Children's home run by Virgin Care Limited in Camden

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement 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

The arrangements in place for children being admitted to this short stay children’s home are good. A thorough assessment of a child’s needs is undertaken by the home in consultation with families, social workers, schools and health professionals, and a placement plan is made. The assessment includes an occupational therapy assessment of the living environment, and adaptations to the home are made before the child arrives, when this is necessary. The child’s transition to the home is carefully arranged and is gradual, and includes visits and overnight stays. This helps children to prepare for living away from home. Following this initial stage, the placement plan is reviewed and revised to meet individual children’s needs. Key workers have specific knowledge of children’s plans and the progress they are making in the home, and this knowledge informs ongoing reviews of the plan.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children who come to this home for short stays continue to do so for a long time, and they enjoy their time at the home. The staff prepare and make plans for young people who are moving on to adult care services. This includes the provision of a life story book recording memories of the time the young person has spent at the home. This improves their sense of well-being. One parent commented, ‘Fantastic care, and my child really enjoys going there and has been prepared by the staff in readiness for leaving.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is effective internal monitoring of the quality of care provided by the home. Monthly visits by independent visitors record recommendations for service improvements, and these recommendations have been seen to have been acted on. The registered manager conducts a six-monthly review of the quality of care, and produces a written report on the same. The review is now detailed and identifies a range of actions, many of which have been seen to have been acted on. These measures help to improve practice and increase the quality of care for the children placed. The registered manager is about to go on maternity leave and although the home did not formally inform HMCI about this one month in advance, this has now been done and included informing the regulatory body about the interim management arrangements. There are good arrangements in place to ensure the safety and well-being of the children living in the home. The home notifies appropriate authorities of all

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

significant events as required by regulation, and there are effective recording systems in place detailing children’s behaviour management and support. Staff are trained in appropriate methods of restraint, and when such incidents occur staff are debriefed and risk assessments are amended. Routine health and safety and fire safety checks are frequently conducted, and a review of the location risk assessment is conducted annually. These measures help to keep children safe. The home has implemented all of the requirements and recommendations of the previous inspection, and the home now: properly maintains staff training records; has proper arrangements in place for the administration of medication; has revised risk assessments to give clear guidance for staff; ensures that staff are debriefed within 48 hours of a restraint incident occurring; provides children with healthy and nutritious meals; and produces reviews of the quality of care which detail areas of

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who may have sensory impairment, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Care and accommodation are provided on a short-break and flexible basis.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 25/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 02/10/2014 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

If the person who is in day-to-day charge of the children’s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI no later than one month before the proposed absence. (Regulation 48 (1)(2)(a)) 10/02/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the children's home provides a nurturing and supportive environment. Specifically, that the rear garden area be improved to provide a pleasant area for children to play. ('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 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, 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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