Children's home run by Heartwood Residential Services Ltd in Barnet

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to benefit from good outcomes. They highlight that staff are ‘lovely’ and ‘encouraging’. Young people appreciate the caring nature of staff and that they have their best interests at heart. Staff demonstrate a strong advocacy role, which focuses on the young people’s needs. There is a wish to ‘make a change in their lives’, ‘see progress’ and ‘break negative cycles’. Shortfalls relate to the promotion of informal learning, activities, gang awareness training and care planning. Young people receive continual staff support and encouragement to attend school. On the day of the inspection, some of the young people were at home, due to self- diagnosed ill health. Another newly accommodated young person was awaiting a school place. During school hours, young people were not routinely engaged in educational activities. There was minimal involvement in informal learning. The home has a computer, books and games. However, staff underutilise these

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

resources and the lengthy conversations that they have with young people as an opportunity to stimulate learning. The home is able to cater for a range of young people with complex needs. This includes young people with suspected gang involvement and associated behaviours. This can include young people involved in criminal activity, such as the carrying of weapons. Leaders and managers have identified the need for further training to raise their awareness of gangs to enable them to work more effectively with young people from this background. Care planning does not sufficiently address the risks associated with gang involvement or criminal activity. Placement plans do not include details of the steps that staff will take to manage assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. Leaders and managers have addressed the requirement and most of the recommendations from the last inspection. Young people’s views have a greater

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

impact on service delivery. Quality of care reports better reflect their comments. The revised staff appraisal form includes sections to record feedback from young people and involved professionals. Young people live in a well-maintained environment. The redecoration of their bedrooms and communal areas provides them with a pleasant living space. Staff encourage young people to participate in activities. Young people have enjoyed playing table tennis, chess and going to the cinema. The home has a dedicated activity budget. However, most young people prefer being out with their friends. A young person admits that ‘staff offer you a lot’. There is a continued need for staff to help young people develop their talents and interests or offer them new experiences; therefore, this recommendation is repeated from the last inspection. Staff maintain consistent boundaries. They deliver clear messages regarding

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

expectations and standards of behaviour. The independent visitor recently highlighted the effective behaviour management. Staff use efficient strategies to de-escalate challenging behaviour as quickly and safely as possible. Young people understand the consequences of their actions. They are learning to manage their anger and purposefully resolve conflicts. They are seeing the advantages of using positive aspects of their personality, an example being ‘niceness’. Young people with histories of bullying benefit from online training to tackle this issue. Staff reward positive behaviour through personalised incentives, enabling young people to earn items or experiences of their choice. Young people develop personal responsibility through their weekly targets. This also provides an opportunity for them to earn additional money. Sanctions are fair, focusing on reparation. Staff occasionally have to restrain young people physically and do so appropriately and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

only when necessary. Staff maintain appropriate records regarding restraints and sanctions. Young people benefit from respectful, amicable relationships with staff. There is a united effort to provide a homely, nurturing environment for young people. The home provides a stable base for young people. This gives them a sense of belonging, safety and security. The registered manager prides herself on the ‘secure attachments’ that young people make with staff. Care planning includes identifying individualised goals and targets. Young people engage in meaningful key work meetings where they discuss concerns. Staff provide ongoing motivation to young people, helping them develop goals and aspirations for the future. A good example of this is obtaining a college place for a young person on a course that matches their interests and skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people generally move into and out of the home in a planned manner. They benefit from pre-placement meetings. This helps to familiarise them with the home, rules and expectations. There is an acknowledgment that the home may not be the best option for some young people, due to the ‘pull’ of external factors. Where there are concerns in relation to safety, leaders and managers communicate issues to placing authorities effectively. This enables social workers to facilitate a planned transition to alternative accommodation. Young people benefit from an effective quality assurance system. The scrutiny and challenge of the monthly independent visits focuses on continual improvement. These regulatory reports concisely highlight the strengths and areas for development. Leaders and managers complement this process with their own regulatory report on evaluating and improving the quality of care. Good partnership arrangements support the needs of young people. Links with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

educational establishments ensure that places for young people are prioritised. Staff liaise effectively with the local police team responsible for responding when young people go missing, which safeguards young people. Leaders and managers have also been part of the host authority forums, an example being a group tackling child sexual exploitation. Arrangements with local shops also enable staff to follow up on suspicious activity, an example being underage drinking and selling potentially stolen goods.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children irrespective of gender who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/09/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 26/02/2015 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:  The registered person should ensure each child’s talents and interests are nurtured. Staff should also support children to try something new, where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.4)  The registered person should ensure the ethos of the home supports each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. ('Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure placement plans include details of the steps the home will take to manage assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. This relates particularly to children who have suspected gang involvement and associated behaviours. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality

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Recommendations

standards’, page 42, paragraph 6.4)  The registered person should ensure staff can access appropriate resources to support their training needs. This relates to increasing their awareness regarding gangs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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 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.

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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 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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