Children's Home run by Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Ltd in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 1 Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 28 February 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of inspection and both were spoken to by inspectors.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

At the last assurance inspection, on 10 September 2024, serious and widespread concerns were identified. The registration of the home was suspended. The suspension was lifted following a monitoring visit on 28 November 2024. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/04/2023 Full Inadequate 19/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, several children have come to live in the home. Experiences for children have not always been positive. It is recognised by professionals that external factors have influenced the breakdown of some placements. Some children’s placements have ended following concerns found at monitoring visits of the home. However, the children living in the home at the time of the inspection have had positive experiences living there and made significant progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some areas of the home require refurbishment and there is a plan for work to be carried out. Some damage from previous incidents involving a child who has moved out was still visible. This was rectified on the day of inspection. The provider has a responsive maintenance team for repairs. Children’s bedrooms are well maintained and well decorated. Children like their bedrooms and staff support them to personalise them to their own tastes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are building positive and genuine relationships with children. Staff have persevered with children to break down barriers around trusting the adults who care for them. One child’s progress in this area has been substantial. The child is responding to the consistency of care provided. Staff celebrate the progress the child makes with big gestures. Celebrations are organised for milestones that the child reaches. This is building the child’s self-esteem and pride.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are championing children’s educational progress. One child had missed significant periods of education and is now looking forward to starting mainstream school after the holidays. The child, and staff, are excited about this development. There is a transition plan in place to support the child back to full-time education. The staff recognise the importance of this process being carefully managed at the child’s pace. One child moved in at the start of the summer holidays. In a short time, the staff have explored education options as well as projects that align with the child’s interests and hobbies.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to have healthy lifestyles. When children understand that being healthy is important, this is celebrated. Staff encourage and support the purchase of healthy food and home cooking is promoted. Staff support children to be active and to explore the local area and new destinations. They often go on long walks and have adventures. Staff support children to improve their mental health and well-being with consistent care and collaboration with specialist services. Staff have access to a psychology coach who provides tailored guidance for staff to meet children’s needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have meaningful discussions with children. Important discussions are planned and there are reactive conversations when required. Staff respond when children share their views. They want discussions to be approached less formally so the conversations feel less institutional. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 4 Discussions are reviewed by managers. Leaders consistently offer oversight of what staff and children talk about, and this drives the planning for future discussions. Children’s opinions are respected and listened to.

p.3

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

There is an improved focus on keeping children safe. Leaders are developing the staff team’s practice around safeguarding. Staff with previous and transferable experience in safeguarding have been appointed to take up lead roles in this area. This is improving the overall practice of keeping children safe in the home. Regular safeguarding meetings are taking place among the leadership team.

p.4

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

Children have robust safety plans in place. They actively engage with their plans, to build up trust to manage their own safety in the community. Children are involved in the development of their safety plans. Some plans need to be reviewed and updated. This has not negatively affected children. However, it does not reflect the progress that children have made in reducing risk.

p.4

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

Staff support children when they struggle to manage their emotions and behaviours. They actively encourage children to be part of this process. Children share how staff can help them to regulate their feelings. Staff and children explore different ideas to avoid situations escalating to crisis. This has been effective for one child to such an extent that they are no longer subject to restrictions on their liberty.

p.4

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

Staff are receiving training and group reflection on how to respond to incidents and manage and support challenging behaviour. Children have effective support plans in place. These reflect the knowledge that staff have developed about the children, including triggers and past experiences that may influence behaviours.

p.4

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

The response to children when they go missing from the home is effective. Staff follow protocols in place to locate children and involve the appropriate services. Staff record incidents clearly and there are opportunities for reflection and learning to reduce further incidents.

p.4

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

There has continued to be a period of change in the leadership of the home. The previous manager is taking up the role of responsible individual and a new manager has been appointed. The manager has not yet applied to be registered with Ofsted to assess their suitability. The manager was not in work at the time of the inspection. The responsible individual has remained committed to leading the team and is dedicated to improving outcomes for children and developing the staff team.

p.4

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

The responsible individual has ensured that the team meets regularly for reflection and learning. The times of team meetings have become flexible to ensure better attendance from day and night staff in the home. This has developed improved cohesion among the team and consistency in practice. Staff morale is improving, but there are issues with Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 5 rotas not being written in advance. This is not allowing staff to plan ahead and is affecting their work-life balance.

p.4

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

The manager and responsible individual do not have effective oversight of safe recruitment checks for staff. Access to this information is not organised. The responsible individual was not aware of some shortfalls in checks due to these being managed and overseen by another department in the organisation. This has not negatively affected the safety of children.

p.5

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

Senior roles in the team have been successfully recruited to. These appointments have been internal so there are still vacancies in the team. There are not sufficient staff to provide care for the number of children the home is registered for. The provider is actively trying to recruit new staff, and the responsible individual has high expectations in their search for quality staff to support children.

p.5

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

The responsible individual is a good communicator. Incidents of concern are reported in a timely manner to professionals. Allegations against staff are managed appropriately but in one case an allegation was not reported to Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.6

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;

p.6

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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that leaders review plans in a timely manner so that staff have access to up-to-date information to support children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Ensure that roles in the home are fully recruited to. 28 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 7 Ensure that rotas are completed in a timely manner so that staff morale is not affected and work-life balance is considered in relation to staff welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

p.7

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any allegations against staff are reported to Ofsted. 28 September 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.7

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that leaders are accountable for the checks being completed and that checks are available to be reviewed at inspection. 28 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 8

p.7

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: 2625585 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barratt House, Office G3a, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton NN2 6EZ

p.9

Inspectors

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2625585 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10