Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council 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 effectiveness . The manager has met the four requirements and the two recommendations that were made at the last inspection. The manager has ensured that Ofsted is notified of serious incidents and any allegations that are made. This provides transparency and enables Ofsted to have oversight of any investigation that is completed. The independent visitor consults with parents, professionals and children. The reports include a statement which details the visitor’s views as to whether the children are safeguarded. The reports identify any actions for improvement, which the manager responds to and addresses. This ensures that the monthly visits clearly relate to the quality of care for the children. The manager’s review of the quality of care considers and reports on the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. This feedback informs the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

report and reflects how the views of others contribute to improvements in practice and service provision. Risk assessments are up to date and comprehensive. The manager oversees the updates to these records following any relevant incidents. This ensures that the risk assessments meet the needs of the child and accurately identify potential risk factors. The manager ensures that debriefings with staff and discussions with children take place following incidents of restraint. There is clear management oversight to ensure that the physical interventions are safe and proportionate. A child who has lived at the home since October 2016 is making good progress. His obsessional behaviours have ceased, eradicating the need for medication to help control these behaviours. The child’s teachers, parents and social worker are delighted with his progress. His father said that he is very happy with the care that his child has received and the progress that he is making. This parent said, ‘We are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

so pleased with the level of care he is receiving. His key workers are so invested in him. Me and my wife are over the moon.’ The staff support the children to make successful transitions from the home. The staff help the children to identify their choice of placement and support the children to undertake planned visits in preparation for their move. The staff provide advice to the staff in the new placements, and they keep in touch with the children to ensure that they are settled and happy. This ensures that the children maintain consistent relationships with trusted adults. The staff use physical intervention when needed to manage behaviour and to keep the children and staff safe. The records detail the type and duration of the hold and the events leading up to the intervention. There are staff debriefings and discussions with the children following each incident. The staff discuss strategies with relevant professionals, such as a therapist. Children’s behaviours are risk

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assessed and strategies are included in their plans. The staff have been successful in reducing the number of incidents and physical interventions for a child because of the consistent approaches and strategies. The children all access education and the children make progress against their education targets. The communication between the home and the school is positive and includes the use of communication books, regular telephone calls and emails. The staff attend education meetings. A teaching professional said, ‘They [the staff] have made a significant impact on one child. I am impressed as to how hard they have worked. They are affectionate towards him and have involved the whole family. He is a completely different boy.’ The children participate in activities that they enjoy. They attend clubs outside of the home as well as after-school activities. Their individual interests are encouraged and supported, which builds their confidence and social skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have positive and nurturing relationships with the staff. There is good feedback from professionals and parents who say that the staff take time to get to know the children. Family contact is promoted, supported and facilitated whenever possible. A social worker said, ‘I am really happy with the home. I think they [the staff] interact very well with the children. Her [child’s] key worker works really well with her and goes over and above and really, really tries to do the best for her.’ The staff interact positively with the children. The staff know the children’s routines well and they know their likes and dislikes and any challenges that the children face. The staff talk about the children fondly and have good knowledge of the children’s achievements and progress since they have lived in the home. There are photographs around the home of the children, which provide a view of their activities and experiences and make the environment homely and welcoming.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has a large outside space to the front and rear of the property. Fence panels to the front of the property were damaged in the recent high winds. There is temporary metal fencing in an area that the children like to use. However, this is not suitable in the longer term. Currently, the children are not able to use this area. One child has recently suffered a bereavement, and his emotional health is a concern. The manager has attempted to locate a resource to provide him with bereavement counselling but has not been successful. He is grieving and demonstrating some concerning behaviours. The lack of specialist training for the staff does not enable them to support him to work through his feelings of bereavement, or to help him understand what he is going through.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care and accommodation for up to six children who have additional needs such as a sensory impairment, a learning disability and/or a physical disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

13/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is with particular reference to the replacement of the wooden garden fence panels.  Make provision for staff to access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) This is with particular reference to training in bereavement and loss.

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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 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 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 whom 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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 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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