Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

Unique reference number SC379199 Inspection date 15/08/2013 Inspector Philip Cass Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 28/01/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a local authority children's home registered to accommodate seven young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress at the home in all aspects of their welfare and development. They routinely attend and do well at school. Because young people have access to a range of health services, they maintain good physical, emotional and mental health. Good health and well-being is supported by a very good range of interesting and stimulating activities. Young people have good opportunities to develop talents, learn new skills and take on exciting challenges.

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Overall effectiveness

The well qualified staff team are skilled at supporting young people to manage their own behaviours and make positive lifestyle choices. Because young people quickly learn to trust staff, strong and secure attachments are formed. These attachments enable young people to feel safe and secure in their home.

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Overall effectiveness

Safeguarding systems are good. Consequently, the risk of abuse is minimised. Managers respond robustly to complaints. Effective quality assurance and monitoring systems mean that shortfalls in practice are identified and addressed quickly. Although management arrangements are changing, interim arrangements are strong.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is required to improve the way that the monitoring of sanctions is recorded. Managers are asked to ensure that, in the event of concerns being raised that might amount to an allegation against staff, there is prompt consultation with all appropriate safeguarding agencies. In addition, it is recommended that all staff commencing employment in the home undertake a recognised induction programme.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any sanction, a full written record is made as required. (Regulation 17B(3)(a)–(i)) 30/09/2013

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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 that allegations against people that work with children are reported by the designated person to the LADO. This includes allegations that on the face of it may appear relatively insignificant or that have also been reported directly to Children and Family Services (NMS 20.6)  ensure that new staff undertake the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s induction standards, commencing within 7 working days of starting their employment and being completed within 6 months. (NMS 18.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people attend school regularly. They achieve in line with targets set at the time of placement in the home. Some young people have achieved beyond the expectations of their teachers. Because young people have good attendance and make progress at school, they are able to gain qualifications that will lead to employment or further education.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home adheres fully to agreed contact arrangements. This ensures that young people are able to maintain links with their families where appropriate. The home is good at helping young people to form positive friendships in the community. Because the home understands and responds quickly to issues related to gang culture in the community, young people are supported to avoid gang affiliations. Because gang affiliation is challenged effectively, young people have a reduced risk of involvement in criminal activity. In addition, as young people are less involved in gangs and criminality, drug misuse is significantly reduced.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Where possible, the home uses restorative justice strategies to deal with incidents of criminal behaviour in the home and the community. As a result, most young people are able to take responsibility for their behaviours in a way that does not lead to criminalisation. The life chances of most young people are significantly improved because their behaviours have not resulted in a criminal record.

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Outcomes for children and young people

A good range of stimulating activities are offered to young people. This enables them to make healthy lifestyle choices and experience success. Young people grow in self- esteem and learn social skills as they participate in community activities. For example, all young people reflect positively on their recent success in climbing Mount Snowdon and are now looking forward to their next challenge. A visit to London has helped young people to learn about public transport as well as providing an enriching activity. Holidays and trips abroad support learning and allow young people to experience different cultures.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home makes good use of training packs, tailored to the individual needs of young people, to support the preparation for independence. The home has a sensitive approach to preparation for independence. This ensures that young people do not experience unnecessary anxiety as they prepare to move on from the home. A successful transition to adult life is supported because the home is good at maintaining contact with young people who move into independent living arrangements. On-going support is provided to young people through outreach programmes. This means that young people are given every opportunity to lead successful adult lives.

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Quality of care

The home is a spacious, well maintained, and well decorated environment. Young people are able to take pride in their bedrooms because they are decorated individually to suit their own tastes and preferences. Because each room has an en- suite bathroom, the privacy of young people is fully respected.

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Quality of care

Staff communicate with young people in a positive, enthusiastic manner. Because staff are skilled at using humour to engage young people, they are able to form relationships quickly. Over time, young people learn to trust staff and are well supported to sustain positive attachments. Strong and stable relationships enable young people to feel nurtured and well cared for. Young people are quick to praise staff. They feel that staff are ‘amazing, really nice’. Young people particularly value the consistency of care that they receive. A young person commented that, ‘staff are always there to help’. The quality of relationship between staff and young people is a key strength of the home.

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Quality of care

Care plans are detailed and provide staff with clear information to meet the needs of young people on a day to day basis. Care plans support appropriate family contact because clear information about contact arrangements is provided. The health needs of young people are assessed fully. Following assessment, young people have access to a range of services to promote their physical, emotional and mental health. Consequently, the good health of young people is maintained during their placement. Care plans also contain adequate information about needs that stem from the culture, heritage and background of young people. This enables the home to address issues of equality and diversity with young people.

