Children's home run by Holibrook House Limited in Waltham Forest

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s records regarding current safeguarding concerns are unsystematic, fragmented and confusing. It is very difficult to see a clear and coherent picture about the actions that the deputy manager and staff have taken in response to the safeguarding concerns that were raised by a young person. These allegations concerned a member of staff and another young person resident at this home. Allegedly, the staff member was verbally abusive and the resident was physically abusive towards the young person. The allegations came to light a week before the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The deputy manager has not recorded a plan of investigation or any other actions relating to the allegations. No records have been made regarding some important professional discussions. This includes the deputy manager’s conversations with the young person’s social worker and the service manager. The underpinning thinking and the risk assessment that led to the staff member’s return to night duties after a temporary suspension have not been recorded. The deputy manager was unable to evidence that the investigation was concluded before the usual pattern of working was re-established. The registered provider has decided that the allegation did not need to be shared with the designated safeguarding lead for the local authority. Again, no records relating to this decision were available.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The lack of clarity, and the confusion in dealing with the allegation against a staff member extends to the records and the actions that the home has taken regarding the alleged incident of peer-on-peer physical abuse. It appears that this related to a play-fight that escalated. Not all young people’s social workers have been informed of the concern. It appears that the deputy manager is leading the investigation. It is not clear who made this decision or why. The deputy manager was unsure what to do with the emerging findings. Staff said that they have done some work with young people to promote safer behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The records relating to the investigations in relation to the allegation against both the member of staff and the resident young person are poor. The statements were inappropriately recorded in the young people’s contact sheets and kept on the individual files. The recorded time and the names of the staff who carried out the investigative interviews did not match what the staff members told the inspector.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No records were available to show if the provider considered notifying Ofsted of the allegation against a staff member and the other safeguarding concern raised at the same time, or the reasons for deciding not to notify Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Due to poor record keeping and the staff’s lack of confidence, the home is not clearly demonstrating that the right safeguarding actions and decisions have been taken. The staff have had training on how to safeguard and protect young people in the past 12 months. According to staff, dealing with allegations and concerns was only touched upon at the training. Their main learning was about making sure that they report any concerns to the registered manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the registered manager’s absence, the recently appointed deputy manager and the staff team have failed to demonstrate that they have a thorough understanding of the appropriate safeguarding procedures. Not robustly following safeguarding and child protection procedures increases risks to young people’s safety and well- being. The management arrangements for covering the registered manager’s leave have not been effective in maintaining good safeguarding practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, some young people have continued to make good progress across different aspects of their well-being. For example, one young person’s school attendance increased from 55% in July 2016 to 82% in November 2016. However, another young person’s school attendance decreased from 100% in May 2016 to 38% in October 2016, which was the last available figure. The overall trend regarding the frequency of young people being missing from the home is that they go missing less often. However, one young person who did not go missing from this home has now run away and is refusing to come back.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people’s feedback about the home was not as positive as at the full inspection. They said that they felt safe, but not as happy, for various reasons.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people between the ages of 11 and 17 years. Staff use a therapeutic approach to caring for young people who may experience behavioural and emotional difficulties. In addition to having two more children’s homes, the company is also a registered education provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/08/2016 Full Good 11/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/09/2015 Full Good 13/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered persons must make sure that staff: (1.2) (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which: (a) is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and (b) sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (2) The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular: (b) provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located; (d) provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response; (e) describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34(1)(2)(b)(d)(e)) 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if: (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(c)(e)) 01/02/2017

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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