Children's Home run by Capital Children’s Care Ltd in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 1 Registered provider: Capital Childrens Care

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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 is a privately run home that provides care for up to three children aged 11 to 18 years who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2023 Full Good 27/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/12/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All three children contributed to this inspection. All children said that they did not want to move on from the home and want to stay there for as long as possible. Two children said that this is the best home they have ever lived in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are committed to the children they care for. Children have lived at the home for a significant time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move on from the home in a planned way. One child found their move difficult, but with support from the staff, they were able to leave the home in a positive way. Children who have moved out of the home stay in touch with the staff and visit for Christmas parties and summer barbeques.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an embedded ethos of making the home feel as close to a family home as possible. Children invite their friends and family to visit them, and children’s friends join the children on activities in the community. The registered manager challenges any barriers to children having the same experiences as their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Records in the home are written with compassion. Staff are mindful that children may read their records as adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s engagement in education and training is variable. One child who has completed secondary education is not currently in further education, training or employment. Staff work closely with the virtual school and mental health services to support children to access education and training. Staff support children to apply for jobs and work with external organisations to support older children to gain employment skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to gain independence skills in line with their ages and plans to move on from the home. As well as learning basic life skills, such as cooking and cleaning, children are supported to learn how to manage finances, open bank accounts, use public transport and manage their own health appointments. The registered manager has a clear focus on children leaving the home with the skills they need to live independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a wide range of activities. They enjoy evenings out to the cinema, bowling trips and visits to local arcades. Children spend time in each other’s company and often enjoy activities together as a group. They are encouraged to take part in new experiences. One child has been on a holiday abroad, other children have enjoyed horse riding lessons and go karting. All children have their friends spend time in the home, playing games and staying for meals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 4

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

Staff build exceptional relationships with children. Children feel safe and secure, and this is evident in their behaviour and their ability to open up to staff about their feelings.

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

The home is very settled. There is a low number of incidents in the home. No children have had to be held for their safety during this inspection period.

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

Children do not frequently go missing from the home. When children go missing, staff make a considerable and sustained effort to support them to return home. Staff are knowledgeable about children’s friends. Staff share clear and current information with the local authority and the police. Staff actively search for and attempt to contact children. When children return, they are welcomed back with care and compassion. Staff make real efforts to understand what children have been doing while missing from the home.

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

Staff support children to manage their relationships with each other. For two children, there was a breakdown in their relationship that led to a physical altercation. Staff supported children restoratively and sensitively. These children were able to rebuild their relationship and continue to live successfully with each other.

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

Children know how to make complaints. They have access to the children’s guide to supplement this knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and committed registered manager. During this inspection period, the manager has been on agreed leave. The home has been managed in the interim by an experienced deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and staff speak highly of the management team. Professionals said that managers know the home and the children well. Leaders and managers are highly committed to the home and the children. The registered manager is ambitious for the home and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers attend all meetings for children. Managers support children to take part in their statutory meetings, and advocate for children when they do not feel able to do so themselves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions that are focused on practice development. These are supplemented by regular team meetings, during which, staff discuss the children’s care needs. Staff are knowledgeable about the children they care for. They are proud of children’s achievements and celebrate their successes with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aware of all incidents in the home. However, the management review of incidents is not always analytical and does not consider steps to prevent Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 5 recurrence. Managers do not consistently review the effectiveness of any consequences. This does not ensure that managers use monitoring and review processes to improve the quality of care offered to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment checks have not always been completed in line with regulatory requirements. Two members of staff did not have the gaps in their employment history explored. This does not ensure the suitability of staff to work with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 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

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

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

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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)(h)) 25 February 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises risks to them. In particular, ensure that there is a record of exploration of gaps in employment history. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2575372 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Capital Childrens 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

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2575372 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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