Children's Home run by Action for Children in Hertfordshire

Unique reference number SC426172 Inspector Rosemary Dancer Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Action for Children Registered person address Action for Children 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road WATFORD WD18 8AG Responsible individual Shelagh Margaret Zoe Frankcom Registered manager Maria Alexandra Hall Date of last inspection 08/07/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 14/01/2015

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Previous inspection sustained effectiveness Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

No children were present during the course of the inspection.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people progress well as a direct result of the package of care they receive. They are provided with good quality support from staff who know, understand and meet their individual needs and their wishes and feelings. A parent commented that their child, 'gets his case when it is time to go and smiles when he gets to the car park.'

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are kept safe during their short break stay by staff who understand their diverse needs and the risks that these present. Young people's behaviours are known and understood by staff who support them well to modify their more risky behaviours. Where a young person's level of understanding or ability means they do not have a concept of their own safety, staff ensure that they are not at risk from their behaviour or from the behaviour of other young people there.

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Overall effectiveness

There has been a change in the management arrangements but this has not had a significant adverse impact on the quality of the care being provided to young people. Some shortfalls were found during this inspection, none of which have a significant adverse impact on young people's well-being or safety. Shortfalls relate to: the transition arrangements for young people moving into adult services; the 3 of 10 involvement of parents in the external monitoring arrangements and maintaining records that are clear and up to date. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The service is managed by a large charitable organisation. It provides short breaks for up to six children with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/07/2014 Interim sustained effectiveness 30/01/2014 Full adequate 28/08/2013 Interim inadequate progress 25/01/2013 Full adequate

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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 measure of control, restraint or discipline a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose which shall include the details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure (Regulation 17B (3) (b)) 13/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the independent person carrying out visits under this regulation interviews parents, as appears necessary, to form an opinion as to whether children accommodated at the children’s home are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the children’s home promotes the wellbeing of children accommodated there (Regulation 33 (8 (a) (i) (ii)) 27/02/2015 5 of 10 (2001) maintain in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children’s home a record in permanent form which is kept up to date and is signed and dated by the author of each written entry. (Regulation 28 1 (b)(c)) 27/02/2015

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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 when children are leaving the home they are helped to understand the reasons why they are leaving and are supported during the transition to their new placement. (NMS 11.8) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people receiving a short break settle very well into the home and enjoy their stays. They really look forward to their time in the home. A parent stated that her child, 'gets excited when he hears the voices of the carers and gets out of the car and runs in when we get there.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people feel valued because their views are seen as important. For example, they make choices about the bedroom they use, the food they eat and the activities they do while they are there.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people progress and develop and learn new skills as a direct result of their short break. Their self-care skills improve and they learn to carry out tasks such as laying the table for dinner and clearing the plates away after the meal. This provides them with a sense of achievement and impacts positively on their self-esteem and confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

For some young people the short-break experience provides them with good opportunities to develop their social skills through the maintenance and development of relationships with peers.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's favoured activities are catered for and they have fun during their short-break. The environment and facilities, for example the sensory room and play equipment, stimulate them and this helps to develop their senses and learn new skills. Young people also enjoy trips out, such as bowling, eating out and going for a walk. They enjoy the pleasant garden, which is well resourced with adapted equipment; this helps the development of physical dexterity. All of these activities have a positive impact on young people as they are stimulated, engaged in the local community and they have fun. One parent said their child had so much fun the first time he went he asked when he could go again.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people progress in their learning because they are supported to prepare effectively for the school day and work on areas of their development across their life at home, school and the short break stay.

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Quality of care good

Young people have sound, trusting relationships with the staff who work with them. Staff know and understand each young person well. Good thought is given to ensuring that young people having a stay together have compatible needs. This makes sure that where possible, young people have good opportunities to interact 7 of 10 and have fun with peers. A parent said: 'It really benefits her, she gets to see the same young people and has formed bonds with them and the workers.'

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Quality of care good

Staff have a very good understanding and respect of each individual's needs and preferences. Each young person is treated as an individual; practice is child centred. Staff generally understand what a young person is trying to communicate and use a range of systems to communicate effectively with them. Staff gain young people's wishes and feelings and ensure that these are catered for. A social worker commented that: 'Every child is seen as unique.'

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Quality of care good

Care plans identify a young person's individual needs and are developed in conjunction with parents. They form the basis for how young people will be cared for during their short break. They have been further developed to make them more child friendly and focused on identifying targets. They provide good evidence of the positive outcomes young people achieve and how these successes are celebrated.

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Quality of care good

Staff work closely with the schools that the young people attend and support young people's learning well. This is being achieved through the development of a system that is linked into school targets. There is good communication between the home and the schools, ensuring good continuity of care is achieved. Staff work closely with parents. When any issues or concerns are raised, staff take them seriously and address them speedily.

