Children's Home run by Footsteps Care Limited in Waltham Forest

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made significant improvements in the service and most of the requirements and recommendations the last inspection are met. The physical environment, while improved, does not yet provide a warm, homely environment for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is currently a small, stable group of young people living in the home. Those that are in education, enjoy school and make good progress. One young person regularly attends after school clubs which helps her develop interests and build positive relationships with her school friends. Staff advocate strongly for young people who are not in education, to make sure they get a placement that meets their needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are well behaved and there have been very few incidents of challenging behaviour since the last inspection. These incidents are quickly resolved by staff, who are experienced and trained in behaviour management techniques. This training includes how to use physical interventions safely, but there have been no incidents of young people needing this interventions since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Each young person has a detailed care plan that sets out how staff meet their needs and help them make progress. Plans include targets for young people to develop independent skills, stay healthy and keep safe. This ensures that staff pay attention to the individual needs of young people. Staffing levels are always sufficient to make sure that young people are safe and well cared for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff make sure that young people attend health appointments. Their health care plans are regularly reviewed to ensure young people get the best possible treatment. When working with young people with more complex needs, staff undergo specialist training and seek expert advice to make sure they can provide the care they need. The home sometimes admits young people that do not fit the criteria it is registered for. This does not currently have an impact on the quality of care provided to young people because the group is well matched in terms of their needs and staff are trained and experienced enough to meet their needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team demonstrate resilience and contribute to child centred planning when young people move from the home. This ensures that young people do not leave in an unplanned way and move to a placement that can better meet their needs. One young person moved successfully on to independence. Staff at the home are still in touch with him and he is doing well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager of the home has good systems in place to monitor the quality of care, however they the reports in as required. He quickly identifies issues that may impact on the quality of care provided to young people and takes remedial action to make sure high standards of care are maintained. When child protection concerns arise, he works effectively in partnership with the placing authority to make sure concerns are thoroughly investigated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider does not always ensure that an independent visitor undertakes a monthly review of the quality of care provided by the home. This misses a valuable opportunity to use independent feedback to improve the quality of care. The homes statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the current practice in the home, particularly in relation to the types of young people and the range of needs they provide care for.

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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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Statement of purpose

In order to meet regulation 16, the provider must update the statement of purpose to reflect the range of needs for which care is provided to children. This must accurately reflect the needs of the young people living in the home and be consistent with the range of needs for which the home is registered.

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Statement of purpose

The registered person must compile in relation to the childrens home a statement (the statement of purpose) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. 15.06.2016 (3) The registered person must— (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. Regulation 16(1)(3)(a)(b).

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Statement of purpose

43.—(1) The registered provider must appoint, at the registered providers expense, a person (the independent person) to visit and report on the children’s home carried on by the registered provider. (Regulation 43(1)) 15.06.2016

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Independent person: visits and reports

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Independent person: visits and reports

(7) The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— (a) HMCI; (b) upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; (c) the placing authorities of children; (d) the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and (e) the responsible individual (if one is nominated). 15.06.2016

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Review of quality of care

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (a quality of care review) at least once every 6 months.

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Review of quality of care

(3) After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (the quality of care review report). (4) The registered person must— (a) supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on 15.06.2016 which the quality of care review is completed; and (b) make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (5) The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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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

For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of children, they will in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. The home should seek to avoid institutionalised features such as notice boards so that it more closely resembles a normal family home. The children’s bedrooms should be consistently presented to create a ‘cosy’ and personalised space. They should have, where possible and consistent with the wishes of children; rugs, lamps, mirrors, photos and artwork on the walls. Protective casing around televisions, should only be used where it can be demonstrated that this is necessary to protect people or property from harm (The Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the Quality Standards paragraph 3.9, page 15).

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately operated by Footsteps Care. They are registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight young people with learning difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/11/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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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

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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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