Children's Home run by Deborah Pacquette in Waltham Forest

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The judgement of „Requires improvement‟ has galvanised the effort to move the service forward in line with best practice. The manager and staff reflected on what went wrong. They reinforced their commitment to providing a good service and to being able to clearly demonstrate that. They took effective action to address the weaknesses identified at the last inspection and achieved improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The team leader‟s return from maternity leave has increased management capacity. Wanting to help the service that they highly value, the placing authorities intensified their input. The young people‟s social workers made more frequent visits to the home and strengthened their contribution to the care planning and the risk management process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff reviewed the statement of purpose and the young people‟s guide to refresh their commitment towards achieving the values enshrined in these documents. They changed the format for keeping the information on young people‟s files to make them more structured and better organised. An index of contents means that it is easier to find information and to monitor it.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The safeguarding practice in the home has improved in a number of ways. The records now clearly demonstrate that the management of risk is robust. No significant incidents have occurred. Staff have effectively promoted young people‟s constructive and safer behaviour without having to resort to using physical interventions. Young people who currently reside in the home do not go missing. There have been no concerns regarding sexual exploitation or radicalisation and no complaints raised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Online safety now has a much higher profile within the home. The manager has developed an e-safety policy that provides clear guidance for staff. Staff attended the training on protecting children online that was organised by the Local Safeguarding Children Board. They have displayed a poster that promotes e-safety and lists 10 main tips for staying safe online. They regularly discuss e-safety with young people. They monitor this important aspect of safeguarding and comment on it in monthly monitoring reports on the individual young people‟s progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides effective placements that promote young people‟s individuality and enhance stability in their lives. Young people have made good progress across many aspects of their health and welfare. They trust the staff members and enjoy having positive relationships with them and with their peers. They have developed a strong affiliation with the home and a feeling of belonging. This has helped them to build self-esteem and resilience. Genuine care and authentic emotional support have been particularly helpful, for example, when young people experience bereavement. Staff have created a calm and nurturing environment. They provide individualised support in line with the young people‟s up-to-date care and behaviour support plans. The manager and staff work closely with other professionals to address any barriers to young people‟s good outcomes. An example of this is that an educational psychologist has assessed the needs of the young person who

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

continues to struggle with school attendance. To enhance her learning opportunity, she receives individual tuition and mentoring.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have positive experience of living in a children‟s home. They enjoy a good range of activities that promote their interests and hobbies. This has recently included a weeklong horse-riding programme.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff have had an annual appraisal of their performance and plans for further training are in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although management has achieved significant improvement with regards to record keeping, the log of behaviour control measures does not correspond to the information on sanctions on young people‟s files. At the team away day in January 2016, the team will reflect on practice, discuss and agree the amended policies and decide on future priorities. Improving record keeping, strengthening the evidence- based practice and making monitoring more robustly are firmly on the home‟s agenda.

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Information about this children's home

This private home provides accommodation and support to up to four young people who are between 11 and 17 years old and may have emotional or behavioural difficulties or a mild mental disorder.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/03/2014 Interim Satisfactory 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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. (2) In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— (a) the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

This in particular relates to improving the system for recording the use of significant measures of control, such as sanctions, so that it enables easy monitoring. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(a)) 01/03/2016

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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