Children's home run by Action for Children in Watford

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 reflects the improvements since the last inspection and the significant progress young people have made. This inspection identified three regulatory requirements, one relating to the environment and two relating to records. The latter two do not directly impact on the experiences for young people The registered manager has made some good progress against the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Medicines that require cold storage are now kept securely in a lockable fridge located within the medication room, which is also kept locked. This ensures that all medication is safely stored so that children and young people are not able to access it under any circumstances. Information relating to young people that is required in the register for the home is now updated and complete. This relates specifically to their home address, admission dates and placing authority. Consequently, there is now a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

comprehensive record in place to reflect young people’s placements. The manager has written to every parent and placing authority explaining the use of surveillance during the night. Similarly, with regards the use of door alarms on young people’s bedrooms. In addition, the manager has sent consent forms to all parents requesting their consent to such measures being used if required. Some parents have responded to confirm their agreement and staff are actively pursuing others who are yet to reply. Fire drills and practices continue to take place on a regular basis within the home and where possible occur when young people are on-site and able to participate. If a young person has not been present during a fire drill, staff show them the evacuation route and where possible walk them through it. Staff use appropriate communication methods to ensure they understand and then record this on individual personal emergency evacuation plans. These actions promote young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people’s physical safety. All staff required to undertake the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare are now enrolled on appropriate training courses. They have either started or are about to start the required learning, which is likely to increase their professional knowledge and skill base. The children’s guide to the home has been updated and amended and contains full information about policies, processes and relevant contacts identified as missing at the last inspection. It is written specifically for young people in an accessible and easily understood style. The manager has recently updated, amended and submitted the statement of purpose to Ofsted. Information about management arrangements is still not correct, however, and does not reflect most recent changes. Also, although there are some guidelines around accepting emergency admissions, greater detail is required. This is particularly in relation to safeguarding very young children and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

obtaining prior agreement of timescales with placing authorities when accepting emergency placements. Each young person has individual care plans, health plans and risk assessments, which are personal and appropriate to their needs. Key workers regularly review and update records and effective monitoring systems ensure that this happens on a regular basis. However, staff do not always sign and date documents so it is not always clear who has undertaken and completed the review. Staff are currently in the process of obtaining young people’s individual education plans and where appropriate, including school targets in short break aims and objectives. Staff are also collating dates for school reviews, and arranging to attend and contribute. This will help to ensure that planning for young people is more joined up and holistic Social workers and parents spoken to said that staff work hard to enable young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people to make progress and have had some significant success. Young people have targets to work towards for each stay and daily records note the smallest of successes. Plans are in place to introduce a more sophisticated tool to better reflect the progress of young people accessing this service. There has been one physical intervention since the last inspection, which was recorded fully and has been audited by the manager. The intervention was both appropriate and proportionate, with opportunity for de-brief given. Staff use sanctions infrequently as most negative behaviour is de-escalated before it becomes problematic. Young people do not go missing from this home due to the high levels of staff support. Staff understand risk indicators, which are addressed in individual risk assessments. There have been no complaints or allegations since the last inspection. A safeguarding notification around a medication error has been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

made. The manager was able to evidence that a full and robust internal investigation followed and that appropriate actions were taken. The commissioning authority undertook an external audit of medication administration, which has further strengthened and safeguarded the process. Staff offer young people the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities, both in the home and in the wider community. Staff are creative and inventive in finding different ways for young people with varying abilities to enjoy participating. Staff encourage young people to play a part in planning their own activities, particularly those who are moving towards independence. A number of young people recently planned all aspects of their own day trip, which was a significant achievement for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is large and spacious but lacks warmth and a welcoming environment. Carpets are worn, marked and damaged. At best they look unsightly and at worst provide trip hazards. The flooring in the kitchens and bathrooms looks old and stained and in need of a deep clean. Fixtures and fittings, such as curtains and blinds are faded and dated and there is little in the way of pictures and soft furnishings to create a homely environment. Throughout, walls are marked, scuffed and have patches that require filling. Decoration of the whole home is not of a good enough standard. It does not provide young people with a comfortable and nurturing home within which they can relax and enjoy short breaks. Staff have attempted to create the best environment possible with limited resources, but some communal rooms still look institutionalised and individual bedrooms bare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has devised a comprehensive development action plan, covering most aspects of the service. They acknowledge that they are at the beginning of a period of driving forward improvements. Management and staff are committed to improving young people’s experience of this short breaks service.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides short break care and accommodation for up to eight children and young people with a learning and/or physical disability. A charitable organisation operates this setting.

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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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the purpose of care standard, the registered provider must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (c) (i) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. This is with particular regard to the communal bathrooms, bedrooms, lounge and kitchen. 25/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it, particularly in relation to emergency placements and management arrangements. (Regulation 16 (3) (a)) 25/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1) (c)) 25/04/2016

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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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