Children's home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Dacorum

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 effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There was one recommendation made at the last inspection. The manager has addressed this by ensuring that the staff are working with current knowledge and practice having undertaken the required refresher training courses.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children present as relaxed and settled and the interactions between the staff and the children are warm and positive. There has been little change in the group of children. One child has moved in and another child has moved out. The manager tried to maintain the child’s placement, including arranging for her to have some time away from the home, but he made the decision that the child would move out to prevent the deterioration of the significant progress that she had made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have increased their attendance and participation in education. The administrator evidences this positive change by charting their attendance. One child said, ‘My attendance at education is better since I came here.’ He also spoke about boat building, which forms part of his vocational education programme. He proudly showed the boat that he had recently built and finds it hilarious that everyone expects to see a small model boat when he has built a full adult-sized vessel. When asked about his home, and the other children, he said, ‘It’s alright’, and that he finds, ‘all three of the others [children] annoying at times’. His comments were said in the way that many children speak about their brothers and sisters. The staff support and encourage the children to take part in activities and new experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children assist the staff with designing the decor of the home and selecting the furnishings. This encourages the children to take pride in their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of physical interventions is very low, with only one since the last inspection. There has been an increase in one child’s level of self-harmful and risk- taking behaviours. The staff and her social worker feel that she is happy where she is living but that she is experiencing some feelings of confusion about what she wants and where she wants to be, both now and in the future. The staff have addressed and worked through each of the significant events with this child. The staff complete the children’s risk assessments to identify areas of risk and the strategies and techniques that the staff use with the children to minimise these. Some of the risk assessments require updating. The staff have updated others but, in some instances, there are two similar documents on file and there is a lack of clarity about which document is the most recent. This prevents the staff from working with current information and strategies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are allowing children to increase their level of exposure to routine risks, such as the internet, incrementally. One child, having misused her electronic tablet and mobile phone, is having access to these gradually reintroduced. This approach teaches the children to recognise the ways in which they inadvertently place themselves at risk and, in turn, learn to be safer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals had one criticism of the service and this relates to aspects of communication. They say that in some cases they receive information frequently, yet in others it is less regular. Parents echoed this sentiment. The manager and newly appointed deputy manager are in discussion about how they will address this with a weekly and/or monthly update report. This is to enable them to focus on the positive things that have occurred for the children, in addition to highlighting any areas of concern.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The professionals had a number of positive comments about the care that the children receive and the effective partnership working of the manager and the staff. They said:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘[Child’s name] is much safer now as she is not running away.’  ‘The staff are gradually beginning to get him to trust them and [child’s name] is starting to engage with them.’  ‘The manager is supportive and leads by example.’  ‘The manager negotiated for a child’s bail conditions to be changed. It was agreed and it was right decision for the child.’

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care and accommodation for up to five children aged between 11 and 18 years who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/10/2016 Full Good 25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/11/2015 Full Good 29/07/2014 Full Adequate

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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 provider must ensure: (2)(a)(i) that staff 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. (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child from harm effectively. 02/03/2017

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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 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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