Children's Home run by London Borough of Hillingdon in Hillingdon

Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 1 SC032502 Registered provider: The London Borough of Hillingdon Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run and owned by a local authority. It is registered to care for up to 13 young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home specialises in looking after unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. The home has one bedroom that accommodates emergency admissions .

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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. The appointment of the interim manager has been formalised by the home. Ofsted has received an application for formal registration, although one final statutory check remains outstanding. Hence, formal registration was not progressed during this inspection. Three requirements and two recommendations resulted from the last full inspection. The home has complied with all of these except one recommendation, which remains repeated in this inspection. Ofsted received a management report in November 2017. This report outlines the manager’s evaluation of progress and plans for improvement of the home. Staff report high morale in the home. A member of staff said that the team works well ‘in collaboration’. Staff turnover is low and the use of agency staff is limited, allowing for

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 2 greater consistency for young people. Staff value the manager’s knowledge and experience of the home and describe the home as ‘calm and peaceful’. The home environment is improved. The repairs to the games room and home’s roof are complete. The home is now more comfortable and one young person described it as ‘very nice’. Staff training is improved. All staff now have the required national qualification. Staff report effective supervision and performance appraisal arrangements. Staff speak with confidence and knowledge of the key areas of risk within the local community, such as the radicalisation and sexual exploitation of young people. Behaviour in the home is good and the use of sanctions limited. Young people report that staff are consistent and fair in enforcing behavioural expectations. When sanctions occur, staff now consider ‘restorative sanctioning’ more regularly. Recently, this involved

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

one young person cleaning graffiti in the home with staff support, therefore promoting a more effective understanding of the consequences of his behaviour. Young people do not access independent return to care interviews on return from a period missing from the home. This is the second inspection which has raised this as a concern, as it denies young people an important source of support at a vulnerable time. Risk assessments in the home are improved. Where appropriate, key assessments remain updated on a weekly basis with the input of the young person and key professionals, such as the allocated social worker. Staff understand the assessments and work effectively in partnership to safeguard and implement the recommendations, for example evidencing regular monitoring and support.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2017 Full Good 19/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 19/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 3 9.30)

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hillingdon

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Childcare and Early Years Service, 4E/02 Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 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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