Children's home run by Action for Children in Watford

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC020675 1 SC020675 Registered provider: Action For Children Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home forms part of a charitable organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 19 December 2017

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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 this interim inspection, the home was ‘not judged’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A full inspection took place on 19 December 2017, when the short-break service was judged as good. There were no statutory requirements or recommendations set. The short-break service closed on 22 December 2017.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has since changed the home’s statement of purpose to provide long-term care for children and young people. A new certificate was issued on 22 February 2018. The new service is not planned to start until after 1 April 2018.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This interim inspection looked at the readiness of the children’s home to provide long- term care to children and young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical environment meets the needs of children and young people who have learning and physical disabilities. Standards of decor and furnishings are good and provide a homely environment for children and young people to live in. There is scope Interim inspection report children’s home: SC020675 2 for children and young people to further personalise both their bedrooms and communal areas as they move into the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has clear plans for the development of this home. Recruitment processes are robust and safeguard children and young people. The new manager is currently in the process of registering with Ofsted. The management team is skilled in identifying the experience, skills and qualities that applicants must have in order to build a staff team which embraces the home’s new statement of purpose.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Mentoring for the new manager, by an experienced registered manager from another home, helps to develop excellent leadership. New senior staff have a range of complementary skills to build a strong and child-focused management team. There is currently adequate staffing to respond to the transition and care of two young people. A phased approach to further recruitment, over the next 12 months, is in place to respond as the home increases to full capacity of four children and young people. Plans for staff training are well organised. All staff will receive their induction and mandatory training together as a team. This approach will equip staff with essential training and give them an opportunity to work as a team before children and young people are accommodated in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s statement of purpose provides social workers and parents with information about the home. The young people’s guide includes a range of words, symbols and pictures so that children and young people of all abilities can find out about the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This new service has been set up with strong partnership working with a range of local authority services for disabled children. Contacts and information-sharing with local schools, health and safeguarding agencies are in place.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/12/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 24/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC020675 3 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action For Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Action for Children, 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael O’Sullivan

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Inspector

Elaine Cray, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC020675 4 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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