Children's home run by CareTech Community Services Limited in Hertsmere

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

This home was last inspected in January 2016 and was judged to be good.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has ensured that the requirements have been positively addressed. Young people are now able to access a freely available telephone. As a result, young people can maintain contact with their families and so reinforce their familial attachments. Similarly, the complaints process has been strengthened and is clear to all staff and young people. There has been one complaint since the last inspection; this related to a neighbour requesting that some trees were pruned. This has been swiftly completed and records clearly show the actions taken. The use of electronic monitoring devices is now formally agreed by parents and young people’s social workers. This ensures that those with parental responsibility are fully aware, and consent to the use of, these safeguarding measures. Young people benefit from a home where there safety is appropriately managed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not go missing from the home and do not engage in risk-taking behaviours. The needs of the young people are varied and in some instances, complex. Should a young person go missing, the staff team have clear protocols in place and are clear in their responsibilities. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has made contact with the local police and has reviewed the home’s procedures. This ensures that staff are not complacent and are alert to the possibility of a missing young person. This solidifies the safeguarding arrangements in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress as a result of being at the home. Where they are due to move to new placements, they are supported with the transition arrangements. Staff are nurturing, caring and have a genuine interest in helping young people to lead healthy and happy lives. A social worker commented that ‘when the young person arrived, their behaviour was very challenging. They have made progress and are now more independent.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restraint has not been used in the home for some time and not since the last inspection. Should this change, staff are able to clearly record the incident and are trained in the home’s chosen method of restraint. Sanctions for negative behaviour are not used in the home. Rewards for positive behaviour are regularly given in their place. For the majority of young people, this is an appropriate way to promote positive behaviour. However, some young people have a more developed understanding of boundaries and what is acceptable. Where they display socially unacceptable behaviour, the emphasis on only recognising positives means that some incidents go unchallenged by the staff. This does not reinforce positive boundaries or expectations for young people. As a result, young people are not always encouraged to reflect on their actions or fully develop their empathy when incidents occur. This also means that there is some inconsistency in how behaviour

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

is managed as staff do not have a clear framework in which to challenge socially unacceptable behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This lack of challenge has also meant that some young people are able to have unsuitable video material in the home. It is recognised that these items were brought from the family home and are the young person’s property. However, this means that young people under the age of 18 are not challenged when they bring films of an adult nature and rating, in to the home. The registered manager has failed to reinforce expectations with young people and their families. As a result, some young people do not develop a clear understanding of the home’s rules or boundaries. The potential also exists for inappropriate material to be viewed by younger children. The registered manager was made aware of these materials and has assured Ofsted that they will be immediately removed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home environment is, on the whole, well maintained. Monthly checks are in place and these are enhanced through quarterly reviews of the physical environment. However, these reviews do not happen in accordance with the organisation’s prescribed timescales. For example, quarterly reviews were completed in July 2015 and December 2015. This quarterly review is more detailed than the monthly check; the infrequency of these checks means some areas are not robustly scrutinised. This is further compounded by a lack of management oversight in ensuring that repairs are made swiftly and checked for their suitability. Some areas for the home are in need of attention as there is damage; a young person’s drawer is missing, a young person’s door has unfinished plasterwork around the frame, a window is missing a handle, a smoke alarm in an outside room is intermittently bleeping, there is a cracked light fitting and a young person’s

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

wardrobe has a redundant lock. Some trees in the garden have recently been removed and this has exposed a low fence in the garden. There is the potential for this to provide a potential risk of persons accessing the property.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The views of social workers are very positive. Comments include; ‘the young person is very comfortable with staff and is encouraged to do lots of activities’, ‘the support the young person receives is appropriate for their needs’ and ‘the young person is thriving very well.’ The home continues to have a positive impact on young people’s lives and is a service valued by placing authorities. There are some environmental shortfalls that require attention and some shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home. The home is judged to have sustained effectiveness.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to for six children with learning disabilities. The home forms part of a large social care company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered provider must ensure—

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Requirement Due date

(2)(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 15/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

(1)(b) promotes children’s welfare 15/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (The guide to the Quality Standards, page 46 paragraph 9.38)

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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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