Children's Home run by London Borough of Hillingdon in Hillingdon

Unique reference number SC068789 Inspector Mark Fitzgerald Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Telephone number 0208 561 9216 Email afoale@hillingdon.gov.uk Registered person London Borough of Hillingdon Registered person address Civic Centre High Street UXBRIDGE Middlesex UB8 1UW Responsible individual Tony Zaman Registered manager Karen Barnaby Date of last inspection 14/01/2015 2 of 7 Inspection date 04/03/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

Young people, many of whom have profound and complex needs, make good progress as a result of the high quality of care provided at the resource centre. The interim manager is experienced and provides effective oversight and leadership. All of the statutory requirements and recommendations arising from the previous inspection in January 2015 have been met in full. Young people are protected by the care provided. The quality of partnership working is good.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has started a period of maternity leave in the last fortnight. Interim management cover is provided by a manager experienced in providing respite and residential care. In addition to the two deputy managers, quality assurance support is delivered by a manager from a sister home.

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This inspection

The home provides a safe environment for children and young people. The building is on two floors. Access throughout the building is controlled by electronic key fobs. The visitors’ book now contains details of the purpose(s) for which visitors come to the centre. The outside area provides young people with the space and equipment for a number of different activities. There is a fence surrounding the property to ensure children and young people are safe.

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This inspection

The areas for decoration referred to in the previous inspection report have been addressed. Areas are light and spacious. Bedrooms have distinct colour schemes and are individually accessorised according to residents’ own interests. A wider programme of decoration has been postponed due to the resource centre being in greater use during the half-term holiday period. The intention is to re-start this in the next two weeks.

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This inspection

The overnight short breaks capacity of the home is not fully used. One of the eight places available is filled at the time of inspection. 3 of 7 There have not been any new admissions or departures from the children’s home since the last inspection. New referrals are received regularly for access to the day services and tea visits functions of the service. Care planning is detailed, robust and informed by good quality assessments.

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This inspection

The quality of care is very good. A comprehensive, impressive handover demonstrated an attention to detail and personalised care.

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This inspection

Attendance and engagement in education is central to the ethos of the home. The young person in placement makes use of a mainstream resource appropriate to his needs.

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This inspection

Young people’s physical, mental and emotional health needs are being met. The staff team works with specialist health professionals to ensure young people gain access to the mental health services they require. On the day of inspection, immediate access was secured to mental health services for a young person in acute need. The efficiency of the process, from assessment to an urgent referral, to the prompt provision of support, shows the priority given to the well-being of young people.

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This inspection

The staff team supports young people’s contact with their family where it is safe and possible to do so. Such contact allows young people to feel connected to their families and in some cases prepares them for a return to the home setting.

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This inspection

Children and young people are asked about the activities they want to join in with. The activities are personalised to their own individual needs. A range of activities provide a stimulating environment for children and young people.

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This inspection

A stable staff team provides consistency of care for the residents. This minimises the need to call on staff that are external to the home. The effect on young people is that they are cared for by adults they are familiar with, and who are familiar with them.

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This inspection

The change of management has offered the opportunity for a refreshed look at the structure and functioning of the provision. A number of recent changes are already making improvements to the service being provided.

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This inspection

Detailed requests for services and placements are received in accordance with a new referral protocol. Decisions on these referrals are informed by good quality assessments.

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This inspection

Staff meetings are held fortnightly. As well as focusing on the needs of children and young people, the content of these meetings alternate between business and development sessions. Staff are provided with supervision by the manager and the two deputies. This provides support for staff and allows them to reflect on their 4 of 7 practice. This means that children and young people have their needs met by workers who are knowledgeable and skilled.

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This inspection

A revised staffing rota has been introduced which ensures that management support is available to all shifts and that all shifts have team leaders. Team meetings are also scheduled more efficiently to allow the most staff to attend. The recent changes made to the pattern of working have already led to less reliance on the use of agency staff.

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This inspection

There are currently five part-time vacancies being advertised. The shortfall is currently met by more efficient use of the existing staff team.

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This inspection

Monthly visits and reports by an independent visitor to the home are in place. The quarterly review of the quality of care has been sent to Ofsted. The submission of these reports to Ofsted is now timely and regular, and meets the requirement identified at the previous inspection.

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This inspection

The staff team safeguards children and young people to a high standard. There have not been any instances of physical interventions, missing episodes or bullying since the last inspection. The safeguarding policy required as a result of the previous inspection has been created and implemented, so the requirement has been met in full.

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This inspection

The safeguarding policy was introduced during a child protection workshop attended by all staff in February. Workers’ understanding of the policy and associated practice implications were then tested by managers. As a result, staff are aware of the policy’s existence and know how to implement it. In March the whole team received training on child sexual exploitation. This has raised staff awareness of the signs and effects of child sexual exploitation. Children and young people are better safeguarded because staff members have this knowledge.

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This inspection

Each shift is preceded by a detailed check of emergency exits and alarms. This ensures that service users are safeguarded in the event of an emergency.

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This inspection

The process of obtaining information for the review of the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises has proven constructive in establishing and developing relationships with local agencies and services.

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This inspection

The staff team works well with social workers and families to progress care and support plans. The new manager has set up parent/carer meetings to take place every two months. These meetings are to foster better understanding of the provision and to develop relationships with families. They have been arranged for various times of the day on different days of the week, to make it possible for as many families as possible to attend.

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This inspection

The views of families about the standard and nature of the service provided have 5 of 7 been sought by managers. In response to the feedback the home has received, booking procedures will change from April 2015. The new procedures are designed to offer families more flexibility on how they wish to use the support allocated to them. Assessment, treatment and support are provided as a result of good co- operation between the home and relevant professionals. 6 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority service provides overnight short breaks, medium and long-term provision for up to eight young people aged between 10 and 17 years old who have physical and learning disabilities. In addition to this, the service also offers day services and tea visits.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2015 Full adequate 28/03/2014 Interim inadequate progress 07/05/2013 Full good 07/02/2013 Interim good progress Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections 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

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The 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 relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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