Children's home run by Kites Children Services Limited in Colchester

Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 1 SC029560 Registered provider: Kites Children Services 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 one of two children’s homes operated by a private provider. The home provides specialist therapeutic care and treatment for up to six children who have complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There were five children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/05/2024 Full Good 06/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 3

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inadequate

Significant weaknesses in safeguarding procedures and managerial oversight mean that the children are not safeguarded effectively. Despite these shortfalls, children regularly attend school and make some progress in developing their independence skills.

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inadequate

The inspectors spoke to three children and observed two children taking part in their daily routines supported by staff.

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inadequate

Two children live a long way from their family homes. Three children attend the organisation’s school and have therapy sessions provided by the organisation. Staff do not routinely offer advocacy support to children. As a result, children do not have an independent trusted person to confide in. Two children rarely spend time with anyone apart from peers at the home, peers at school and the staff.

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inadequate

There are areas of the home that require repair and refurbishment. The children’s bathrooms are in poor condition with a build-up of excessive mould and limescale. The condition of one bathroom had been known to leaders and managers for some time; however, this has not been addressed. Children have contributed to personalising their bedrooms to reflect their individual tastes. However, staff do not ensure that the children’s bedrooms are clean or hygienic. This does not provide a good example to children of how to maintain and clean all areas of a home.

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inadequate

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and two have moved out. One child is currently living away from the home supported by the staff. Children who have moved in have been welcomed and supported to build relationships with staff. Leaders and managers identified two children who required more support. As a result, children were supported well with moves from the home. Leaders and managers are working with the child’s professionals to support the child to move to a more suitable living arrangement.

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inadequate

Children are supported to access activities and clubs that support their individual interests. These include staff supporting children with regular meals out, trips to the sea, cinema and youth club. The children have enjoyed these.

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inadequate

Children attend education provisions that suit their needs. The staff support the children with their attendance. As a result, children are making progress with learning.

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inadequate

Children are supported to work towards specific targets with incentive plans. These include supporting the children to develop social behaviours and routines. Staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 4 encourage children with these plans and reward their success. This has supported children to improve their self-care.

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

Safeguarding practice is poor. Leaders and managers do not provide assurances that they have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the home’s safeguarding procedures. This means that the safeguards protecting vulnerable children from harm are not working and children are at risk.

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

On three occasions, leaders and managers have failed to follow the safeguarding procedures, when one child raised concerns about the manager and staff. These have not been shared with the local authority designated officer (LADO). Although the child retracted these concerns, there is no detail about when the concerns have been retracted or if any protective measures were provided. As a result, external oversight has not been in place and protective measures to safeguard children have not been implemented. This significant failure by leaders and managers does not ensure that children are appropriately protected from harm.

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

When a child made allegations of harm, they have not always had the opportunity to speak to an unconnected person about the allegation. On three occasions the manager and staff have spoken to the child instantaneously about what they have alleged, despite being the subject of the allegation. This approach does not ensure impartiality to safeguarding investigations or offer children the opportunity to discuss their concerns with someone independent. This practice fails to safeguard children.

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

Some of the children’s plans do not detail individual strategies for staff to follow when children raise concerns about staff and peers or make disclosures. The staff are not clearly guided, and this has led to inconsistencies in how staff respond to children. Generally, children’s other risk management plans are reviewed and up to date.

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

Internal closed circuit television (CCTV) is used due to the risks some children face. However, this has not been kept under regular review. This does not ensure that this restrictive measure has been considered on an individual basis for all children.

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

Since the last inspection, physical intervention has been used on occasion. When this has been used, it is appropriate, proportionate and necessary to ensure that children have remained safe. Children are spoken to about the intervention and provided with aftercare.

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

When there have been incidents of children going missing from the home, staff respond in line with the missing-from-home protocol. Staff work to return the child as soon as possible. They take effective action, including informing the appropriate professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023. She is currently working towards her level 5 qualification. The manager took part in the first day of the inspection and the responsible individual managed the rest of the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers’ oversight is not effective. They have not identified that staff have failed to use the home’s child protection policies. The records of allegations, physical interventions and incidents have significant gaps. The reports do not accurately reflect the details of incidents. Leaders and managers have not identified these gaps. Management oversight lacks detail and professional curiosity and does not evaluate all necessary action. As a result, staff have not been offered sufficient opportunities to learn from their practice and make the necessary improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The feedback from professionals and parents is mixed. Some professionals said that relevant information has not been shared with them. Others said that the support provided to children has helped with the children’s education. Failing to share important information does not ensure that parents and professionals are aware of significant incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are supported to work towards the relevant level 3 qualification. Most staff are either qualified or working towards this. However, one staff member has been working at the home for five years and has not achieved the qualification. This does not provide all of the staff with the required skills for the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been a high staff turnover at the home, and many of the staff are new. Safer recruitment processes are followed when new staff are recruited. The staff are supported to undertake mandatory training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite the failures identified at this inspection, staff say that they feel supported by leaders and managers. Staff attend planned training and receive regular supervision sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has met the two requirements from the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 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 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—

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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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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

ensure leaders and managers make referrals to the LADO and that advice obtained is acted on without delay;

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Requirement Due date

ensure children are spoken to by someone independent when they make an allegation of harm;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must review staff’s knowledge and training to ensure staff act in accordance with the home’s safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that any allegations of harm are reviewed and investigated by a person who is not connected to the allegation. 10 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 7 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)) 10 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s bathrooms are in good condition and repairs are carried out within a reasonable timescale. 10 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 10 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 8 ensure that each child—

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (c)(iii)(iv)) 10 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b)) 10 September

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 9 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: SC029560 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kites Children Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Langham, Colchester CO4 5PX

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Inspector

Syvanna Matthew, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 11 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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