Children's home run by Centauri Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 1 Registered provider: Centauri Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2024, when the home was registered. This is the first inspection following registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 2

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improvement to be good

Since the home was registered, one child has moved in and out. Shortfalls were identified in the care planning and decision-making by leaders and managers. There was an increase in incidents for the child in the home and in the community. This led to the child moving out in an unplanned manner after a few months. This was due to concerns that their individual needs could not be safely met. As a result, the child’s progress and experiences were not consistently positive. However, the child now remains in contact with staff to share updates about their progress.

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improvement to be good

The child did not attend school. They moved into the home during a school holiday period. The placing authority’s plan for a tutor to provide education in the home while a school was secured for the child did not happen. This was escalated by the manager, who recognised the negative impact of this on the child. Staff made efforts to engage the child in educational activities and worksheets. The child did not engage in these activities regularly. This was due to staff not ensuring that the child had consistent routines and boundaries in the home in order to support their learning. This does not promote a culture of high expectations in which children can achieve their potential.

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improvement to be good

The health and well-being of the child was understood by staff. The child attended routine health appointments, and, as a result of encouragement by staff, the child agreed to have emergency dental treatment when needed. This addressed long standing issues for the child. The child also had access to therapeutic support from the home’s clinician, but they did not feel ready to engage with this.

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improvement to be good

Staff developed positive relationships with the child and engaged them in a variety of activities based on the child’s interests. The child went on holiday with staff and experienced going ice skating, bowling and shopping.

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improvement to be good

The child’s identity was well promoted. The child spent time with family members, who also visited them in the home as part of their plan. Staff helped the child to meet their cultural needs in a variety of ways. This included visiting specialist shops to buy hair products and food. The child also explored and learned more about their wider cultural heritage and religious beliefs.

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improvement to be good

Since living in the home, incidents for the child going missing from home have increased, despite staff efforts to manage this. Staff followed the child’s plan, searched for them and remained in touch with them while they were missing from home. They worked with other professionals to ensure the child’s safe return home. Staff escalated their concerns Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 3 about the child’s safety. The child was exposed to risks of being criminalised and exploited while they were in the community. The child’s social worker said the child was not settled when they were living in the home.

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improvement to be good

The leadership team considered the location of the home and the proximity of transport links. However, this was not done adequately or in a timely manner. This affected the quality of the assessments that informed whether staff could safely care for the child. Staff lacked confidence at times during difficult situations when the child struggled to manage their emotions. This led to damage inside the home and to the vehicle that staff used to transport the child. This led to complaints by neighbours about the child’s behaviours within the community. The leadership team has addressed these complaints and recognises the need to build stronger relationships with the local community.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments and support plans provided staff with relevant guidance about how to manage the child’s behaviours. These documents were reviewed regularly to ensure that staff had up-to-date information about the child’s evolving needs. However, the quality of these assessments and other written records are not in line with the home’s therapeutic approach.

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improvement to be good

There was one allegation made by the child against a member of staff. This was managed promptly. The leadership team worked closely with professionals. They safeguarded the child while investigations were completed. This helped the child to feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the home’s registration, there have been several changes of the responsible individual. The deputy manager also left their post. This instability led to inconsistent care and support for the child. This was recognised by the leadership team, whose members decided not to care for a further child until stability in the home was restored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Further to this, there was poor care planning by the leadership team. This resulted in the child moving into the home when staff were not adequately prepared to meet their complex needs. Some staff did not complete the relevant training based on the known risks before the child moved in. This was a missed opportunity to help the child feel supported and to settle.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Following the child leaving the home, all staff have completed the organisation’s required training courses. Some staff are booked to complete more training to enhance their knowledge. Staff also benefit from therapeutic support and guidance from a clinician. These regular sessions support their ongoing development. The manager provides regular supervision meetings for staff. This good practice has helped staff to feel supported and morale has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The members of the leadership team acknowledge and recognise the shortfalls in the care for the child. They have put into place appropriate plans to address them. They Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 4 have undertaken learning reviews and shared this learning with staff in team meetings. Other changes have been made to the care planning and management monitoring systems. The effectiveness of these measures will need to be further tested as and when children are living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff manage children’s behaviours and that action is taken consistently to reduce the risk of harm. 3 February 2025

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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 3 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 6 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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; and

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that they have all the required information to make informed decisions about children moving into the home. In addition, the manager is to ensure that staff experience and skills are taken into consideration. 3 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). 3 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 7 When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. In particular, this refers to recordings being sufficiently detailed and of consistent quality. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of children in the home’s care. Everyone working at the home should understand their roles and responsibilities and communicate changes regarding children’s routines and care effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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: 2780199 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Centauri Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 39 Hollow tree Road, Hamilton, Leicester LE5 1TH

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Inspector

Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2780199 9 regulates 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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