Children's home run by Action for Children in Watford

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The children are happy and have good experiences.  The children enjoy a range of activities inside and outside of the home, which helps them to develop their social skills and supports them to develop their interests.  Staff are nurturing of the children’s individual friendships and social relationships. The staff team has positive relationships with children. Staff formulate their own child-centred plans, which assist them in meeting the different needs of each child.  The staff team has a good skill set and is able to adapt to the varying needs of the individual children.  Staff understand the children’s behaviours and how children communicate their feelings through their behaviour.  Staff treat the children with dignity and respect and encourage them to make their own choices.  Professionals and parents say that the children are happy and safe during their stays.  Professionals, carers and parents feel well informed and appraised of any

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The children's home provision is good because:

changes or issues.  The children have access to an advocate who visits the home monthly. The advocate is welcomed and supported in her role, and this ensures that the children’s views and wishes are considered.  The inspection also identified a number of shortfalls. Some eligible staff have not completed the level 3 diploma or equivalent qualification, staff do not consistently receive regular supervision, employment gaps were not recorded on one recruitment file, gaps in recording were identified in some records and there have been three errors in managing medication.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)(a)) 22/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification, the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32(4)(5)) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 22/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which are kept up to date. (Regulation 36(1)(b)) 22/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the system of monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provides for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(5)) 22/11/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Maintain good employment practice and ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short breaks for up to eight children and young people who have a diagnosed learning difficulty and/or complex health needs. A charitable organisation operates this setting.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

During their short breaks, the children have the opportunity to develop their confidence, social relationships and friendships. Staff know the children well and they meet the children’s individual and complex needs. The physical environment is good. There is new wooden flooring throughout, freshly painted walls and new carpets in the bedrooms. The home and gardens present as homely and welcoming. The rooms are clean with good-quality soft furnishings. The manager has been creative in completing this task by securing assistance from a local college. This has improved the environment considerably for the children, which was identified as a shortfall at the last inspection. The children are able to move around the large, airy home with the level of support that they need. The well-equipped sensory room provides additional stimulus. Staff plan the group dynamics of each stay carefully, to ensure that there is

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Good

compatibility. Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and are child centred in their approach. They know the children’s likes and dislikes as well as their individual interests and personalities. Warm interactions between the staff and children support children to feel safe. Staff develop the children’s interests through activities, such as arranging the Halloween decorations around the home and exploring artefacts in the home during an education session provided by the local museum. This means that the children look forward to spending time at the home and enjoy being there. A child said that he would be happier if he stayed at the home for ‘two to three nights’ rather than just one night. The children make their own choices as much as possible. Their independence is carefully balanced against the need to keep them safe. Staff nurture the children’s friendships. A parent said, ‘Staff support my child to attend a local youth club as

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Good

well as facilitating a visit for her friend to the home. They are really thinking about her and what young people want and they are taking this one step further.’ The staff support the children with their daily school routines, and there are clear channels of communication between the home and education providers. This ensures that children’s care is consistent and helps them to transition between their family homes, school and their short breaks. A registered nurse provides medical training to the staff team to support the staff to provide the appropriate medical care. Staff access training prior to taking responsibility for administering medication. Despite having processes in place to administer medication, there have been three errors since December 2015. Full investigations have taken place and disciplinary procedures are evident. However, it is concerning that these errors continue to happen. This has the potential to

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Good

The home provides a safe physical environment for children who have a range of complex health needs. Individual risk assessments are current and reflect risk reduction strategies. A social worker said that the children whom she works with are well protected and safe at the home. She said, ‘If a child is vulnerable, they will always have someone with them. There are always several staff around, and they will stay with them and supervise just in case anything was to happen.’ The children have access to an advocate who visits the home on a monthly basis. This provides an additional layer of protection for the children. The advocate said, ‘The staff are mindful of my role and give me the space to see the children. Without the staff’s support I could not do my job.’ There have been no incidents of children going missing since the last inspection. There is a missing-from-care protocol in place, and managers attend meetings with

