Children's home run by CareTech Community Services Limited in Hertsmere

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 11 July 2016. Following this monitoring visit, Ofsted has made a new full inspection judgement in line with our ‘Inspection of children’s home: framework for inspection’. The children’s home new full inspection judgement is requires improvement .

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This monitoring visit

There have been nine visits by Ofsted to this home between February 2016 and February 2017. A total of seven compliance notices have been issued in respect of the quality of care, protection of children, and the leadership and management of the home. Two of these visits were full inspections, both of which found the home to be inadequate, overall.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place following the monitoring visit of 30 August 2016, at which the home was issued with four requirements. Between these visits, there has been significant liaison between Ofsted and the organisation, culminating in a voluntary agreement that the service would not admit children until the home was ready to provide a good service and the environment had been improved to a good standard.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out in order to assess the provider’s progress in addressing the regulatory requirements set on 30 August 2016. Assessing compliance with the requirements has taken place within the context of no children in placement since the last visit. This means that much of the evidence gathered during this visit relates to staff knowledge, rather than their practice. Such staff knowledge is theoretical and has yet to be tested in practice at this home and, therefore, has had no demonstrable impact on any children. Although further improvements are required, the inspection identified that sufficient progress has been made to change the judgement from inadequate to requires improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, there have been widespread changes at the home. The manager has registered with Ofsted and a new responsible individual has been appointed. At present, the staff team consists of five members of staff, including the manager. Three further members of staff are in the final stages of the recruitment process. The current on-call arrangements are sufficient in the absence of children. However, they do not provide for a sustainable swift response in the event that immediate cover is required at the home once children have been admitted.

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This monitoring visit

The staff and manager have made improvements to the decor. However, further work needs to take place. Although there are plans to replace all of the windows of the home, urgent attention needs to be given to the windows in two of the bedrooms. In addition, the manager has identified a need to secure the boundary of the property and to install external lighting to ensure a safer environment. This has yet to take place. The staff are undertaking a range of training and development opportunities. This includes training in first aid, medication and safeguarding. However, one recent recruit does not have a relevant level 3 diploma, despite working in a children’s home previously for over two years.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and staff are able to demonstrate an understanding of safeguarding processes and procedures. The manager, the responsible individual and the team leader have assured themselves that they fully understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They have met with the designated officer from the local authority and have also provided the staff with different scenarios to test their knowledge of what to do in various safeguarding situations. During this monitoring visit, the staff were able to articulate the course of action that they would take, demonstrating an awareness of whistleblowing and child protection procedures.

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This monitoring visit

With the exception of one, all of the staff have had physical intervention training. The staff are able to explain what they would do following any physical intervention. They can outline what they need to record and how they would do so. This means that they understand their individual responsibility for promoting children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

The staff have an understanding of managing child sexual exploitation. They have received training on this issue and are aware of some of the indicators that could suggest that children are being exploited.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and the staff are receiving regular supervision. However, the records of the supervisions received by the manager are brief. As a result, they offer limited evidence of challenge, guidance or reflection.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private organisation operates this setting. The on-site school provides education for children of up to 16 years of age.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular regard to the windows in the home and the perimeter fencing and lighting, the registered provider must: (2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, in particular regard to the on-call system, the registered provider must: (2)(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (2)(e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification, the level 3 diploma in residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’) or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma by the relevant date, which in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014 is 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32(3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(b)) 01/06/2017

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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 manager receives supervision that is reflective and that the records of the supervision capture this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. out in 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

to 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

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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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