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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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 home was last inspected in December 2016. Three requirements and one recommendation were raised. The manager has taken action to address the shortfalls. During this inspection one requirement and two recommendations were raised. The home is judged as having sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken action to update the statement of purpose. It now reflects the changes that have been made to the service. The amendments to the document make it clear that the service now provides settled care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A ‘Social Story’ has been completed with a young person to aid their understanding and gain their consent to the use of a bedroom door alarm. As a result, the young person understands the process in a way that meets his learning style.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has updated the admission and discharge log. It now records the addresses of all children and young people prior to admission. As a result, the record is kept in line with regulation. This ensures that the movements of children and young people can be referred to at a later date.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvement has been made with regard to helping children and young people to gain access to an independent advocate. The manager has sought independent services to support the children and young people. As a result, an independent advocate has visited the home. Children and young people feel listened to.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no admissions or discharges since the last full inspection. Children and young people remain settled. Staff continue to support children and young people to live a fulfilling and exciting life. Staff continue to work in partnership with external professionals to ensure that the health and educational needs of children and young people are met. For example, staff organised for an optician and a dentist to make home visits for one young person. As a result, the young person was able to complete the assessments without suffering any anxiety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two staff have been safely recruited since the last inspection. This ensures that children and young people are safe from unsuitable candidates having access to them. Staff are supported through an induction process. However, the induction process does not include reference to the home’s whistle-blowing policy. This means that staff may not be familiar with the process of how to report concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff offer praise and rewards to recognise the personal achievements of children and young people. The behaviour management plans indicate how to support children and young people through difficult times. Since the last inspection, staff have used physical intervention to manage difficult behaviour. Although the staff work in line with the behaviour plans, the records of physical intervention are not always recorded in line with regulation. For example, the location of the incident is missing from the report, it is not clear what action or methods staff used to avoid the intervention, and the effectiveness and consequences of the use of the measure are not clear. Staff provide a weekly report to update social workers on any episodes where physical intervention has been used. The social workers are happy with the way information is shared. However, the home’s policy in relation to reporting any use of physical intervention differs from practice. It is not clear when

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the manager completes the debrief, as the record does not specify a date. As a result, it is difficult to ascertain whether the debrief has been done within the regulatory timescales.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has recently delivered some internal training around autistic spectrum disorder. This has helped the staff to share their experiences of working with the individual children and young people. As a result, staff are now more aware of all of the children’s and young people’s individual personalities because information that was shared through the workshop has improved their knowledge. Staff have involved the children and young people in preparing for World Autism Awareness Day. Children and young people made T-shirts that had a specific trait of their personality printed on them. As a result, children and young people feel proud of and content with who they are.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for six children who have learning and/or physical disabilities. This is a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/12/2016 Full Outstanding 10/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Good 27/01/2015 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) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the location of the use of the measure, details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure and the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iii)(v)(vii)) 28/04/2017

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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 staff are familiar with the home’s internal whistle-blowing procedures through the induction process. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.9)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and that they understand the importance of careful, and objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 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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