Children's home run by CareTech Holding Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2794304 1 Registered provider: CareTech Holding 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 owned by a private organisation. Staff provide care for up to four children who have physical and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since September 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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2794304 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This was the home’s first inspection since opening in September 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children living in the home were present during the inspection. Since opening, no children have moved out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff form positive relationships with children. Children are comfortable around staff and enjoy regular hugs and dancing. Staff understand children’s bespoke needs, which enables staff to provide effective care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff support children to make progress in their education. Leaders regularly communicate with education providers to review children’s progress. This has allowed leaders and staff to support educational targets at home. Children who are not in education are advocated for by leaders to ensure that an appropriate placement is found promptly. While home educated, children are supported to make progress through enriching experiences, such as crafts and engaging in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to keep in touch with those important to them. Families of children are kept updated on their progress. Leaders and staff promote family time and provide a safe space in the home for this to take place. One professional said, ‘Very good. Staff keep family updated as much as possible and where required. Professionals are also updated alongside the family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff regularly capture children’s voices. They support children to use their individual communication styles to share their thoughts and feelings. Routine children’s discussions take place using the Picture Exchange Communication System, Makaton and pictures. One child is supported through the signing of letters on his palms, and staff understand how to use this effectively. The manager has good oversight on the feedback shared by children, and she consistently responds to this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff have a good understanding of children’s complex health needs. Staff encourage children to maintain good levels of personal hygiene and support them to attend routine appointments. One professional said, ‘Staff have shown a high level of understanding of the child’s needs, particularly with them having such a wide range of health needs. They have even trained staff to be able to accommodate the child’s medical needs.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The physical environment is bespoke for the needs of children. The setting is adapted to accommodate children with wheelchairs, which has allowed them to access all areas of the home and socialise. The home is well decorated, providing a warm and welcoming feel on entry. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794304 3

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

There have been few incidents that have taken place since the home opened. When low-level incidents occur, staff understand triggers and how to respond effectively.

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

There have been no missing-from-care incidents since the home opened. Leaders have ensured that there are detailed risk management plans in place for each child. This helps staff know how to respond should a child go missing.

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

Health and safety are a priority in the home. Leaders and staff have a good oversight over weekly, monthly and annual checks using audits. Leaders respond promptly to actions to ensure that the home remains a safe environment for children.

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

Leaders have ensured that children’s risk assessments contain relevant information. Information is detailed and clear for staff to follow. The manager routinely updates the risk assessments following incidents or changes for the child.

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

Leaders do not always share information promptly with the wider network. On one occasion, following staff identifying an injury on a child who had just moved in, this information was not shared immediately with the local authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious and has high expectations for the care of children. She has a focus on upskilling staff to provide them with the necessary skills to provide a high quality of care. The manager supports staff in the home, and staff highlight that she provides a non-judgemental approach and open-door policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders regularly supervise staff in the home. Supervisions are good quality and enable reflection and learning for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have a good understanding of the home’s development. There are robust monitoring systems in place with the manager’s monthly audit. Staff create weekly checks that factor into the manager’s holistic oversight. As a result, this has enabled the manager to address any shortfalls at the earliest opportunity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recruitment of new staff is carried out safely. It has been ensured that necessary checks have taken place before staff start. Appropriate action is taken if concerns are identified during recruitment, which includes risk assessments being implemented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained to support children’s complex health needs. Staff are provided with training in de-escalation techniques, safeguarding, enteral feeding and rescue medication. This gives staff the knowledge to support children more effectively and safely. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794304 4 Professionals have shared great feedback about the service. One professional said, ‘Working with them has been a pleasure. The home is a godsend; couldn’t wish for anywhere nicer for children that we are responsible for.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2794304 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all relevant professionals are notified in a timely manner when safeguarding concerns are raised about a child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 11, paragraph 2.2)

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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: 2794304 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CareTech Holding Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2794304 7 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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