Children's Home run by Heartwood RSW Ltd in Redbridge

Inspection report children’s home: SC461865 1 SC461865 Registered provider: Heartwood RSW Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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 five children or young people, irrespective of gender, who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to express their satisfaction with their care. A young person described the home as being ‘the best and happiest placement’ they had ever had. They highlighted the positive impact of living at the home, stating that they had ‘changed a lot’. A social worker confirmed that their young person ‘loves it here’. This social worker praised staff members’ work with parents; for some young people, this has assisted with a return to their family home. Shortfalls identified relate to the need for further specialist training and more meaningful educational and social activities. Leaders and managers have partly addressed the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. In the past, the home had an issue with staff retention. Young people now benefit from a relatively stable staff team. Staff exit interviews help to capture the reasons for staff departures. Leaders and managers are also considering

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC461865 2 incentives to contribute towards staff retention. Staff benefit from vocational training and ongoing training that builds on the skills needed for their role. Staff now receive regular supervision, which enables them to reflect on their work. Annual appraisals also contribute to the professional development of staff members. The updated statement of purpose details the current staffing arrangements. Staff make efforts to educate young people regarding the negative impact of their tobacco use. This includes involving health education services and recommending healthier alternatives to smoking. Records also adequately detail the provision of nutritious meals for each young person. Two requirements from the last inspection remain outstanding. Staff do not record all the required information in the children’s register. The register did not include the former

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

address of a young person who had been living at the home for several months. Staff have not undertaken training in working with children with harmful sexual behaviours. This related to meeting the complex needs of a young person, who has since left the home. This means that staff training did not actively consider the potential needs of children and equip staff with the necessary skills. Some young people are not receiving a sufficient level of education, employment or training. Staff endeavour to address this issue. For those young people aged over 16, this includes assisting with college applications and writing a curriculum vitae. However, the home does not have a structure to promote informal learning for young people under and above compulsory school age. This means that some young people spend days doing nothing of value. Some young people benefit from meaningful activities which nurture their creativity,

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

talents and interests. Examples are going to the music studio and army cadets. Young people also enjoy trips to theme parks, the cinema, bowling, go-karting and to the arcade. However, other young people are not involved in activities that assist with developing their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills. There is a need for all young people to be positively engaged in activities which enhance their strengths and build on their skills. This is particularly important if young people are not in education, employment or training. A staff member confirmed that there was a need for ‘more structured activities’. There are improvements in young people’s personal development. They learn to appreciate different cultures; an example of this is attending a Pakistan independence day celebration. Young people learn to develop a positive identity and their birthdays are celebrated in a manner of their choice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff effectively manage young people’s general, emotional and mental health. Key-work sessions enable young people to discuss their thoughts, feelings and issues of concern. A young person highlights that staff have ‘been there for me throughout my good and bad times’. Young people receive encouragement to lead an active lifestyle. Their weekly routines include going to the gym, bike riding and taking regular walks. Young people are developing their independent living skills. They take pride in learning new international recipes and enjoy cooking alongside staff. Young people take responsibility for doing their laundry and keeping their room clean. They also learn the Inspection report children’s home: SC461865 3 importance of budgeting. A young person conformed that staff had ‘taught me a lot’. Young people move into and out of the home in a planned manner. A young person stated ‘when I first moved here, I immediately felt at home’. The home provides stability

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

for young people. The jovial, family atmosphere gives them a sense of belonging. A young person explained that they are ‘like brother(s) and sister(s)… here for each other’. On leaving the home, staff assist with transition plans. They take an active role in introductions and facilitating visits, an example being when a young person moves to foster care. Staff also help young people move with dignity, buying them a suitcase for their belongings. A young person who had obtained a job and moved into independent living stated, ‘I would recommend [name of home] to another young person who is willing to achieve and make their lives successful.’ They added, ‘I class the staff and young people as family now.’ Former residents keep in touch with the home, an example of this is former residents visiting over the Christmas period. Young people learn self-responsibility through negotiating personalised behavioural

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

contracts. Individualised behaviour management plans ensure that staff know how to manage unacceptable conduct. Staff enforce boundaries and appropriately manage socially unacceptable behaviour. Occasionally, staff have to use sanctions to help young people to understand the consequences of their actions. A reward system is preferred, which enables young people to earn items of value. Young people have successfully earned items, such as a new mobile phone and a sports shop voucher. Young people reported that they feel safe. Staff educate young people about their vulnerability, which strengthens their knowledge and awareness regarding personal safety. There are no concerns regarding young people being at risk of sexual or criminal exploitation. Episodes of young people going missing from the home have reduced dramatically. A missing person officer highlighted that the ‘pattern of absence has greatly improved here’. Staff follow missing procedures and liaise appropriately with

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

other professionals. Young people receive care from a relatively stable, experienced and competent staff team. Staff take pride in their ability to form trusting relationships with young people. The quality of interactions observed between staff and young people was notably high. A young person described staff as ‘amazing’. Leadership and management arrangements remain strong. They provide clear direction to staff. The registered manager is very responsive, and aims ‘to nip problems in the bud’. A staff member highlighted the ‘positive changes’, stating that staff were ‘happier’. The registered manager undertakes a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of care. This analyses issues, highlights the service’s strengths and details areas for development. The report included feedback from the police and a relative. The registered manager plans to better detail the views of young people, placing authorities

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

and staff. Strong partnership arrangements enhance young people’s lives. A tutor commented that staff were ‘excellent to work with’. A social worker described the quality of care as being ‘really good’, and they praised the quality of communication. There are also good relationships with schools, the police and drug and alcohol services. Constructive monthly monitoring reports highlight the home’s strengths and identify areas for further Inspection report children’s home: SC461865 4 improvement. A staff member praised the recommendations from these reports, describing them as ‘productive and helpful’.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2017 Full Good 08/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 08/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

The leadership and management standard The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. This relates to training in working with children with harmful sexual behaviours. (Regulation 13((1) and (2)(c)) 01/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

Other records The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4,. (Regulation 37(2)) This relates to maintaining all required information in the children’s register. 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The education standard The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 01/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC461865 5 registered person to— ensure that staff promote opportunities for child to learn informally and help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment. (Regulation 8(1) and (2)(a)(v) & (ix)) 9: The enjoyment and achievement standard The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff develop the child’s interests and hobbies.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 9(1) and (2)(a)(i)) 01/02/2018

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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

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

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: SC461865 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9JX

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Parmeswar Gopee Singh

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC461865 7 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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