Children's home run by Holibrook House Limited in Waltham Forest

Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 1 SC037248 Registered provider: Holibrook House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people. Staff use a therapeutic approach to caring for young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. In addition to having two more children’s homes, the company is a registered education provider.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 28 to 29 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

Date of last inspection: 29 December 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are safe and their well-being is promoted by staff and managers who are finely attuned to meeting their needs.  Young people make good progress in their behaviour from their challenging Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 2 starting points.  Risk factors are well assessed, from the admission stage and throughout the duration of the young people’s stay.  Young people build secure and stable relationships with adults in the home who help to raise their self-awareness and self-confidence.  Young people benefit from good partnership working between the staff and managers and the young people’s families and professionals.  Staff and managers help young people make good transitions into independent living.

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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

 Written plans fail to fully explain how some placing authorities intend the home to support some young people with their educational needs.  Young people are not provided with information regarding how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for advice and assistance about their rights and entitlements.  Young people do not always receive an independent return home interview after they return to the home from episodes of being missing.  Staff do not record whether a return home interview by an independent person is offered to a young person who returns home after being missing from care.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/08/2016 Full Good 11/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 3

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 When commissioning a placement in a children’s home, the placing authority must establish how the home will support the child’s educational needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.7)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that the children are informed of how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for advice and assistance about their rights and entitlements. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.19)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understanding the importance of clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4). In particular, staff should record clearly whether a return home interview by an independent person is offered to a child who returns home after being missing from care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress from their challenging starting points. For example, a young person, who had 22 different placements prior to his admission to the home, stayed at the home for a year, which was his longest and most stable placement. During his stay, the young person’s personal care and appearance improved and he built positive relationships with trusted adults in the home. Another young person, who described himself as ‘timid’, said that the staff and managers helped him to become the confident young man that he is today.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager ensures that a good admission planning process is in place. This includes impact analysis, meeting with the young people and partner agencies and arranging visits to the home before any young person is admitted. Managers discuss placement referrals with the staff to ensure that they can meet the young person’s level Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 4 of needs as a team. As a result, young people whose needs cannot be met by the staff team are not admitted to the home. Accommodated young people’s needs are clearly outlined in their individual care plans. Staff and managers follow the young people’s care plans. Such plans are reviewed regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are in good health and staff ensure that any health concerns are addressed. Young people have access to specialist services when they need them. Young people also receive appropriate levels of support in relation to their emotional well-being. For example, in key-working sessions, young people are able to talk about their feelings when they become upset, which has helped lead to a reduction in their disruptive outbursts. Young people benefit from the staff and managers, who utilise the in-house psychologist to find ways to engage the young people. In addition, young people have access to specialist services such as child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) when necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people, who were admitted to the home subject to a youth offending referral order, are supported to engage with the terms of their order. A youth offending officer stated that the young person that they supervised ‘managed to successfully complete’ his order and while it was a short order, she ‘could not think of anything more the home could have done to support him further’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are either engaged in education or apprenticeships. Most of the young people make good progress in their education. One young person’s attendance at her full-time alternative provision is 100%. The school professional described the young person as ‘always well presented with no behavioural issues’ and said, ‘we have been very happy with the home and how they are supporting’ the young person. The young person is now in the process of returning to a mainstream school. Another young person is engaged in a full-time apprenticeship and has a place at a college for a motor vehicle course. Another young person is enrolled an apprenticeship and is waiting for his college course in painting and decorating to start. A young person, who has left the home since the last inspection, attended school full-time and achieved the expected level of progress. This young person has continued his learning without interruption since

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

returning home. A young person’s social worker stated that the staff and managers are ‘strong advocates’ for the young person’s education and ‘do everything they can’ for the young person. They also provide ‘good input in the pathway assessment that is currently in progress’ for the young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers advocate for young people effectively. For example, they advocated for a young person to remain in the home until he moved to his university’s residence hall. This occurred during a period when the young person’s placing authority wanted to move him to semi-independent accommodation. This was done in an effort to promote a smooth transition with as much support as any parent would give to their child starting university. The young person said, ‘They are like my second family. They’re the ones who got me here. Without them, I would not have made it.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two young people, who had short placements in the home, struggled with their education. One of the young people was subsequently moved to another placement Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 5 specifically for her education. There is room for improvement in ensuring that the placing authority identifies an appropriate school or alternative provision for the young person at the time of commissioning a placement in the home and that the placing authority provides clarity on how the home will support the young person’s educational needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people know how to complain. Complaints filed since the last inspection were clearly recorded and handled in a timely manner. They also reflect child-centred outcomes. The children’s guide includes young people’s rights. However, it does not contain details of how they can contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer young people good support and encouragement to develop their independent living skills. The positive relationships between staff and young people continue after the young people leave the home. Young people come back to visit the staff and managers and thank them for their support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are supported to rebuild fractured relationships with their parents and experience positive moments with their families. Staff and managers maintain good working relationships with those who matter to the young people. A parent described the home as ‘a lovely place’ and said that the staff keep her child safe. The parent stated, ‘They’re doing a brilliant job and supporting him well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A young person described the home as a ‘homely home’ and that there was nothing he wanted to change about the home.

