Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 1 SC444176 Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home is registered to accommodate up to four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, under short-break arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children‟s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children‟s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 20 January 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children‟s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home follows an evidence-based attachment model. The staff work exceptionally well in using this model with the children and their families, and this is reducing the need for long-term care.  The staff quickly build excellent relationships with the children and their families.  The children are reducing their risk-taking behaviour and are becoming safer because of the interventions of the home.  The children have highly personalised care. The staff review and update the children‟s care plans before each stay.  The manager is well respected and leads by example. He is open to ideas from the children and the staff. The staff describe him as a supportive yet assertive manager.  The feedback from professionals, parents and most importantly the children is highly positive about the care that the children receive.  The children are actively listened to. Their views help to shape the service for them and for future children having stays at the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff team is passionate about its work and the positive difference that it is making to the children and their families.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/09/2016 Full Good 18/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/01/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children who have stays at the home do so as part the authority-wide programme that works to reduce the need for long-term care. The staff work exceptionally well in using this model with the children and their families. The short breaks provide the children and their families with respite from their current issues. The provision follows an evidence-based model of intervention which focuses on children‟s attachment. The service delivers this approach through the children having a period of respite stays and individual and family therapy sessions. Further support is provided through outreach sessions in between the stays. This provides the families with a variety of opportunities to work through the difficulties that they are encountering as a family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff use an effective assessment tool to accurately measure children‟s progress. All of the children demonstrate a positive increase in their scores by the end of their stays. These changes in the outcomes for children show an improvement in their emotional well-being. This, coupled with the reduction in the children‟s risk assessments scores, demonstrate that the concerns and behaviours that initially prevailed have greatly diminished by the end of the period of stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, 23 children have ceased having stays. There are currently 12 children having stays as part of the programme. Their stays are spread over a period of three months. This period is extended when additional support is needed, in order to give the best chance of success for the child and their family. Transitions into the home and the positive ending of placements are managed effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Observations during the inspection showed how skilled the staff are in encouraging the children to participate in discussions and activities. The staff managed to do this without being overbearing. The staff masterfully won children round. All of the children engaged in the pamper evening and the „getting to know you‟ game. The interactions between the children and the staff are warm, jovial and mutually respectful. The children are relaxed and at ease in the company of the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff use a range of tools to help the children to express their feelings. Emotional and psychological support is part of the service offer, and the children and their families engage in this. The children‟s plans are individualised and focused on their targets and objectives. Their daily overviews for each stay provide information about how the child‟s stay has been and the primary aims that were worked on. The staff review and revise each child‟s plan as required, prior to their next stay. This continual revisiting and revising of plans means that the care adapts to each child for each stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff support the children with their education. A child who is gradually reintegrating into school requested that her lessons take place at the home, as she feels happy there. This is being facilitated, despite the home not being a weekday provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children‟s views are sought and actively listened to. The children‟s meetings have a set agenda that includes topics such as equality and diversity, activities, bullying and Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 4 recognising child sexual exploitation. The children are able to use the forum to raise concerns and discuss the plans for the weekend. Recently, the manager met with two children who had requested some changes to the service. The manager highlighted the areas where revision might be possible and those aspects that could not be changed and the reasons for this. One change that is being considered is to end stays on a Sunday night to enable the children to start their school week at home. This consultative approach demonstrates a keenness to incorporate the children‟s views into the service. An independent advocate visits the home on a monthly basis. This provides the children with an additional source of support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children‟s records have accompanying photographs of the children doing activities in the home and out in the community. Children describe positively how their stays have helped them to develop and learn strategies that help them when they are at home, and in their lives in general. The children receive positive feedback from each of the staff who have worked with them over the weekend. This is provided to the children to give their confidence a boost. It demonstrates to the children and their families that there are positives about them. This positive reinforcement assists the children to reassess how they feel about themselves. A child said, „I have become a more positive person.‟ When children leave, they are given a „leaver‟s book‟ that contains pictures from their stays and messages from the staff. These books provide the children with a lasting memory of their stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The house is maintained to a high standard and has a warm and homely feel. The bedrooms are all large, well presented and colour themed. The staff prepare and personalise the children‟s bedrooms, using the children‟s individual boxes of posters and pictures and the toys that the children use for self-regulation. The children have access to a well-equipped garden, a music room, an art room and a new sensory room. The sensory room provides an additional calm space for the children to use.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The display boards throughout the house are informative and inspirational, particularly the reflective canvasses that are created by children who have ceased having stays. An additional benefit of these displays is that they provide children who are new to the home with an understanding of how others have found the experience of going through the programme.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The introduction of themed nights and displays enables the children to develop a wider understating of other cultures. This is being incorporated into a closely entwined way of learning about British values and other cultures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children hand in their mobile phones for the duration of their stays or they opt to arrive without one. The children describe how difficult they find this, but they still comply. The handing in of the phones is required to enable the children to be focused on themselves, and to be active participants in the sessions and the activities that they undertake during their stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff encourage the children to follow a healthy lifestyle. The children sign a contract that advises that they will be supported to reduce/cease smoking during their stays. Emphasis is placed on the unhealthy aspect of this habit, yet it is recognised that, for Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 5 some children, it is used as a coping strategy. One child described how he uses saying that he is going out for a cigarette, even if not smoking, as a way of indicating to his family that he needs some space. The children increasingly identify strategies that they and their families can use to facilitate better communication and interactions. This is borne out by the exceedingly low number of children who enter the care system after the stays and outreach sessions conclude.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children are becoming increasingly more able to recognise their risk-taking behaviour. The staff provide them with the opportunity to focus on these behaviours by facilitating and/or sourcing specialist sessions on topics such as health, relationships and anger management.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The home operates with a minimum of one-to-one staffing unless there are specific concerns that make a higher level necessary. The children have a named adult working directly with them at all times. The staff work with the children on how to keep themselves safe. Topics are discussed during key-work sessions and wider sessional work, such as the relationship talk that was occurring at the time of the inspection. Using external agencies such as Youth Connexions to deliver sessions about topics including relationships and sexual health provides the children with a safe space to explore their knowledge and feelings about these aspects of their lives.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The manager is proud that the need to use physical intervention has never arisen at the home. The staff successfully use de-escalation techniques and manage incidents effectively to prevent them escalating.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children rarely go missing from the home. This has occurred on two occasions since the last inspection. Both of the incidents were reported, in line with the children‟s risk assessments. One of the episodes, in which the child was out of the home but in the sight of a staff member, was reported as part of an agreed strategy with the police. Sanctions are rarely imposed. Those issued are appropriate and involve having discussions with the child at a future session, when they have had the time to reflect on the issue.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff undertake a range of training that helps them to work with the children and their families effectively. The courses include training on children at risk of sexual exploitation, bullying, domestic violence and abuse. Other courses, such as e-safety, mental well- being, and equality and diversity assist the staff in planning and providing key-work and outreach sessions. Building the staff‟s understanding helps to expand their knowledge base and their awareness levels of the children and their families with whom they are working.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The location risk assessment is comprehensive and identifies known or potential risks, Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 6 alongside risk-reduction strategies. The manager swiftly consulted with the designated officer when a child made an allegation and immediately retracted it. No further action was required, but the event highlighted that the manager takes all matters of this nature extremely seriously.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The compatibility of the children is considered at the time that the children‟s stays are allocated. The stays are changed and revised, based on the overview of how each weekend has gone. This enables children to have a positive experience each time they stay.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

