Children's home in Hillingdon

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of the last inspection there were some significant issues that were required to be address and there has been some progress in this. Requirements that have been addressed have led to the fire risk assessment being up to date ensuring that risks from fire are minimised, Ofsted has been notified of changes to the directorship and the arrangements for ensuring the independence of the visitor carrying out monthly visits to the home. The Statement of Purpose has been updated and supplied to HMCI and all significant events are notified to Ofsted, although this does not always occur in a timely way. All recommendations have been addressed and this has led to a family feel to the home because young people and staff sit to eat together more frequently; records made when young people go missing are more comprehensively maintained and risks are robustly assessed and updated following incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements that remain outstanding relate to staff recruitment and this means that the suitability of all working with the children cannot be assured. Two people have been employed to do some work in the home with the young people since the last inspection and it could not be evidenced that they had been through a full range of suitability checks. There were also shortfalls noted in the recruitment of the manager. There was only one reference on file and the contents of this had not been verified with the writer. The failure to address this issue has led to the declined effectiveness judgement. Additionally, complaints records still do not provide a clear audit trail of what occurred when and what the outcome has been.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and responsible individual report that the manager receives regular supervision but records of these sessions are not made available to the manager and it was not possible to assess the quality of the supervision due to this. Nor does the responsible individual have a relevant background to provide clinical (rather than organisational) supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff are very good advocates for the young people. It is clear that there is a passion to improve the experiences of young people and help them progress and develop into well-rounded young adults. There have been no young people moving into the home on a long-term basis since the last inspection. Young people who have left the home since the last inspection have done so in an unplanned way. This has been due to the actions of a local authority. The manager and staff have supported these young people sensitively to help them achieve the best move possible under the circumstances. Additionally, the manager and staff have maintained contact with one young person who has moved into more independent living and are providing her with emotional support. Young people say that they do not want to move from this home as they feel settled and that they belong there; they are all happy with the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall young people’s negative and disruptive behaviour has decreased since they have been cared for in the home. They are safer than there were on admission and they are socialising with more appropriate peers. Risk taking behaviours have reduced, especially in relation to being missing from care and therefore being at risk of child sexual exploitation. A young person who it was feared may be involved in radicalisation has successfully completed work with the government’s channel programme.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When compared to the last inspection the atmosphere in the home was far calmer, pleasant friendly conversations were overheard between staff and young people and young people dealt with issues in a more adult way. Physical interventions are not used very often, there have only been four since the last inspection. The records maintained of these incidents are not as full as they should be and do not provide a detailed enough view about what occurred and what the outcome has been.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One area that continues to limit young people’s life chances is their non- attendance in education, training or work although one young person who has just moved on from the home was in full-time employment. All young people have a long history of non-attendance and the manager and staff have gone to great lengths to get young people back in education, training or employment but there has been only very limited success.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (2) The registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that— (a) the individual is of integrity and good character; (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (c) the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must without delay notify HMCI of any serious event. (Regulation 40) 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. It would also be good practice to ensure that it is recorded that children have been asked to comment on the action and have been asked to sign the record. (Regulation 39 (3)) 15/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

35.— The registered person must ensure that— (a) within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— 31/03/2016 (i) the name of the child; (ii) details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vi) the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and (viii) a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered

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Requirement Due date

person to do so (“the authorised person”)— (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and (c) within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 3 (a) (b) (c))

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Requirement Due date

{an asterisk is added in the table above where Compliance = 'Y'} * These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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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

 Continue to act as advocates for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education or training matters including, but not limited to, attainment, admissions, attendance or behaviour, as a good parent would do. (Quality Standard 5.12, pg 27)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that the manager, receives supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (Quality Standard 13.2, pg 60)

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Recommendations

 It is good practice for a note of the content and/or outcomes of the manager’s supervision sessions to be kept and to ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (Quality Standard 13.4, pg 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

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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