Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made good progress against the recommendations from the last inspection. Staff work with young people to improve their understanding and knowledge of the negative effects of tobacco use on an ongoing basis. Young people have undertaken educational sessions in relation to this and a workshop delivered by an outside agency is scheduled shortly. The home’s policy is clear that smoking is not tolerated within the home nor encouraged around the building. This has been confirmed to the young people in writing. Although some young people continue to smoke they are aware of the risks involved and are clear about the rules of the home in relation to this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff now fully understand the behaviour management strategies employed within the home and use the prescribed methods on a consistent basis. Recording and follow up of incidents has improved, is now consistent and having a positive impact on young people in terms of their behaviour within the home. Negative behaviours have significantly reduced and only three incidents involving low level physical intervention have taken place since the last inspection. The manager is confident that this is a direct result of staff fully understanding and consistently applying agreed behaviour management techniques. As a consequence the home provides a calmer environment for young people to live in. Staff make detailed records of every incident of physical intervention but do not always evidence that young people are offered the opportunity to de-brief subsequently. This misses an opportunity for reflection and insight into better understanding what leads to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people living in this home are making progress. One young man is continuing with an apprenticeship and is actively preparing to move to semi- independence. He is also undertaking driving lessons and hopes to pass his test shortly. Although not all young people are currently in education, staff work in partnership with their dedicated educational advisor to find alternative and appropriate provision. In the meantime a weekly timetable, involving learning sessions ensures that they maintain the habit of a structured routine. The manager has been instrumental in developing an independence programme designed to equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to support them within the community. In addition plans are underway to extend this provision through the development of ‘practice flats’. This is to enable young people to gain experience of living independently in a supported way. Two young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people currently living in the home are hoping to progress to this facility.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are proactive in encouraging young people to develop and express themselves through creative and performing arts. Staff inspire young people to discover and cultivate their individual talents, such as singing, playing a musical instrument and writing poems and lyrics. Young people are currently involved in producing a talent showcase at which most of them will perform later in the year. Another young person has been identified as having a particular sporting talent. A member of staff is now working and training with her to develop and encourage this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have individualised support plans, which staff keep up to date. Young people are supported to work towards agreed objectives which they review with key link workers in weekly reflection sessions. Strengths and areas for development are highlighted and all positives acknowledged and celebrated thereby enabling young people to grow in confidence and experience improved self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand risk, particularly in relation to young people who go missing from care and are vulnerable to child sexual exploitation. Incidents of missing from care have significantly reduced and now are a rare occurrence. When young people have gone missing the response from staff is proactive, concerted and consistent. They understand the well established procedures in place and work hard to bring children safely back to the home with the minimum of delay. Staff have strong and effective working relationships with the local child specialist police department which is used to good effect to help keep young people safe. Staff are able to evidence a robust response to specific concerns around risks to a young person from child sexual exploitation. This led to detailed, coordinated, multi-agency plan being implemented, although staff did not notify Ofsted of this incident as required. In this particular instance the impact of not making the notification on

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the young person was minimal as a strong plan to safeguard her was immediately instigated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is committed and passionate about making a difference to the young people living in this home and leads her staff group by example. She has oversight of all records kept and has implemented systems that collect data around progress that inform and assist planning and development. Staff are ambitious for young people and work hard to encourage them to find interests and talents that are developed and cultivated. Relationships between staff and young people are warm, positive and mutually respectful. A number of young people who have made successful transitions into independent living continue to maintain contact and are positive and complimentary about the service they received. Young people currently there, said that they enjoy living in this home and particularly value the support offered to them by staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides a comfortable and attractive environment. It is clean and well maintained with furnishings and fittings of a high standard offering young people warm and homely surroundings.

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Information about this children's home

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

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/11/2013 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious (Regulation 40 (4) (b)) 25/02/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 49 paragraph 9.60)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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