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Good

the local police. The risk of children going missing is low, due to the levels of supervision. Staff use positive management of behaviour. They understand signs and symptoms of distress and respond in a low-key manner to help children to reduce their feelings of anxiety. Staff have not used physical intervention since the last inspection. Staff are aware of issues around deprivation of liberty. They work with the local authority to complete assessments in relation to all children aged over 16 years. This provides a considered approach to ways in which those children are able to progress their skills and make their own choices safely. The children have introductory tea visits to the home. There is an advanced plan, and this is at the pace of the child. The staff are able to anticipate issues through careful allocations while considering the needs of the children. A social worker gave very positive feedback regarding the assessment of the needs of the children and

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Good

the provision of care. The management of allegations regarding staff is appropriate, and investigations are completed in accordance with safeguarding protocols. Judgement grade

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Requires Improvement

The leadership and management require improvement because, although there are areas of good practice and there are good outcomes for children, there are shortfalls in a number of areas. The majority of the staff team members are appropriately qualified. However, one eligible staff member has not yet commenced a level 3 qualification, despite having worked in the home for a number of years. This means that not all staff have the qualifications required for their role. Staff are subject to safe recruitment processes. References are verified, and relevant checks are made. However, there was a failure to record the explanation for employment gaps for a new member of staff. This does not provide a clear account to show that all of the enquiries to establish suitability to work with children have been satisfied. Staff are not receiving regular effective supervision. This does not provide the staff with the oversight and performance monitoring that they should expect to receive.

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Requires Improvement

Supervision records across the last quarter of the year identify that a number of staff members have not received an appropriate level of supervision. This includes new staff who should receive supervision more frequently, in accordance with the organisation’s policy. There is an action plan in place to provide supervision training to the staff members who are responsible for delivering supervision. There is a lack of clear management oversight in relation to the children’s file recording. There is a lack of information explaining the rationale for action or inaction. This does not provide a clear record to evidence how staff have safeguarded children. The monitoring of the quality of care is evaluative and identifies areas for improvement. However, it does not include the views of parents, professionals and children. Failure to obtain and act on these views means that key people do not have a voice in the quality of the service.

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Requires Improvement

The manager has been in post since October 2015 and registered with Ofsted for this home since February 2016. She has significant experience of working in residential care and she is suitably qualified for her role. She has previous experience of managing a similar home within the organisation and is a qualified social worker. A core training programme ensures that staff have the essential knowledge that they need to provide appropriate care for the children. A sufficient number of staff have received training in key areas, such as Buccal Midazolam, first aid, medication and restraint. Careful shift planning is in place to ensure that a suitably trained staff team is available and able to meet the needs of the children. Members of the management team have also completed ‘train the trainer’ courses, which enable them to develop the staff team’s skills. There are a number of new staff. These changes in the staff team have had an

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Requires Improvement

impact on staff morale. The manager recognises this and has put in place informal daily morning meetings. This helps to promote communication and assist in alleviating any issues. Staff continue to deliver a good level of care to the children and have a range of skills and experience that collectively meet the children’s needs. The manager has recently reviewed the statement of purpose, which accurately reflects the current services provided. The location risk assessment is up to date and takes account of the potential risks and concerns in the local area. The manager notifies Ofsted of significant incidents in the home, which enables Ofsted to have an up-to-date view of the practice in the home. The staff work well with parents, carers and other professionals, embracing a holistic approach to the children’s care needs. Communication is good and parents say that they are well informed. A parent said, ‘They are really good, and the key

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Requires Improvement

worker contacts me if there are any problems.’ Another parent said that staff consistently use the home-school book, and this is really positive. Parents feel confident that their children are well cared for. A parent said, ‘The staff embrace all the things that my daughter enjoys. She likes the small staff team. This is important for her safety.’ Another commented, ‘I know that he is happy and is safe.’ The children’s plans are child centred. The plans fully describe the children’s routines, health needs, dislikes and likes. This ensures that while the children stay at the home they are safe, receive appropriate care and have access to support to enable them to progress.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 that 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. 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

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Information about this inspection

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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