Children's Home run by Destiny House in Harrow

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . The registered person has taken shortfalls identified at the full inspection seriously. She has devised and implemented a comprehensive action plan to address the weaknesses and improve the service further. Out of eight requirements and two recommendations, only one requirement has been restated in this report. The repeated requirement relates to the leadership and management quality standard. The registered person has appropriately amended the majority of policies and procedures to bring them up to date with current legislation and good practice. However, despite being recently reviewed, some policies and procedures still contain incorrect, inconsistent and out-of-date information. For example, the behaviour management policy does not consistently refer to the current

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

regulations. In addition, the home’s procedure for handling allegations and suspicions of harm refers to quality standards that do not exist. Some policies refer explicitly to the revoked national minimum standards for children’s homes. At the time of the inspection, it was also necessary for the registered person to make further minor changes to the statement of purpose. For example, being consistent in relation to the number of registered places in the home, and providing care to young people of either gender. This was despite the registered person reviewing this document in December 2016. Although no negative impact on the staff practice has been observed, the weaknesses in the registered person’s ability to scrutinise the home’s policies, procedures and documents, and keep them up to date, have continued to show. The registered person addressed other requirements and recommendations more effectively. The office and administration is more efficiently organised. The staff

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

duty rosters are appropriately kept. Records evidence that the registered person has maintained staffing at suitable levels. She has created a more comprehensive policy on lone working. She reported that no situations arose when the home did not have any staff on duty. This included the time when young people were at their schools. The quality and purpose of care standard is now met. The updated statement of purpose now specifies the role of the home in supporting and promoting positive educational and health outcomes for young people. The registered person has implemented the home’s statement of purpose more effectively. She has ensured that the virtual head teacher and the local children and adolescent mental health team (CAMHS) fully support any teaching and therapy that has been arranged by the home for the young people. The virtual head and the CAMHS retain oversight of the quality and effectiveness of the educational and therapeutic activities, when

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

they are carried out in the home. The home’s staff advocate for young people more effectively in the fortnightly multi-disciplinary team around child meetings. The young people have benefited from the home’s improved working, together with other professionals and enhanced quality assurance that this brings. The protection of children standard is now met. The registered person and staff safeguard young people’s welfare more robustly. The fire safety, health and safety and the management of risks in general have improved:  All fire exits are now kept clear of any obstructions. The time needed to leave the building in case of a fire has reduced.  The registered person and staff are more aware of the potential risks of young people having access to large, empty chest freezers. One of the freezers that was not needed has been removed. Locks have been fitted to the remaining two that are used regularly to store frozen food.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The crumbling brick wall in the garden has been repaired, therefore reducing the risk of bricks falling.  The registered person and staff are more aware of the potential risks associated with having a swimming pool. On Ofsted’s recommendation, the local authority’s environmental health officer visited the home, evaluated the risks posed by the disused swimming pool in the garden building, and provided information on the management of those risks. The registered person has decided to invest in bringing the pool back into use. The total refurbishment is due to be completed in July 2017. The garden is currently out of bounds for young people. This is due to the health and safety risks, while work is being carried out on the swimming pool. The young people have been consulted about this. They say that they do not mind not being able to access the garden, as they are looking forward to living in the home with the working

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

swimming pool. In liaison with the safer neighbourhood team, the registered person has reviewed security arrangements for the garden. The registered person highlighted working closer with the safer neighbourhood team as one of the most significant developments since the full inspection. She decided to keep the barbed wire on top of the fence. She has disguised the wire with a garden trellis and has placed artificial greenery around it. This has created a more domestic feel to the garden. In line with the inspection report and in discussions with the placing authorities, the registered person has switched off the internal alarm system that made an audible noise throughout the house whenever somebody moved. This has led to young people enjoying a more homely, domestic environment, while continuing to be safeguarded. The surveillance cameras have remained in place in the communal areas of the home. The placing authorities and the registered person believe that,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

in order to safeguard the welfare of young people who currently live in the home, this level of monitoring is necessary at this point of time. The registered person and staff have made a positive difference in young people’s lives. Their ability to form relationships with young people underpins effective safeguarding and promotion of positive outcomes in the home. The highly motivated, stable and skilled staff team and its consistent care practices have given young people a sense of safety, respect and belonging. The young people see this setting as their true home. Even during periods when they did not have good relationships with their social workers, they have continued to engage positively with the home’s staff. Young people have a positive experience of being looked after in this home and do not want to leave. The young people are encouraged and motivated to making positive changes in their behaviours and lives. They have continued to achieve improved outcomes

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

across many areas of their lives. An example of this is a young person achieving 100% mainstream school attendance and excellent educational attainments, after not being in education for a significant period of time. Since the last inspection, there have been no allegations, complaints or significant behavioural incidents. Taking into account the young people’s histories, this is a great achievement for them. Staff are skilled at working with and safeguarding young people, whose behaviours put them at risk. In situations when young people go missing from the home, staff initiate and participate fully in appropriate multi- agency responses. The quality of the service this home provides to young people has improved overall. The requirement relating to the leadership and management standard and the provision of the written guidance on up-to-date practice to staff has been restated for the fourth time.

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Information about this children’s home

This private home provides care and accommodation for up to eight young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 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) 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

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to keeping the home’s policies, procedures and documents in line with current legislation and good practice guidance, the registered person must— (2)(g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (i) developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. 01/06/2017

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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 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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