Children's Home run by Stonelake London Limited in Brent

Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 1 Registered provider: Stonelake London Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 25 to 26 September 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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Good

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

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Good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Good

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Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Date of last inspection: Not applicable

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make progress in education with good levels of attendance and attainment.  A strong safeguarding culture exists in the home. Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 2  Staff engage well with key professionals and are alert to changes in young people’s behaviour or attitude that may indicate an increased risk.  The home is led by an ambitious registered manager who is committed to improving outcomes for young people in her care.  Young people reduce risk-taking behaviour, including violent behaviour and running away from the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Two members of staff have failed to attain the necessary qualification to work in a care setting, one of whom is the deputy manager.  The behavioural management policy fails to give sufficient guidance for staff as to when it is necessary to contact the police.

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Recent inspection history

This is the first inspection of the home under the ownership of a new parent company. Previous inspections were conducted under the ownership of a different company. Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

Fitness of workers For the purposes of paragraph (3) (b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"). (Regulation 32(4)(a)) 01/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

Behaviour management policies and records The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out— How appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home. (Regulation 35(1)(a)) In particular, the need for staff to have clear guidance as to when the police should be contacted. 01/12/2017

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people say that they are happy in the home and proud to be known as a ‘[Name of home] child’. The home has a unique family-style atmosphere where young people build close relationships with each other and staff members. There is a strong sense of mutual respect and community. This summer was marked by a number of memorable and enjoyable activities, including a recent overnight trip to an amusement park. Pictures of these activities are displayed proudly on the walls of the home and on cushions in the main living room. Staff are extremely child centred. One staff member recently travelled a long distance on a non- working day to attend a birthday party following a request from a young person. Support continues for young people on leaving the home. Former residents visit the home regularly to spend time with staff and their peers. One staff member comments, ‘Once a [name of home] child, always a [name of home] child.’ Feedback from young people and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

placing social workers supports this. One social worker comments, ‘He [child] feels Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 4 valued with a strong sense of well-being and individuality.’ One young person comments, ‘Everyone has a good heart.’ All young people are engaged in education. One young person recently attained a qualification in sports development, while another has succeeded in sustaining attendance and educational attainment for the first time in two years. All forms of progress are warmly celebrated by the giving of praise and certificates from the staff team. Young people develop self-confidence and push for a return to mainstream education where appropriate. Where additional support is required, staffing resources allow for one-to-one support throughout the school day. Other young people have the confidence and self-discipline to study on their own with minimal need for staff support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people develop independent living skills, appropriate to their age and understanding. Staff and young people enjoy cookery competitions, set out to follow the format of the popular television programme ‘Come Dine with Me’. Staff help young people to develop an understanding of the wider community and broaden their horizons. Young people recently volunteered to support residents of a tower block damaged in a recent fire. This involved collecting clothes and food. One young person comments, ‘I felt privileged to be a part of it.’ Independent living work supports good outcomes. One young person recently enjoyed a planned move back to the family home. He proudly informed the inspector of his new confidence in cookery and other tasks, such as bleeding a radiator. This move was planned over a six-month period and involved close and effective work with his parent. Consultation is good in the home. Residents’ meetings occur regularly and are a useful

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

forum for exchanging ideas and views on the forthcoming activity plans. Young people routinely access independent advocacy. This helps them to challenge any care planning decisions which they disagree with. Young people are confident and able to express themselves during statutory meetings with staff help. Staff support safe and managed contact with friends and family. Visitors are encouraged to attend the home where appropriate. For some, this a first experience of positive contact and an important step towards understanding difficult previous histories. Where contact is not meeting the needs of young people, staff inform allocated social workers and request an urgent review of the care plan to protect young people. Young people benefit from a staff team which is uniquely diverse in terms of age, culture and ethnicity. Staff engage young people in their own cultures, for example recently attending a Caribbean carnival, or enjoying the weekly ‘Jollof Wednesdays’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Healthy living is prioritised. One young person recently achieved a lifetime’s ambition by joining a Premier League football academy. Staff worked with key medical professionals to implement a carefully planned and monitored diet for another young person. This helped the young person to manage a complicated health condition, gain a heathier weight and improve their self-esteem.