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Quality of care

High standards of care are promoted by good communication with social workers and other professionals. Because the home is quick to seek support from external professionals, young people have access to a range of support services. Effective sharing of information means that staff receive support and guidance from specialist agencies to meet the needs of young people.

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Quality of care

Staff use individualised positive behaviour strategies to support young people in developing skills in managing conflict and creating positive relationships with staff. Sanctions are used appropriately to challenge unacceptable behaviours. Young people report that they understand why sanctions are used and that sanctions are fair and proportionate. Consequently, established patterns of anti social and disruptive behaviour are positively addressed by the home. Managers review the effectiveness of sanctions as part of quality assurance processes and take action to amend sanctions if they are not effective. However, the failure to properly record this evaluation in sanction records limits the ability of the home to monitor patterns and trends in the behaviour of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safe, and say that they feel safe, living at the home. The management and staff are committed to the safety of young people. Their ability to recognise the warning signs of abuse and exploitation is supported by training in safeguarding, child sexual exploitation, and internet safety. Where risk taking behaviours make young people vulnerable to abuse or exploitation, the home develops effective multi-agency strategies to minimise risk. Young people are provided with clear information and guidance that supports them to be safe in the community and on-line.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The risk of exploitation in the community is further reduced because the home works well with young people to reduce instances of missing from home over time. Since the last inspection, no young people have been reported as missing for more than 24 hours. When young people leave the home without consent, even for short periods, the home takes robust action to assess potential risks and take action to minimise these risks. These actions include actively searching for young people, reporting concerns to the police, and gathering information from friends and family. This means that young people are protected as far as possible.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm are handled fairly, in a way that provides effective protection for children, and the person making the allegation. Information received by the home, that might suggest the possibility of abusive practice, is carefully reviewed and investigated by external agencies. However, there are delays in consulting with all appropriate safeguarding agencies. While these delays are not in line with the home's procedures, there is no impact on the safety of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The safety of young people is promoted by robust recruitment processes. These include criminal record checks and telephone verification of references. Where the home uses agency workers, managers are careful to ensure that they properly assess the suitability of these individuals to care for young people. The visitors’ record evidences safe chaperoning of unchecked adults in the home. These systems protect young people from the risk of abuse.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incidents of bullying are well managed by the home. Staff are confident to address bullying behaviours, even when it is not overt or the victim does not wish to complain. Clear expectations are given to young people in relation to bullying through individual work and group discussions. Staff recognise problems in group dynamics quickly, and, where appropriate, alternative placements are identified for young people who are unable to interact safely in the group. The strong and proactive response to bullying ensures that the incidence of bullying is minimised.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety is a priority for the home. The risk of accidental injury is lowered as a result of careful risk assessment. There are good, and regularly tested, fire safety systems that minimise the risk of injury in the home. Periodic testing of heating and electrical equipment further reduces the likelihood of harm.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The registered manager has informed Ofsted of her intention to resign from her post. However, appropriate interim arrangements are in place prior to the commencement of duties of a new manager. The proposed manager has taken steps to apply for registration in line her statutory responsibilities.

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Leadership and management

The home responds to complaints quickly and, where appropriate, refers them to senior managers for investigation. This promotes independence and transparency in the complaints process. Investigations into complaints are carried out thoroughly, with detailed feedback given to the complainant. A strong complaints system enables complainants to take their issues further if they are not satisfied with the way the complaint has been investigated. The home views complaints positively as an opportunity to improve the service. This means that lessons are learned effectively from any shortfalls identified.

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Leadership and management

Staff benefit from a comprehensive range of training that supports them to meet the objectives of the home as set out in its statement of purpose. Managers are also effective in accessing training relevant to the particular needs of young people placed at the home. This means that staff have a good understanding of how to support young people and ensure that their needs are fully addressed. Although staff do not all complete a recognised induction programme when they commence employment, the home ensures that all staff undertake a level 3 qualification promptly. This ensures that young people are cared for by suitably qualified staff. Good supervision and performance management systems ensure that staff receive appropriate guidance to fulfil their roles. All staff benefit from regular formal supervision. Staff report that supervision supports them to do their job well. Staff meetings are used well by the manager to set high expectations of success and

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Leadership and management

develop strategies to improve the service.

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Leadership and management

The home has good quality assurance processes. These ensure that the quality of care is monitored carefully, and that shortfalls are identified and addressed promptly. Quality assurance undertaken by the manager is detailed and evaluative. This supports the continual improvement of the home. Continual improvement is further promoted through the home’s development plan. Since the last inspection, clear improvement is seen in key working systems, education planning, preparation for independence, restorative justice approaches, and consultation systems.

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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 main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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