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

Unique reference number SC033805 Inspection date 23/01/2014 Inspector Seka Graovac Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 29/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a local authority's children's home. The home is registered to accommodate and support up to six children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last inspection that was carried out on 29 July 2013, the overall effectiveness of the service was judged to be good. All the aspects looked at, such as the outcomes for young people, quality of care, safeguarding and leadership and management were judged to be good.

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Progress

However, some areas for improvement were identified resulting in three requirements being made. The management has implemented an appropriate action plan to address the identified shortfalls. Fuller compliance with regulations has been secured. The improvement that has been achieved means that young people are receiving better service.

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Progress

In respect of behaviour management, the manager was asked to improve the quality of record keeping of physical interventions. There has been only one incident when the staff had to resort to using a physical intervention. This was to stop the young person from causing further damage to a personal property and themselves. Comprehensive records have been kept to evidence that the physical intervention was appropriately used and was effective. Since that time, the manager has introduced a new recording format that combines the information previously kept in two different forms: one to record the physical intervention and another one to record the incident. This change has been introduced to avoid unnecessary repetition and to make record-keeping more efficient. Better record keeping of physical interventions protects staff and young people better and provides for more meaningful monitoring. Stream-lined record-

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Progress

keeping creates more time for the staff to focus on young people rather than on paperwork.

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Progress

Staff expertise in supporting young people to develop more positive behaviours has continued to grow. Staff are able to build relationships with young people based on trust. They are effective at enabling young people to accept more responsibility for their behaviour. They are keen not to criminalise young people, but to work with them to help them develop more constructive behaviours.

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Progress

At the last inspection, the manager was also asked to ensure that Ofsted is notified without delay of all significant events, in line with the regulations, schedule 5. There has been only one incident when staff called the police to the home. As required, this incident has been notified to Ofsted without delay. Notifications being swiftly sent to Ofsted, enables us to scrutinise the actions taken by the home and if necessary, intervene using out regulatory powers. This strengthens safeguarding young people.

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Progress

Staff have become more proficient in the use of the council's information technology systems. This has facilitated easier sharing of information and more effective communication between the home and other professionals involved in the lives of young people. This has had a particularly positive impact on monitoring of young people's school attendance and engagement with learning. All young people are in education and there is a concerted effort to help them attain positive learning outcomes.

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Progress

Since the last visit, the management has particularly focused on improving further the partnership working with other professionals. The home works closely with the local police to ensure protection of young people. Monthly meetings with the police officer designated for missing young people have been reinstated.

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Progress

Staff have been effective at helping some young people to be missing less frequently. For example, some young people are now more likely to keep in touch with staff on the phone, when they are away from home without permission. One young person who was missing for the best part of the first month after the admission, is now engaging well with the staff and not going missing.

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Progress

The third requirement related to improving the reports on the six-monthly reviews of the quality of care in the home, so that they provide for more consultation with young people. The management has developed a written questionnaire to capture young people's views in a more systematic manner and give them a stronger voice in shaping the development of the service. Young people report that they feel listened to. They have positive experience of care and living in this home. They have continued to make good progress across different areas of their welfare and development. They rate highly their relationships with staff and the quality of the service they receive.

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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.

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