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

Young people develop close and trusting relationships with staff in the home. Young Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 5 people say that they feel safe and there are no reports of bullying. Young people get along well with each other and offer strong mutual support. Regular and effective key work develops relationships and identifies concerns quickly. This enables staff to take preventative action and inform the relevant professionals. Staff discuss any potential dangers to young people in the community, such as a recent spate of acid-throwing attacks or the possibility of a terrorist attack in London. There is a strong safeguarding culture in the home based on good levels of staff support. Staff visit local shopkeepers to remind them of the age of young people and prevent the illegal sale of cigarettes and alcohol. Where young people attend places of worship, staff assess the relevant policies and procedure of the venue concerned and

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

ensure that there is no risk of radicalisation or extremism. Staff speak with young people about the dangers of the internet. Young people now ensure that their smartphones do not disclose their location, thus reducing the risk of bullying and intimidation. In addition, staff addressed a recent internet campaign which attempts to promote suicide directly to young people. Behavioural management is good and there is no use of restraint. Staff strive to ensure consistency and fairness for young people. Behavioural goals are reviewed regularly and offer clear and achievable targets for young people. Sanctioning occurs when a young person has calmed down and is able to process the incident. Sanctions are linked to poor behaviours. This allows young people to reflect on the cause and effect of behaviours and develop strategies to avoid repetition. Staff use inventive techniques, such as role play, with young people. This promotes greater empathy for young people and an

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

understanding as to how their actions can be perceived. In some cases, young people voluntarily apologise to the staff member concerned. This marks considerable progress. Risk assessments are comprehensive and offer a vivid picture of the individualised needs of young people. This enables staff to support young people in taking safe and managed risks. Staff use risk assessments and their knowledge of young people to inform behavioural management. For example, staff take a young person on a train ride as a means to allowing him to relax and discuss any issues that are bothering him. However, the behavioural management policy requires updating to offer staff clear guidance as to when police are called to the home. Although this shortfall has not led to any negative impact to young people, confirmation of staff practice in this matter will minimise the risk of young people being unnecessarily criminalised.

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

Staff advocate strongly for young people. Following a recent restraint that occurred at the school premises, staff offered a full de-brief to the young person concerned and carefully recorded the resultant injuries. Staff voiced their concerns with the host local authority and attempted to share their more effective behavioural management strategies with the school to support safer care of the young person concerned. Multi-agency work is very strong. Staff recently liaised with an allocated solicitor to appeal a custodial sentence for one young person. The appeal was successful and the young person returned to the home under a community order. He is progressing well. Young people reduce risk-taking behaviour. There are no reports of missing behaviour in the home. This is confirmed by local police. In the event of this occurring, established procedures and risk assessments are in place to safeguard young people. Violent and

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

Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 6 aggressive outbursts are limited. Young people learn new alternative behaviours and means of self control, such as writing song lyrics or seeking a hand massage from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has transferred into new ownership. The formal change of registration was agreed by Ofsted on 12 September 2017. However, there is no change to the responsible individual or registered manager and, therefore, there was no negative impact on the care of young people. The home benefits from a strong and extremely committed registered manager. Her registration was completed in April 2017. The registered manager is a qualified social worker and has the required management qualification. She has been in post for three years and is a fierce advocate for young people in residential care. She completed a recent dissertation on this subject and continues to promote consistent learning and development among the staff team. She is extremely popular with both staff and young people and supported well by three deputies. Staff morale is strong. There is no use of agency staff within the staff team. The team is

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

extremely motivated and aspirational on behalf of young people. The team contains six qualified social workers. The registered manager uses her experience as a qualified social worker to advocate effectively on behalf of young people and challenge any perceived drift and delay in planning from placing authorities. This helps to ensure that young people receive support promptly and effectively. Staff report good levels of training and supervision. Staff spoke of a recent training session on autistic spectrum disorder and the positive effect on care practice in the home. Staff now understand the value of giving concise and clear instructions to young people. Despite good levels of training, two members of staff have failed to gain the necessary qualification within the required timescale. This is the third inspection where this concern has presented. Managers are eager to develop the home. The registered manager is an active member

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

of a local group of care home providers and uses this forum to discuss and share examples of good practice. Managers have acted swiftly to address the concerns identified during this inspection. Improvements are supported by the regular, effective scrutiny of the independent visitor. Updates to the statement of purpose and children’s guide ensure that young people and professionals are fully informed of the services provided by the home. Managers are inventive and seek new forms of education and training for staff. A sexual health charity recently attended the home to complete successful workshops on sexual health issues for young people. Case recordings, risk assessment and care plans show good evidence of strong management oversight. The registered manager uses her in-depth knowledge of the skills of the staff team and the needs of the young people to rigorously assess any potential admissions. Where possible, admissions involve planned visits to the home and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

an assessment of the interactions with the staff team and potential peers. Where admissions do not progress as planned, managers are reflective and assess areas for potential improvement. If the issues persist, managers pursue placing authorities for Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 7 monitoring meetings and further support. This aids the stability of the home. Recruitment practice is safe. Managers ensure that references are suitably verified and that staff enjoy a positive induction package. Staff induction includes several ‘shadow shifts’. This preserves the stability of the staff team and allows for a full assessment of potential staff members and their ability to meet the needs of young people. The environment is safe. Managers ensure that the home is in a good state of repair with all of the necessary risk assessments undertaken. The home’s premises are appropriately secure, therefore offering a safe environment for young people.

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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: 1264048 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stonelake London Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 211b, Station Road, Harrow HA1 2TP

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 9 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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