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Quality of care good

Medication is stored securely and medication administration is adequate. The medications system is subject to audit; if an error is made it is fully investigated and addressed with the staff member concerned. Young people's complex health needs are met and staff are trained and competent in various procedures to support young people's health. Young people's dignity is assured because the support provided to them in their personal care is undertaken with sensitivity.

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Quality of care good

Young people have the choice of a good range of activities that keep them stimulated, help them to learn new skills and allow them to have fun with the staff and each other.

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Quality of care good

The home is located in a pleasant area that provides access to a range of community activities. There have been a number of improvements made to the environment that have enhanced the ambience of the home. The internal and external areas of the home are kept clean and are well-maintained. There is a range of aids and adaptations to cater for the needs young people have.

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Quality of care good

Despite the home's best endeavours, young people are not always well supported in their move to adult services. This is due to the local authority's failure to move young people on in a timely way and their failure to inform the home when a move is planned. This means that some young people are not always well prepared for their transition or they remain in the home into adulthood when they would benefit from being in a more adult focused setting. 8 of 10

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Keeping children and young people safe good

While there were no young people present during the inspection, parents and professionals say that children are safe and feel safe at this home with staff. Young people have good levels of supervision that meet their assessed needs while staying in the home. The staff who care for young people provide them with the consistency they need. Staff know young people's needs and understand the potential risks young people pose to themselves and others. Risks are effectively managed to ensure that young people can take part in a range of activities and access new and interesting pastimes in the home and in the community.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There are high supervision levels and sound risk assessments. This means that young people do not experience bullying in this home, nor do they go missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There have been no matters of a safeguarding nature but staff show a good awareness of how to deal with safeguarding matters, including their role in implementing the reporting procedures. Safeguarding is seen as everybody's responsibility.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Although most young people do not understand the concept of a sanction, staff effectively promote young people's positive behaviour in line with their level of understanding and ability. Physical interventions are not used often. When they are used it is for appropriate reasons and are of low level. However, some of the records of physical interventions do not provide the reader with a clear view about what happened during the incident.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The environment provided for the young people is kept safe through routine health and safety checks. Defects are identified and addressed in a timely way, for example, making improvements to the premises in relation to fire safety. Additionally, the vast majority of young people have now taken part in a fire evacuation so that they have heard the alarm and have an awareness of what to do in the event of an emergency. This is important, so that staff know, understand and plan for how a young person may react in the event of a real emergency.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The premises are secure and prevent unauthorised access. Young people are protected from adults who may wish to harm them because visitors to the home are challenged as to their reason for visiting the home and the vetting procedures for staff are sound.

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Leadership and management adequate

9 of 10 The Registered Manager for the home is currently taking extended leave. Her post is being covered by an individual who has experience of working in the home and supervising staff; she has obtained a level three qualification. She is in the process of making an application to Ofsted to register as the manager during the interim period.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home's Statement of purpose underpins the work of the home. It provides a clear view about the services provided to young people and their families. Young people are provided with information about the home, which supports them to understand what they can expect from their short-break stay.

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Leadership and management adequate

Managers have addressed the majority of issues raised at the last inspection. The home has kept Ofsted up to date about changes to its Statement of Purpose. Young people are cared for by a competent and confident staff team because staff have obtained, or are in the process of obtaining, a level three qualification. The vast majority of young people have experienced an evacuation of the building so they can be better supported in the event of a real emergency. Staff ensure that maintenance issues are addressed in a timely way. There has been some progress made in meeting a shortfall found relating to record keeping. However, while records are stored securely, some shortfalls remain in recording practice. For example, some are not signed or dated and when young people's needs change not all documents are updated. This has a minimal impact on young people because there is good communication across the staff team so practice is in line with any changes made.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home is responsive to addressing matters and complaints from parents. The manager ensures that any issues are fully investigated, addressed and that lessons are learnt to inform future practice.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home is monitored by someone external to the home on a monthly basis. This provides an objective overview of the quality of care in the home. The visitor, however, does not talk to parents to gain their views about the quality of care and this means that these important views are not captured. The manager carries out monthly monitoring; this is a useful tool in driving the quality of care because from this she has an adequate view about the home's strengths and areas for development.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home employs sufficient numbers of staff who are child-centred and fully committed to improving young people's lives. The staff team know young people well and provide consistent care to them. Staff are well supported in one-to-one and less formal supervision. Staff feel that there has been a seamless handover between the Registered Manager and the acting manager; this has meant the home has continued to operate well. Staff training needs are identified and catered for to ensure that staff carry out their roles effectively and with confidence. Staff views about working in the home include: 'It is a great place to work, the staff team make it, they are passionate' and 'it is the nicest place I have ever worked.' A parent said: 'I have nothing but praise for them (the staff).' Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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