Children's Home run by London Borough of Hillingdon in Hillingdon

Unique reference number SC032502 Inspection date 22/02/2012 Inspector Barbara Davies Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 02/12/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home, run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to 13 children, most of whom are unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Care is also provided for some local children.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress.

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Progress

The overall quality rating for this service was judged to be good following a full inspection of the home in December 2011. Five recommendations were made as a result of that inspection. Given the limited time since receiving the report, this interim inspection has assessed that satisfactory progress has been made in addressing the issues raised. Some matters, such as keeping records of recruitment checks completed for agency staff, have been fully met. The home is, therefore, better able to demonstrate that it employs staff who are assessed as suitable to work with children. Other matters, such as making written information for children more accessible by translating it into different languages and, improving the kitchenette, are addressed within the home's action plan. However, while most of the building remains in good decorative order, other parts, such as the main dining hall furniture and crockery, are now also showing signs of wear and tear and damage.

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Progress

Further issues have also been identified as part of this inspection and requirements and recommendations are raised in respect of these. External doors to the home are alarmed during the night as a security and safety measure. These arrangements are not outlined within documentation such as the Statement of Purpose and consents have not been sought from placing officers. It is not possible therefore for the home to fully demonstrate that young people and their social workers are aware of and agree to the measures in place. The Statement of Purpose and guide for young people also do not contain the contact details for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) as required.

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Progress

During the interim period, despite a more robust risk assessment process, there has been a significant increase in the occasions when a minority of young people are missing from the home. This is largely as a result of the recent change in the type of service being provided. The home now cares for local young people alongside unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Appropriate action is taken by staff to safeguard the welfare of young people while they are absent and to secure a safe return. However, there are insufficient staffing resources to enable staff to deliver intensive, individualised care or to be proactive in using diversionary tactics to reduce levels of absconding. It is not possible, for instance, with a staffing ratio of three staff to thirteen children, for one member of staff to regularly meet a child from school to deter them from going missing. The Registered Manager has kept the situation under informal review and has reduced the number of placements for local

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Progress

children as a direct result of the increase in absconding. There is, however, no evidence of formal monitoring of staffing levels in relation to the new service being provided or of whether the needs of the young people now accommodated are compatible. Quality assurance reports completed by the Registered Manager do not focus on these aspects. It is not possible to assess whether they have been a focus during visits by the responsible individual, as reports of these visits have not been received by the home or by Ofsted as is required.

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Progress

Despite these shortfalls and the absence of senior staff, young people continue to receive a good standard of care. The home is mostly successful at stabilising young people who are admitted in crisis. They work well with other professionals to establish long-term plans. Most young people are settled and several young people have made successful transitions to new placements. The home is proactive in securing educational provision and young people maintain good attendance. Some young people have been successful, in the interim, in securing and retaining employment. Staff consistently apply the home's procedures and policies to safeguard the welfare of young people. Behaviour in the home is well managed. There are few sanctions and no physical restraints. Young people are well informed of the complaints procedure and staff encourage them to use it to raise concerns. There is evidence that concerns are taken seriously and responded to. External

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Progress

agencies regularly visit the home to educate and support young people with health issues, such as alcohol and drug misuse. Young people say they 'get on well with the staff and it is a good place to live'.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the children's guide contains the address and telephone number of HMCI (Regulation 4 (3) ( c)) 13/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the statement of purpose contains a description of the use of surveillance; this refers to the use of alarms on external doors (Regulation 4 sch; 1.19) 13/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that electronic or mechanical monitoring device for the surveillance of children are not used in a children's home, except for the purpose of promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the child concerned or other children; this refers to the use of alarms on external doors at night and ensuring that action is taken to meet points (a) and (d) of this regulation (Regulation22 (1) (a)(d)) 13/04/2012 (2001) ensure that copies of the report required to be made under Regulation 33 paragraph (4)(C) are supplied to HMCI and the Registered Manager of the children's home (Regulation 33(5)(a) and (b)) 13/04/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered person establishes and maintains a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals and for improving the quality of care provided in the children's home and supply to HMCI a report of any such review. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) and Regulation 34 (2)) 13/04/2012

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the home a is well maintained and decorated, in particular that the dining room, worktops and electrical appliances in the kitchenette to which young people have access and crockery and cutlery are refurbished (NMS 10.3)  ensure where a child requires it, the children's guide is available through suitable alternative methods of communication such ads translation into another language (NMS 13.6)  ensure the overall number, competence and deployment of staff, both as a staff group and on individual shifts, can fulfil the home's statement of purpose and meet the individual needs of children (NMS 17.1)  ensure there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home, including the quality of provision; this refers specifically to the formal monitoring to include whether staffing levels are adequate to meet the individual needs of young people and to assess the compatibility of services

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