Children's home run by Care2Care Children’s Home Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2750406 1 Registered provider: CARE2CARE CHILDREN’S HOME LTD

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in December 2023. The manager has been in post since April 2024 and has made an application to be the registered manager of the home. The home’s manager was absent at the time of the visit.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Only one child has lived at the home since the home was registered. There were no children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2750406 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

No serious or widespread concerns were identified in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Since the home opened there have been several changes in the home’s management team. The original responsible individual and manager resigned in January 2024. A new responsible individual has been in post since February 2024, and the manager has been in post since April 2024. The changes in the leadership team resulted in a child not moving into the home until July 2024.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The child’s move into the home was planned in consultation with their social worker and parent. The child visited the home before they moved in, as part of the transition process, and staff were made aware of the child’s likes and dislikes. This enabled staff to plan activities that the child enjoyed. The child’s placement ended after a short period of time as the staff team did not have the capacity to meet the child’s needs.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have made efforts to improve the recruitment and retention of staff. They are in the process of recruiting two senior team members, and there is an experienced deputy manager who has been in post since the home opened. The rest of the team are in their probation period or finishing their inductions, and they have not completed the training set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Recruitment procedures follow safer recruitment guidelines, providing assurances that the staff who are caring for the children are suitably vetted. There is a clear induction plan and training schedule in place. The manager has a workforce development plan that addresses retention and career progression.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager ensures that concerns are shared with relevant agencies, including the placing local authority, the police and the local authority designated officer. Staff have a good awareness of safeguarding procedures, including whistle-blowing processes.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff are trained on how to use restraint safely. Incidents of restraint, although infrequent, are not consistently recorded. This impacts on the manager’s ability to review patterns of concern.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home’s physical environment is safe for children. The home is spacious and well maintained. Children’s bedrooms and communal spaces are well furnished, personalised and comfortable. The staff have plans to develop an outbuilding into a beauty parlour.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Team meetings and supervision have not been held consistently. This has limited opportunities for the staff team to consider the needs of children and reflect on their practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2750406 3

p.2

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.

p.3

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—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

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;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 23 September

p.3

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.3

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.3

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.3

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 23 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2750406 4 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.3

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.4

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")—

p.4

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.4

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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii) (c)(iv))

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2-13.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2750406 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: CARE2CARE CHILDREN’S HOME LTD

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Room 147, 981 Great West Road, Brentford TW8 9DN

p.5

Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2750406 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6