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

Inspection report children‟s home: SC032600 1 SC032600 Registered provider: London Borough of Hounslow

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides a short-break service and full-time care on both a permanent and emergency basis for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, physical disabilities, learning disabilities and sensory impairment.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2017 Full Good 09/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/08/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC032600 2

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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 independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

(a) children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

(b) the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person‟s report to—

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home‟s safeguarding policy includes detailed information on the arrangements for the safeguarding of young people in relation to e-safety. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 44, paragraph 9.19)  The behaviour management strategy should be understood and applied at all times by staff, and must be kept under review and revised where appropriate („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 46, paragraph 9.34). In particular, staff should be proactive in removing known triggers and using de-escalation strategies as outlined in the behaviour management plan.  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each young person and the arrangements in place to protect them („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 42, paragraph 9.5). In

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Recommendations

particular, risk assessments on child sexual exploitation should be clear and detailed. Inspection report children‟s home: SC032600 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive good individualised care from staff and managers who understand their needs. Young people‟s needs are well assessed and effective arrangements are made to support transitions and discharges.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people experience positive stays and make good progress, given their challenging starting points. Young people have positive relationships with staff and managers who prioritise making them feel comfortable. A parent said she „never worries‟ when her child is at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people who have limited verbal abilities are encouraged to communicate through the use of a picture exchange communication system, Makaton signing and other communication methods. Staff recognise signs of distress in the young people and respond appropriately. Young people know how to complain. They are encouraged to express their feelings and are helped to feel understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people‟s health and educational needs are well supported, even when these needs are complex. A school professional described the staff and managers as „good parents‟ for how they have helped the young person with his education. Young people receive the specialist service they need and benefit from good partnership working between the staff and professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are taught self-care and independent living skills. Consequently, they feel empowered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers are sensitive to the way in which each young person‟s needs impact on the other young people‟ and carefully match peer groups as much as possible. Young people are afforded opportunities to socialise, which helps them feel less isolated. Young people are helped to feel heard as they choose their meals and the activities they enjoy.

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

Young people are helped and protected from harm by staff and managers who understand their vulnerabilities. A young person stated that he felt safe in the home and was able to identify trusted adults he could speak to.

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

Risk and health assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff and managers work to the support plans stemming from these assessments. However, a few of the risk assessments in relation to child sexual exploitation lack clarity and detail. This has not had a negative impact on safeguarding the young people.

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

Young people‟s individual behaviour management plans are clear and include strategies for responding appropriately to and mitigating risks for young people. Restraint is used Inspection report children‟s home: SC032600 4 as a last resort. The registered manager reviews each incident of restraint and implements any learning from her review. Overall, young people experience safe and effective interventions. However, on a few occasions there has been room to pre-empt triggers and to be proactive in de-escalating the situations in line with the behaviour management policy.

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

The home has a good „missing‟ policy in place. No young person has gone missing from the home since the last inspection. Staff are clear about and adhere to the home‟s child protection procedures.

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

The location risk assessment is fit for purpose. The safeguarding policy reflects the requirements of relevant legislation. However, it lacks details of the arrangements in place to support young people in relation to e-safety.

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

Parents, carers, social workers and other professionals stated that young people are safeguarded in the home. An officer with the borough‟s neighbourhood policing team, who has developed a relationship with the home and met with the young people at the manager‟s invitation, stated, „The care of the children appears to be paramount.‟

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

No complaint has been filed since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified registered manager ensures that the home is adequately resourced to meet the young people‟s needs. Safe recruitment is in place. Staff who do not have level 3 qualifications or the equivalent are enrolled on a course arranged by the manager. Leaders and managers follow the workforce development plan, which is in line with the regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager regularly monitors the quality of care provided. She does this through audits, practice observation and supervision. Staff members stated that they felt well supported to carry out their duties. Any gaps in practice are challenged and training provided to support the staff to deliver a good service to the young people. The manager‟s evaluation of the home is underpinned by the quality standards, which are used as a tool for continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person makes monthly visits to the home. However, the independent person‟s monthly reports have not been sent regularly to Ofsted due to an administrative oversight. While the reports are comprehensive, they lack the independent person‟s clear opinion on whether young people are safeguarded and their well-being promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and managers work in partnership with others to ensure that young people experience positive stays and make good progress. A social worker stated that staff make good contributions at meetings about one young person. A parent stated that there is always regular communication from the home informing her about her child and that staff ask her for feedback on care planning and ways to improve the service. Inspection report children‟s home: SC032600 5 Leaders and managers ensure that the home is child friendly. Managers and staff promote a positive environment in which the young people‟s milestones and achievements are celebrated. Young people receive culturally sensitive care from the staff and managers.

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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: SC032600 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hounslow

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 4DN

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Inspector

Linda Kim-Newby: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC032600 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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