Children's home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Watford

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s and young people’s needs are met because individual care planning links effectively with risk assessments, behaviour management and health needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people make progress in their independence skills and communication as a direct result of their short-stay experiences. Children and young people excel and grow in confidence due to an array of activities, including cooking, outdoor play and the use of a sensory room. Photo displays show children’s and young people’s sheer delight as they enjoy swimming, cinema trips, going out for a meal, visits to museums and days out in Blackpool and Southport.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are always thinking of new ideas and are incredibly resourceful in raising money for the project. For example, the new Swap-Shop project encourages children, young people, staff and parents to donate unwanted items, which can then be swapped or sold. This project enables children and young people to develop a greater awareness of recycling and promotes their thinking about financial potential. Most importantly, children and young people are an integral part of the decision-making process concerning how to fundraise and spend money.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff also maintain excellent relationships with members of the local community, who are keen to fundraise for the service. It is admirable that the recently erected conservatory and the imminent refurbishment of the kitchen are the results of fundraising and of local traders offering their skills and resources.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team’s inclusive and child-centred approach is central to the measuring tool that is used to evaluate children’s and young people’s progress. Children and young people negotiate their development targets with staff. For example, one young person did not think his target was challenging enough. With staff support, he has now increased his independence skills and social skills. This approach gives children and young people a great sense of self-determination and the drive to explore and reach their potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working optimises children’s and young people’s potential to learn and develop. Staff work alongside education staff to match targets that children and young people can work towards, both at school and during their short breaks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Child protection is well promoted in the home; there is good liaison with children and young people’s social workers, parents and the local authority safeguarding team, when required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people experience high levels of safety because the staff team is constantly vigilant and is skilled in understanding that the smallest picture can contribute to the larger landscape of keeping children and young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s and young people’s behaviour improves due to the staff’s excellent insight into individual children and young people. A clear understanding of triggers for behaviour and communication difficulties leads to early intervention and a reduction in children’s and young people’s levels of anxiety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The garden area provides an array of sensory experiences and a range of adapted play equipment. As always, the staff are not content to stand still and they are currently planning a sensory garden, a vegetable patch and a mystical fairy garden, at the request of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Interactive displays provide children and young people with meaningful information about what they can do if they feel unhappy or are concerned. There have been no complaints about the quality of care at the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A team of experienced and well-trained staff care for children and young people. They experience excellent care because staff value training, feel supported by the management team and always place the children and young people at the centre of their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Quality of care remains excellent because the management and the staff team continue to drive improvement. The continued progress of children and young people is continuously celebrated in the independent monitoring reports about the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no shortfalls identified at this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides residential short breaks for up to five young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities. The service is operated by a charitable organisation in partnership with a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/11/2016 Full Outstanding 16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2016 Full Good 27/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

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

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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