No complaints have been received. The service regularly receives positive feedback from the children, families and professionals.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The children do not access their phones during their stays and any access to the internet is on the home‟s computer. This access is protected by the appropriate fire walls. The staff educate the children about the dangers of the internet and topics such as sexting.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The home maintains records that detail the cleaning processes that have taken place, in preparation for children who have chronic reactions to their allergies, such as nut allergies. These records demonstrate the additional steps taken to protect the children from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, the interim manager has completed the registration process. The home now has two registered managers, one of whom is currently on maternity leave. The interim manager holds a level 3 qualification and is undertaking a level 5 diploma in management. He has excellent knowledge of the progress that the children are making. The interim manager and the staff are focused on ensuring that the children have positive stays that help them to build better relationships with their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager expertly leads by example. He is highly respected by his team. The staff describe the manager as supportive and approachable, yet very clear and efficient. A staff member said, „He is the best manager I have had in any workplace.‟ A social worker said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Very positive. Most important is the flexibility of the service. The manager understands quickly what the issues are with the children and their families. He is always available by email, telephone and in person. He is so very open and happy to meet with us and supports the planning process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is dynamic in driving improvement. He scrutinises records effectively to identify any shortfalls or areas for development. This oversight enabled him to highlight an occasion when he felt that the record of advice given during a key-work session could have been misconstrued. The staff member involved was able to reflect on this during supervision and conducted a follow-up session with the child. The manager is continually Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 7 seeking ways to enhance the provision of care. This is evident through the numerous changes that he has put in place in the time that he has been managing the home. He has continued to build on the improvements noted at the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are positive about their work and the difference that they are making to the children‟s and the families‟ lives. The staff advocate for the children. They are enthusiastic and demonstrate a clear understanding of the theory that underpins their work. The staff speak confidently about the strategies that they use with the children to engage them in their stays and the sessions. Key work with the children during their stays and outreach sessions at the families‟ homes enable the key workers to make observations and suggestions, based on a true overview of all aspects of the child‟s behaviour or the parents‟ approaches.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak passionately about the quality of service that the staff deliver. They say that the staff are responsive and quickly identify the needs of the children, and that the staff skilfully build relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff undergo a thorough recruitment process that includes record keeping and mathematical tests to ensure that they can complete the tasks required on shift. The references and eligibility-to-work checks are sought/conducted and verified. The manager has an excellent understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The main issue that he had highlighted was the need to expand the team. He has now achieved this and only has one vacancy to fill.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is seeking to review the stays so that they end on a Sunday night, as many of the children struggle with the fact that they have not been home since Friday morning. He actively listens to the feedback received from the children and their families and seeks to make modifications accordingly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The feedback from a recent survey of children, their families and professionals gave extremely positive feedback. This included compliments about the staff and the overall service received. A child‟s feedback stated that „[Child] loves going to the [stays]. I feel I can be myself. I can take off the “mask” that I always wear around my friends.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The six-monthly quality of care report is informative and evaluative. The monthly reports that are undertaken by the independent visitor are detailed and give a good overview of events that have occurred in that month. The manager uses these reports and his monthly file audits to raise standards of recording.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The team meeting is used to discuss feedback on the previous weekend and to plan the forthcoming one. The children‟s aims and progress are discussed, to incorporate any modifications to their schedules and targets. These ongoing discussions enable the team to work cohesively. The children receive a proactive and responsive service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff complete a thorough induction and they describe being supported and encouraged to develop in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children say that they feel listened to. Parents spoke positively about the way that the staff work with them and their children as families. The parents were able to identify Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 8 how the children‟s stays and the accompanying family and outreach sessions have improved their lives and how they interact as a family. They say that the children benefit from a tailored service that meets their individual needs.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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‟. Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hertfordshire County Council, Apsley One, Brindley Way, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 9BF

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Veronica Bennett and Neil Sutherland

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Inspector

Sonia Hay, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC444176 10 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children‟s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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