Children's Home run by Action for Children in Hertfordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met four of the five requirements and the one recommendation raised at the full inspection. The requirement relating to the review of the quality of care is unmet. External and internal monitoring is in place, and areas of this are thorough and comprehensive. However, monitoring does not consistently capture the views of parents or social workers. This requirement is restated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a new workforce development plan in place, which has clear actions and targets for the service to achieve in 2017. A ‘moving forward’ board is visible in the office to all of the staff. This board provides information regarding training, team meetings and important dates for the service. It provides accessible information for the staff, ensuring that they are involved in the plans for the service moving forward.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The updated statement of purpose includes all of the required information, which accurately reflects the provision, including information regarding the staffing structure and staff qualifications. Support is in place to enable the staff to understand the aims and objectives of the service. This is evident in the team discussion of the updated statement of purpose in a recent team meeting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The revised children’s guide has photographs, symbols, colourful pictures and words, making it accessible to the children. The children have access to the guide during their stay and as part of their introduction and preparation. A complaints process is in place but there have been no complaints since the last inspection. Clear information in the statement of purpose and the children’s guide advises the children and their parents how to complain.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive monthly supervision. A tracking sheet enables the manager to record the supervisions and to sign them off when they are complete. Fortnightly supervision is in place for new staff. A new staff member said that she felt well supported and that she had a good induction programme. She said [about working at the home]: ‘It is really good and everyone is really helpful and supportive. I am enjoying my work.’ There is good staff morale. The manager and the deputy manager value their team and they are keen to continue to develop the staff members’ individual skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support the children to attend school, and there are positive relationships with education providers. This is reflected in the feedback from the education professionals. One education professional said: ‘I think there has been progress. The manager sets a high standard. She has the right head on and the way in which she manages this is rigorous. She has that passion, which shines through to the staff.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff provide support for the children when they transition to adult services. The staff accompany them on visits to their new placement, and staff from the adult services team visit the home to help with this process. The home’s management team liaises with education providers and adult services to ensure that there is good communication. Parents are positive about the role of the staff in supporting children with their transitions. One parent said: ‘They are helping him. He has met the ladies from the new place, and they [the staff] have also been there with him. I really wish we had found them [the home] sooner. He is going to miss it there.’ This multi-agency approach ensures a smooth transition for the child and reduces their feelings of anxiety or uncertainty about moving to a new environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a careful assessment of new referrals, with a clear focus on helping children and their families who are in need of support and respite. The management team makes every effort to provide an individual package of support to meet the needs of the child. There are pre-admission visits at school as well as tea visits at the home. These visits progress to overnight stays in the home, at the pace of the child. A teacher said: ‘They do get involved with this before the short breaks start. They tend to visit and phone the school and they arrange to meet with the teacher.’ This ensures that there is good preparation for the child, helping them to settle and to enjoy their experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some of the children have complex health needs. The staff team acts quickly if there is an immediate health concern. This was demonstrated recently when a child had an allergic reaction and emergency medical attention was sought. However, since the last inspection, there has been a medication error. A full investigation was carried out and additional safeguards have been implemented. These safeguards include home visits if there is a change in the length of stay for a child. Additional training for the staff is planned. This is an area that requires continued careful monitoring and review by the senior management team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A high number of the children need medication for their complex health needs. The staff are responsible for the management of medication. Currently, these arrangements are not adequately robust and do not sufficiently ensure that the medication has been received and recorded consistently when children arrive at school. The current process does not provide clear supervision of the medication when the children travel between the home and school. Individual risk assessments are in place for the children. However, two of the risk assessments are not sufficiently robust because some information is missing and out of date. This does not guide the staff to address and manage all potential risks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of general risk assessments are comprehensive, and appropriately assess the hazards and the potential for harm. However, the location risk assessment does not provide sufficient information about local policing and therefore does not guide the staff fully in managing risks in the locality.

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Information about this children's home

A large charitable organisation operates this service. The home provides short breaks for up to six children who have learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/09/2016 Full Good 29/04/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/01/2016 Full Good 16/06/2015 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, with particular reference to the location risk assessment, the registered provider must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 6/2/2017

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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)) In particular, ensure that the arrangements are safe and effective. 6/2/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a review of the quality of care provided for children, the registered person must ascertain and consider the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) 6/2/2017

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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

 Maintain children’s on-going health treatment, including the management of medication on arrival and departure from the home and recording and sharing information about when medicine was administered. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.20)  Continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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 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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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