Children's home run by Virgin Care Limited in Camden

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last 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

Young people continue to receive good care and support. Staff engage with young people in a caring, sensitive and professional manner. They demonstrate a good understanding of young people’s individual needs. Young people are relaxed and happy in the home. They enjoy positive interaction with staff including singing nursery rhymes, reading stories, planning activities and making general conversation about school life and home life. A parent said, ‘My daughter does loads of activities and socialising that I couldn’t do. She goes swimming, shopping, (to) restaurants, uses the bus, and she has developed new skills.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s placement plans are comprehensive and provide staff with clear guidance on how to meet young people’s needs. Associated risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. The plans contain up-to-date moving and handling plans. These provide staff with guidance to ensure that young people’s specific needs are met. Some moving and handling plans contain pictorial presentation of how to support young people when using overhead hoists and slings. Staff undertake this activity with sensitivity and reassurance towards young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that body maps are maintained to record noted injuries, such as scratches and bruises. However, in respect of one young person, the registered manager has not always recorded the action that she has taken to demonstrate how she has responded to this. This includes informing all the appropriate agencies and authorities. The registered manager undertook immediate action to address this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people are accessing this short break service, staff work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals and family members to ensure that young people’s health needs are met. One young person has specific needs in respect of their diet. The registered manager ensures that staff adhere to the strict guidelines that were devised by a specialist dietician. She ensures that clear and concise records are maintained to record the diet and the specific daily medical checks that are required to monitor the young person’s health and well-being. Staff follow the agreed protocols and take appropriate action when there are concerns in respect of this young person’s diet. Since the last inspection the registered manager has taken robust action to arrange training for the staff team in augmented communication. In addition, the use of augmented communication appears on staff meeting agendas. At the time of this

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection staff received training in signs that are commonly used by young people. The impact of this training has yet to be evaluated and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have not been any uses of restraint in the home, any incidences of young people going missing, or any complaints from young people, parents or other professionals. The registered manager said that there have not been any matters to report to the designated officer of the local authority, or to children’s services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that regular checks are undertaken on the home’s fire prevention equipment. However, not all staff have taken part in regular fire drill training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that there is regular scrutiny of the quality of care provided. Any recommendations that are made by the independent visitor are acted upon. Since the last inspection she has reviewed the processes that evaluate the benefit that young people receive from the activities they do when staying for a short break.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both requirements and two of the three recommendations that were made at the last inspection have been met. The recommendation relating to the dining facilities has not been fully met. There is one dining area in the home and, at times, space can be compromised when the home is fully occupied. As a result, on some occasions not all young people and staff are able to sit around the table without rearranging the tables and chairs and, at times, moving tables into the lounge area.

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Information about this children's home

This service provides short breaks for up to seven children who may have a physical disability, a learning disability or sensory impairment. It is managed by a national care provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/08/2016 Full Good 17/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/05/2015 Full Good 16/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/10/2014 Full Good

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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, the 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must –

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Requirement Due date

12(2)(b) ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that detailed records are maintained to record the action that the registered manager has taken when there are unknown causes of bruises and scratches to young people. This includes informing the appropriate agencies and authorities. 03/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

25(1) After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must – (d) ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of a fire. 28/02/2017

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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

 Ensure that the requirement is met for children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the children, which means that they will, in most cases, be homely and domestic environments. In particular, review the current dining arrangements with a view to improving these facilities, so that when the home is fully occupied, the dining facilities are adequate to meet young people's individual and collective needs. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 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 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 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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