Children's home run by Action for Children in Watford

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make good progress from their starting points. Staff identify specific targets for children to work towards during each stay. These are reviewed regularly and show the difference the home is making to children’s lives. For example, one child had targets to stop spitting, swearing and stripping off his clothes. These were met after several stays and have been revised to further improve outcomes for the child. Staff support children to become as independent as possible. This includes personal care but also life skills such as using washing machines and making food. Recently children made their own pizzas. This promotes children’s independence skills and their self-confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continually seek out children’s views about their care regardless of their method of communication. This is done on a daily basis and also with specific tasks. For example, children are involved in the review of the children’s guide. Children enjoy coming for short breaks as one child wrote, ‘my bungalow has uplighters in my bedroom and the sitting room. They make me happy. I love it because it’s fun here.’ Parents value the time their children spend at the home as they have complete confidence in the care they receive. One parent said, ‘it is a hard thing to leave your child but I am completely happy with her care. The management of the home creates an ethos and that remains the same amongst all staff. The staff group has remained stable. My daughter loves to come, as we come up the drive to the home she becomes excited.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff safeguard children. Since the last inspection there have been no children missing and no allegations or complaints. Staff are aware of how to respond if necessary and when they need to inform Ofsted of significant events. Staff understand children well and are able to develop highly detailed behaviour management plans. As a result there is minimal use of restraint in the home. When restraint is used all appropriate information is recorded, with evidence of good reflective practice. Staff do not update and review children’s behaviour management plans as the registered manager asks which prevents the staff team benefitting from new information which will improve their care of children. Staff work effectively in partnership with families and professional stakeholders. They ensure that, as far as possible, children’s stays are with friends and are at times which families request. Staff are part of multi-disciplinary teams around

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

children and they remain in close contact with schools, health professionals and specialist therapists to meet children’s needs in a consistent way. This improves outcomes for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the registered manager has made progress in addressing Identified shortfalls. Particularly regarding the information held in the home about staff and children and the training of staff. Some progress has been made regarding gaining parental consent for the use of electronic monitoring and in the registered manager’s reviewing of the quality of care. However, more robust action is required to show that continuous improvements are being made to the quality of care provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides a welcoming environment for children who come for short breaks. The home has the specialised equipment which meets children’s needs but this does not detract from the warm, nurturing ethos of the home. The registered manager has recently received a number of new referrals for the service. She ensures there is thorough assessment so that staff are able to meet children’s needs and that children are appropriately matched. This ensures that new admissions to the service do not disrupt the security of the group and are a positive experience for all children.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home provides short break care. The home forms part of a large charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

30/01/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered provider must ensure the: - 2. (h) use of monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 29/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24(1)(b)) 29/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35(2)) 29/04/2016

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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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