budgeting, shopping, cooking, and cleaning skills.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s behaviour support plans give clear direction to staff. Behaviours that are difficult to manage are responded to well. Physical intervention is rarely used and is a last resort to keep a child or others safe. The responsible individual has introduced new training for staff. This teaches a different approach to de-escalation and physical intervention.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have occasionally gone missing from the home. There are clear procedures followed when a child goes missing. Risks are clearly identified. Children are supported to recognise the risks involved with going missing from care.

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Findings from the inspection

The responses to children making an allegation have been mixed. The manager has identified areas of recording and reporting that did not meet the provider’s Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 3 expectation. Learning from this has led to a thorough response and clear recording of a more recent allegation. Safeguarding professionals have been involved.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager ensures that safe practices are used when recruiting new staff to the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2023 Full Good 30/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 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, 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, escalate matters when there is a delay in outstanding assessments being completed for children. 2 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)) 2 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 2 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that management systems and processes are in place that are effective in supporting the management oversight of the home.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to any revised statement of purpose being submitted to HMCI within 28 days. 30 April 2024

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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. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff receive appropriate training to support professional development, which enables them to perform the functions of the statement of purpose of the home. 2 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 7

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Recommendations

 Registered persons should seek to involve the local authority and other relevant persons whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. They are also required by regulation 40 to notify placing authorities, Ofsted and other relevant persons about serious events. In particular, this relates to liaising with the police when there are ongoing potential risk factors, and requesting a police marker to help to reduce risks. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.4)

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return-home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Paramount Children Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Midlands House, Gipsy Lane WV13 2HA

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 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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