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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2730101 1 Registered provider: Capital Children’s Care 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. It offers care for up to two children, aged between six and 18, who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home as a solo placement.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in January 2024. The current manager has been in post since March 2024 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: 18 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2730101 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2730101 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection, the child living at the home was spoken with by the inspector. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out. While the initial assessment identified that the child’s needs could be met, these needs changed, and staff could no longer keep the child safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are nurturing and have helped the child who is living at the home to build positive and trusting relationships. Staff listen to the child and involve them in decision-making. The child has learned the skills of negotiation. This has helped them to understand responsibility and develop their communication skills to resolve conflict effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to feel positive about their cultural heritage and identity. Staff help the child with their hair and skincare. Staff cook the child’s favourite meals and take them to authentic restaurants. The diverse staff team offers opportunities for the child to relate to others of a similar heritage and to meet new people from different cultures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress. Professionals and family members agree that the child is talking more and actively listening in a calm manner. Staff have helped the child to learn about managing money and budgeting. The child’s parent said, ‘[Name of child] has really grown up since moving to [name of home].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have helped the child to understand the importance of education and learning. When the child made the decision not to attend school, staff worked in partnership with other professionals to find the appropriate support. Staff spent time with the child to listen to their concerns. Staff shared the child’s concerns with the relevant professionals. As a result, the child agreed to return to school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff organise activities that they know the child will enjoy. The child has been on holiday, quad biking, mountain biking and spent time enjoying nature. The manager said, ‘I love to see them smiling, being in a different environment, seeing wildlife, letting them be a child again for a while with no pressure.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of the child spending time with those who matter most to them. Staff work closely with family members to help them to build strong relationships with the child. The child had not seen a member of their family for a significant time. Staff took the child to see them and provided emotional support before and after the meeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use consequences to help the child to learn from mistakes. However, staff record this approach in different places. While this has not affected the child, it means that the manager has been unable to provide her opinion on the effectiveness of the consequences within the expected time frames. This was raised at the last inspection and is restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730101 4

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

The child said that they feel safe living at the home. Professionals and family members spoken with agree that the child is safe and that staff know the child well.

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

Staff recognise the need for the child to spend time in the community and understand that this may increase specific risks. To reduce these risks, staff have helped the child to recognise people who have a positive influence and those who do not. The child has made new friends, who they have positive experiences with.

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

If the child misses the agreed time to be home, staff look for them and attempt to contact them by phone and text messages. When the child returns, staff welcome them home. Staff leave small gifts and notes to welcome the child back and are professionally curious about where the child has been. This approach works well for the child. When episodes of the child going missing increased, the child told staff why they did not want to come home. This helped staff to advocate for the child when they felt they were not being listened to about their future, and the incidents reduced.

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

Staff support the child to reflect on their behaviour and the choices that they make. This has helped the child to learn how their behaviour may affect others. The child has learned to apologise and has become aware of other people’s feelings. Consequently, there have been no significant behavioural incidents or physical interventions since the child moved in.

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

The child’s vulnerabilities are clearly recorded in detailed assessments. Guidance for staff is helpful and includes signs that may indicate the child is at risk. Staff have helped the child to learn about their own vulnerabilities and safety. This means that there have been no concerns about the child’s safety since they moved to the home. However, the level of support that the child requires when going into the community is unclear. This could cause confusion or distress to the child if they are being supported when this is not necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post for six months and has applied to register with Ofsted. The responsible individual and a deputy manager support the manager. The management team knows the child and staff well. The manager regularly spends time with the child, and they have a good relationship.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager follows safer recruitment processes. The organisation’s induction for new staff is detailed and includes shadowing opportunities with more-experienced staff until they feel confident. New staff members are provided with additional support throughout their probationary period. This ensures that staff are fully aware of, and prepared for, their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730101 5 Supervision sessions and team meetings are child focused and used as an opportunity to discuss the care provided to the child. Staff development and progress are encouraged in the team. The manager uses a reflective model effectively. This encourages staff to consider how their practice may have affected the child and to explore alternative approaches. One professional said, ‘I am so pleased that they have resilient staff; they really care about children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the child’s progress and the developments at the home. This monitoring helps her to have good oversight and to identify shortfalls. As a result of this monitoring, staff now meet with the child on a more regular basis to talk about specific topics that help to safeguard them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a programme of mandatory training and learning that is specific to the child’s vulnerabilities. This provides staff with the knowledge and skills to safeguard the child effectively and meet their needs. The manager ensures that all staff achieve a relevant childcare qualification within the required time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met one requirement from the last inspection, and one requirement has been restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730101 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

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))

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Requirement Due date

This was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 11 October 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This specifically relates to ensuring that risk assessments accurately and consistently detail the support levels required when the child spends time in the community. (‘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: 2730101 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Capital Children’s Care

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Pike Way, North Weald, Epping CM16 6BL

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2730101 8 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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