Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

Unique reference number SC379199 Inspector Natalie Burton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Hertfordshire County Council Registered person address Children, Schools and Families County Hall Hertford Hertfordshire SG13 8DF Responsible individual Lynn Knowles Registered manager Victoria Naomi Apperley Date of last inspection 16/09/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 09/02/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

The home was judged as adequate at the last inspection in September 2014. Since that time the manager has addressed the five requirements and two recommendations that were raised. The home has continued to make sufficient progress, which has led to positive outcomes for young people.

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This inspection

Regular supervision sessions ensure that all staff are able to share their concerns, ideas for improvement and discus the progress young people make. The manager has implemented a monitoring system to ensure that if the allocated supervisor is unable to complete a supervision that another member of the management team will ensure the staff member has their supervision. This ensures that staff are supported by the manager.

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This inspection

The Registered manager has made improvements to the records held in the home. Records of allegations made against staff are held within a separate file, and clearly detail all of the action taken, decision making and effective sharing of this information with relevant professionals. Therefore, there is clear documentation of the action taken by the service to safeguard young people.

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This inspection

The service has made improvements to their systems in ensuring notifications of significant events are now made to Ofsted. This ensures effective sharing of information and the action taken following the incident to prevent a re-occurrence.

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This inspection

The service has made suitable arrangements for the recording and administration of medication. Clear written records are kept, staff are trained and all medication administered is now recorded. The manager has made improvements to the records and all young people now have individual file and individual medication boxes, ensuring that young people receive the prescribed medication in accordance with their prescription. Additionally, some young people have risk assessments 3 of 6 completed, following consultation with health professionals, which enable them to take and keep their own medication.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has made improvement to the physical, emotional and mental health needs of the young people. This is because, where there is suspicion of young people being involved in the use of illegal substances and cigarettes, staff take robust action. For example, young people are supervised and observed if there is a concern, room searches are conducted, young people are questioned and challenged if needed. Young people have attended a work shop regarding the effects of drug misuse, and have provided them with information regarding the risk involved. On occasion the police have been contacted when illegal substances have been found. This proactive approach, has seen a significant decrease in young people partaking in the use of cigarettes and illegal substances, and therefore their health needs are better met.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has made improvements to the action taken when young people go missing. Staff have a good joint working relationship with the police and social workers, with regard to missing young people and young people at risk of child sexual exploitation. Staff are proactive in trying to prevent young people from going missing. For example, they follow and phone young people and ensure all known information is provided to police in their search for young people. They speak to young people in link work sessions, to try to gain more information, of the dangers and concerns when staff do not know where young people are. Staff robustly implement the homes missing procedure and all staff have recent child sexual exploitation training. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in young people going missing since their admission to the home.

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This inspection

Staff and management have made improvements to the records held within the home. They ensure that records are up to date and that information is available to all staff, including positive incidents and areas of concern for all staff to and now. Therefore, staff have a clearer understanding of the needs of young people, and clear guidance and information is provided. However, some young people’s risk assessments do not detail all relevant concerns. For example, of some potential concerns when missing. While appropriate action has been taken to safeguard young people, this does not fully identify all potential risks to young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager is committed to making further improvements to the service given to young people. For example, all young people are attending workshops to improve their semi-independence skills in line with their age and ability. Young people’s bedrooms are currently being refurbished and personalised, with young people very much involved around choices and colour schemes. Relationships between young people and staff are positive and it so clear that young people enjoy living at the home. They feel safe and cared for. Complaints from young people are rare, and where they do occur, they are sensitively and promptly resolved. Young people have made significant progress in their self-confidence, education attendance and achievement. They benefit because they are now 4 of 6 engaged in appropriate activities such as learning to drive and playing music. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2014 Full adequate 05/11/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 15/08/2013 Full good 28/01/2013 Interim good progress

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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 any activities in which children participate are so far as reasonably practicable free from avoidable risks. With particular regard to if children's risk assessments. (Regulation 23(b)) 31/03/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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