Children's Home run by Destiny House in Harrow

Destiny House Inspection report for children's home

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Unique reference number SC038906 Inspector Juanita Mayers Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Setting address 170 Whitchurch Lane, EDGWARE, Middlesex, HA8 6QJ Telephone number 020 8621 0773 Email eleanor@destinyhouse.co.uk Registered manager Eleanor Johnson Date of last inspection 08/01/2014 2 of 6 Destiny House

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress 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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the last full inspection, seven requirements were made. The Registered Manager and her team have applied the learning gained from that inspection to successfully address some of the requirements.

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This inspection

Staff are now receiving formal supervision and dates are in place to complete staff appraisals.

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This inspection

A location risk assessment has been developed which details potential risks related to gang and drug culture in the area. The manager has liaised with external agencies to fully identify and give consideration to other potential risks; a lack of response from some agencies has hindered the full assessment of all risk factors and the manager is taking steps to address this.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has taken action to ensure monthly monitoring visits by an independent person takes place, with written reports being provided to stakeholders and HMCI. However, internal monitoring systems by the manager are not up to date and the requirement relating to this is reinstated. The home’s Statement of Purpose and children’s guide have yet to be fully reviewed; the requirement relating to this is also repeated.

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This inspection

The shortfall in the home's environment in relation to providing adequate means of escape in the event of a fire has been addressed with two defined and signposted fire exits.

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This inspection

Young people’s records now contain specific information on their previous address prior to placement at the home and the statutory provision of the placement.

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This inspection

Young people continue to make exceptionally good progress in the home. 3 of 6 Educational engagement is good for some young people, with satisfactory levels of attainment, despite facing considerable obstacles in their pasts. One young person said that the staff team are working hard to help him 'turn my life around and have high expectations for me to get into music college'.

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This inspection

Staff advocate on behalf of young people and strive to maintain working relationships with external professionals to ensure positive outcomes for young people.

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This inspection

Young people have said they feel safe in the home, incidents of risk-taking behaviour and episodes of missing from home reduced. Staff receive appropriate training in safeguarding and are aware of their responsibilities.

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This inspection

The home has a strong ethos on positive behaviour and use positive affirmations and consistent boundary setting; as a result, sanctions and restraints are rarely used.

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This inspection

A variety of activities are arranged and provided for young people such as music workshops and cinema trips. Young people are also encouraged to socialise with friends and invite their peers to participate in activities in the home.

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This inspection

Young people are encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles. Staff are good at encouraging young people to take responsibility for their health and ensure appointments are kept. Food provided in the home is appropriate and of a good healthy standard; cultural and religious requirements are well catered for.

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This inspection

Young people have positive relationships with staff and say the staff are like ‘my family’ and this is my home. Staff have positive attitudes to working with young people and encourage them to pursue and live safe and better lives. Young people are encouraged and helped to make contact with family and significant people and to maintain a positive sense of cultural and religious identity.

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This inspection

Overall, the home provides a safe and comfortable environment. Young people have good interaction with a staff team who remain positive and promote better outcomes for all. The staff continues to maintain a good quality of care for young people and have the capacity to improve on the service provided. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to eight young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 25/06/2013 Full adequate 26/03/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 17/12/2012 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

5 (2001) keep under review and where appropriate, revise the statement of purpose and the children's guide and notify HMCI of any such revision within 28 days; and if the children's guide is revised, supply a copy to each child accommodated in the home (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c )) 13/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed in the home have the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work, this specifically relates to the qualifications and experience of the education tutor (Regulation 26 (3)(a)(b)(d)) 13/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at least once in every 3 months. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)) 13/04/2015 5 of 6 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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