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

Young people receive good help and protection from the staff and managers, who are finely attuned to their vulnerabilities. Young people state that they feel ‘safe’ in the home and are able to identify adults they can talk to about any concerns.

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

Risk factors associated with child sexual exploitation, self-harming, offending, misusing drugs or alcohol, going missing and radicalisation are assessed and managed well by the staff and managers. Each young person has a detailed risk assessment in place with specific actions to mitigate the identified risks. For example, where a young person is found to be using cannabis, staff and managers involve a community-based drugs and alcohol intervention service for the young person. Also, staff and managers conduct room searches, while respecting the young person’s dignity, and engage the young person in key-working sessions to further assess their vulnerability and educate them about the consequences of substance misuse. Supervised spending is also used as a means to manage the risks to the young person. Risk assessments are updated and there is evidence of the registered manager’s review of each young person’s

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

Individualised behaviour management plans are thorough and effective. They include de-escalation techniques and other strategies to help the young person contain their maladaptive behaviour. Young people benefit from the therapeutic model utilised by the staff, which focuses on repetitive reinforcement of positive behaviour and routines. For Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 6 example, a young person, who had assaulted several people prior to admission, has not engaged in any aggressive acts during her placement; she has been living at the home for a year.

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

The safeguarding policy is comprehensive and meets the requirements of the relevant legislation. Staff are clear about child protection procedures. They also have good knowledge of the factors that potentially escalate the risk levels for each young person and they know how to respond to heightened risks. Any emerging risks are appropriately identified and assessed, resulting in clear strategies to meet the young person’s needs. Each young person’s risks are shared and discussed in team meetings. This ensures that all staff increase their knowledge of the young person and take a consistent approach to supporting the young person.

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

Investigations into serious incidents or allegations of harm are shared with the appropriate agencies and are handled robustly in line with the statutory guidance. The local authority designated officer said that she is ‘more than satisfied’ with how the registered manager responds to safeguarding concerns and described actions taken as ‘child-centred’.

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

When young people go missing from the home, staff follow agreed procedures. While return home interviews routinely take place, it is not always clearly recorded whether the young person has been offered interviews by an independent person as arranged with the responsible authority. Any emerging factors that may increase the young people’s vulnerability are assessed and discussed by the staff team. Consequently, specific action plans are implemented that help to reduce young people’s incidents of going missing.

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

The systems in place for recording sanctions and restraints are appropriate. Young people’s views are recorded, and there is evidence of the registered manager’s review of the incidents and of the effectiveness of the applied sanctions. Recordings are clear and easy to follow. There has not been a restraint incident since the last inspection.

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

The location risk assessment is fit for purpose. The home has good links with professionals, who work together to keep young people safe.

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

The registered manager ensures that the home is properly staffed to ensure adequate supervision of the young people and that safe recruitment is in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a registered manager who began her tenure as a residential support worker at the home. The registered manager is also registered to run another nearby home owned by the company. She has made effective arrangements for cover as she splits her time between the two homes. The registered manager ensures that the home operates in line with the ethos of the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager’s assessment of the home’s strengths and areas of improvement is thorough and underpinned by the quality standards. Her review of the quality of the Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 7 care provided by the home clearly identifies any actions that need to be addressed. This results in the registered manager’s report being used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands the plans for the young people and actively monitors how they are making progress in the key areas of their lives. She challenges placing authorities when decisions are made that are not in the young people’s best interests. Managers and staff make diligent efforts to ensure that the young people are listened to by stakeholders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager promotes a culture of learning and accountability in the home. Managers and staff learn from feedback, compliments, complaints and any serious events, and they take their responsibilities seriously. Where there are gaps in practice, the registered manager holds the staff member to account. There is evidence of the registered manager challenging staff in supervision and ensuring that agreed actions are carried out. This results in improved practice and higher confidence of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they find supervision helpful as they have opportunities to reflect on their practice and receive feedback on their efforts to promote good outcomes for the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s workforce development plan is comprehensive, and staff are offered training that covers the required and supplementary areas for staff members’ learning. Staff say that the training they receive enhances their direct work with the young people. For example, staff and managers find the in-house therapeutic care training helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of young people’s behavioural triggers and the associated challenges for the staff. One staff member said that when a young person is newly admitted, his or her behaviour can be quite challenging; however, ‘It’s never too late to help a child.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals describe the home’s partnership working as ‘positive’ and compliment their good communication. Managers and staff also work in partnership with families to help young people achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and managers maintain a homely environment. Young people state that they like the home and they treat it as their own.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 8 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: SC037248 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holibrook House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, 172 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 4QH

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Inspector

Linda Kim-Newby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC037248 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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