Children's home run by London Paramount Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2704264 1 Registered provider: London Paramount Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to eight children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Eight children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since August 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: 18 November 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2704264 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2704264 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were eight children living at the home at the time of the inspection. All of the children were involved in the inspection through spending time with or talking to the inspectors, or by the inspectors observing the care and support given to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children make good progress in their education, communication and independence skills while living at this home. The manager and staff have established positive and trusting relationships with the children. They love caring for them and providing them with positive experiences. The staff have high aspirations for all the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know each child’s individual needs and how the children communicate. Staff are adaptable with their communication style to meet the needs of each child. This includes recognising children’s sounds and gestures. This helps the children to express their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care and support plans are personalised. These are reviewed and updated regularly. The manager analyses children’s behaviours and learns from incidents. This information is brought into the children’s support plans which ensures that the plans continue to guide staff in how to meet the children’s changing needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop and build on their individual identity. Children’s interests and cultural needs are identified, and staff receive guidance in how they can best support these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their learning and understanding. The children’s education is central to the care the staff provide. The manager advocates for the children’s rights to education when they do not have schools. This includes persistent communication with education professionals and family members. The persistence of staff has enabled one child, after several years without education, to make excellent progress. This child has received various school awards. This helps build children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to remain healthy. They encourage the children to eat healthily and promote activities and interests that involve exercise. Staff support the children to attend preventive health appointments that support their physical and mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each child has their own individual flat to live in. These flats are personalised and welcoming. Improvements have recently been made to the internal decoration and the outside area. However, one flat had a boarded-up window which had been waiting for repairs since May and several kitchen unit doors missing. Consequently, the children do not always experience a high-quality living environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2704264 4

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

Staff have suitable skills and knowledge to prevent and mange difficult situations well. Staff are trained in de-escalation approaches and safe handling methods. The manager is trained to deliver this training. Children’s behaviour that is difficult to manage is managed appropriately by staff. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort. Reports of incidents are clear and detailed. The manager maintains good oversight and analysis of all incidents. They share their findings with staff and help explore new ways to approach unwanted behaviours.

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

Staff respond appropriately when children occasionally go missing from the home. Children’s risk management plans address this concern. These plans help staff to identify actions to minimise this risk and guide staff in what they should do. Children are welcomed back to the home. The manager and staff talk to the child to try to understand their motives for going missing. This helps to reduce the risk of further incidents of the children going missing.

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

The manager ensures that any allegations against staff are taken seriously. He takes appropriate actions to keep the children safe and involves partner safeguarding professionals appropriately.

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

Staff undertake good quality in depth one-to-one discussions with children who misuse, or are at risk of misusing, substances. Clear safety plans are created to help staff manage risk. Staff support one child who is at risk of misusing substances to attend counselling with youth substance misuse specialists.

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

Staff help children to keep safe online. If required, external specialist services are accessed to help children. The registered manager and responsible individual have created specific comprehensive online safety training. This helps staff to understand risk and respond appropriately to keep children safe.

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

There is a current issue with the fire safety of the home. Senior leaders are responding to this in partnership with the fire brigade and local council. A temporary emergency plan has been agreed. This stipulates that the manager must address all the requirements identified in the fire risk assessment within the timescale set.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager feels very well supported by, and works closely with, the responsible individual and other senior leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child focused manager knows the children very well. He is accessible to the staff and children. He spends time with the children, speaks warmly of them and is proud of the progress they have made. He said, ‘I get to work with very unique, fantastic children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a comprehensive range of quality assurance and monitoring tools to maintain effective oversight of the home. He is very reflective about the improvements Inspection report for children’s home: 2704264 5 that were identified as required at the last inspection. He has made the necessary changes to provide better care for children. He has devised child friendly feedback forms and responds to all those received by letter. He also regularly observes staff practice and completes unannounced visits during the night.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the strengths of the staff team and areas to develop further. There are clear plans on how he intends to continue to drive improvement and develop the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that all staff now receive regular individual supervision. Supervision is reflective and includes in-depth discussions about the children. Discussions include staff well-being and topics such as monthly safeguarding scenarios. This helps staff to feel valued and to develop their skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager holds effective team meetings each month. The manager presents important topics for practice discussions such as safeguarding and language in recording. This is as well as updates on the children. The part of the meeting called ‘pictures to brighten your day shares photos of children having fun. This is an opportunity for staff to reflect on and celebrate the children, and the work that they as staff do.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive a thorough induction to the home and are well supported during their probation. There is comprehensive and relevant training, with yearly refreshers as needed. However, the manager is working with the trainer to resolve a delay in staff completing their relevant level 3 diploma. The staff are now outside of the timeframe for completion, but the manager has plan in place to ensure that staff are suitably qualified for their role. Inspection report for children’s home: 2704264 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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that the required adjustments to the home, to ensure children’s safety, are completed within the three months as agreed with the fire brigade. 8 October 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and welcoming environment. Specifically, ensure that all areas of the children’s home are suitably decorated and maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2704264 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Paramount Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mardoc House, Spinney Gardens, Breachwood Green, Hitchin SG4 8BW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Pearce

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Inspectors

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2704264 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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