Children's home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Watford

Inspection report children’s home: SC004429 1 SC004429 Registered provider: Action for Children

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides a short-break service for up to five children and young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities. The home is operated and managed by an independent provider in partnership with the local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 29 December 2014.

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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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good

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC004429 2 14/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/11/2016 Full Outstanding 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC004429 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

The registered person must ensure that a disabled child accommodated in the home is provided with access to such aids and equipment as the child may require as a result of the child’s disability in order to facilitate the child’s communication with other persons. (Regulation 22(4)) 13/07/2018

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Recommendations

 Record information about the child in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people enjoy and benefit from their short breaks. They stay in a home that is adapted to meet their physical needs, and are looked after by staff who have a sensitive understanding of the children’s and young people’s varying needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The uniqueness of each child and young person shines through in the care planning process. Children and young people are safe, comfortable and relaxed because staff understand behaviours and work tirelessly to provide individualised care. As a result, children and young people are less anxious, and more able to communicate their needs and positively express their individuality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people experience high levels of nurture and build positive and trusting relationships with staff. They make good progress as they become more confident, improve their mobility, accept support with their personal care, have better sleep patterns and join in social events such as mealtimes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A range of activities bring enjoyment and the opportunity for children and young people to try new experiences. They develop greater independence and extend their social Inspection report children’s home: SC004429 4 circles as a result of visiting for short breaks. Children’s and young people’s files provide an array of photos of their experiences and achievements, including laying the table, enjoying the sensory toys and going out on a variety of trips.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents are extremely positive about the care provided for their children and the effective communication from staff. Transitions are needs led, which gives children and young people time to acclimatise to staying away from home, and reassures parents. Parents greatly value the recently introduced feedback form, which enables children, young people and staff to evaluate each individual stay. The feedback is especially useful for non-verbal children and young people, as they can show their parents what they have experienced and hope to experience on their next visits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents feel secure and reassured because their children’s health and medical needs are supported effectively by well-trained staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team continues to explore and develop communication resources in order to help some children and young people to manage their behaviours. The registered manager is currently working to introduce an electronic communication application which will offer individualised social stories to help children and young people understand growing up and puberty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, although managers have made inroads into developing staff awareness and practice in supporting children and young people who have sight impairment, there has been some delay due to the cancellation and rescheduling of training. The statutory requirement from the last inspection is not fully met and is therefore repeated.

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

The care planning and safeguarding frameworks are procedurally sound. Staff are well trained, risks are clearly identified and partnership working promotes the safety and welfare of all children and young people.

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

The registered manager implements clear monitoring systems to ensure that care planning is closely scrutinised, and that all plans for children and young people are regularly reviewed to promote consistency of care.

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

Behaviour management plans are much improved. Child-focused staff guidance and practice provide high levels of consistency so that children and young people can manage their anxieties and improve their behaviour. Liaison with children’s and young people’s schools helps staff to work more consistently.

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

Effective planning of admissions and evaluation of the compatibility of children and young people promote positive group living. There are no concerns about bullying.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has extensive experience and a level 5 qualification in Inspection report children’s home: SC004429 5 management. She leads a team of experienced and well-trained staff. They are motivated and passionate in their drive for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is much improved, as the home’s management team focuses on challenging partner agencies’ practice when required. Consistent review of children’s and young people’s support services is developing better collaborative relationships with social workers and local authority managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with parents is a clear strength and is crucial to the good care planning and positive outcomes experienced by children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff recognise the importance of children’s and young people’s participation in the running of the home. The new revamped children’s guide and a symbol-based display of what to do if you are feeling unhappy help children and young people to understand that their views are important.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Consultation is further developing with a recently introduced feedback form to evaluate each individual stay. The section about what staff can do for the next stay gives invaluable information about how the service can be improved. Recent work to introduce an independent advocate to the service will enhance consultation with children and young people. Some liaison with schools is also contributing to the ongoing developments in broadening communication processes for children and young people who have learning disabilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of some records requires improvement to ensure that children and young people are able to meaningfully understand their experiences and achievement.

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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: SC004429 6

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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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Inspector

Elaine Cray: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC004429 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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