Children's home run by Heartwood Residential Services Ltd in Barnet

Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 1 SC423959 Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

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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 privately owned children’s home provides care for up to five children and young people. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for children who generally present with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The aim is to break the negative cycle of multiple placement breakdowns.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 2013.

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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: 7 November 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2017 Full Good 14/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/09/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 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 have full and satisfactory information available in relation to the individual in respect of matters in Schedule 2, copy of qualifications on file. (Regulation 32 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to keeping a copy of staff members relevant qualifications. 01/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) 01/10/2018

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Recommendations

 Keep under review the statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) In particular, ensure that it includes the support available from the behavioural lead.  Help children understand and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and wellbeing. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18) In particular, address children’s cannabis use.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress in relation to their low starting points. They quickly settle into the home, which gives them a sense of belonging. Young people stated that it is ‘very nice’ and ‘chilled’ here. A parent described the home as a ‘lovely placement’, Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 4 explaining that their child ‘is very happy’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive support to lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes taking regular exercise. An ongoing issue, however, is young people’s cannabis use and their refusal to engage with substance misuse services. Staff consistently warn of the dangers of cannabis use, however there is limited exploration of the reasons why young people are smoking cannabis.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Where possible, young people have a chance to visit the home prior to moving in. There is a commitment to providing young people with positive endings when they leave. Staff create albums for young people, capturing meaningful memories, which contributes to life-story work.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of equality and diversity, which enables young people to develop a positive self-view. Young people receive encouragement to follow their cultural and religious traditions. There are examples of young people attending places of worship, fasting during Ramadan and celebrating Christmas and Eid.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people respond well to the nurturing care they receive, which enables them to build trusting relationships with staff. Young people maintain meaningful and appropriate contact with their family and friends. There are examples of friends visiting and the organisation paying for young people to engage in activities with their siblings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people learn the skills necessary for independent living. A former resident confirmed, ‘I really learnt a lot of life skills here.’ Some young people take a more substantial role in the daily running of the home, by helping to cook the evening meal or assisting with the grocery shopping. Young people also have the opportunity to live semi-independently through the management of their own budget.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are becoming more self-confident and aspirational. Effective key-working enables them to work towards their individual goals. Young people take exams and receive support to apply for courses, colleges, apprenticeships and employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people influence decision-making, contributing to purchases for the home, menu and activity planning. They also contribute to the local community, through charitable work, an example being helping the homeless.

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

The home succeeds in providing a safe base for young people and they appreciate the calm atmosphere. A police officer stated, ‘[The service] provides a stable home and environment for young people. It gives them excellent access to ongoing support that they may need to help their personal development and safety.’

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

The organisation has a safe recruitment policy, which helps to prevent unsuitable people from working in the home. The only shortfall is in relation to one staff file not having a copy of the individual’s qualifications, which is a regulatory requirement. Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 5 Staff take pride in developing relationships with young people which are based on mutual respect. This enables young people to gradually share their feelings regarding their personal circumstances. Staff listen to young people and endeavor to help them become more personally accountable.

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

Incidents of poor behaviour are rare and there have been no restraints since the last inspection. Young people respond well to the clear and consistent boundaries. Sanctions are fair and the reward system enables young people to work towards personal incentives.

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

Young people learn about societal dangers and how to keep themselves safe. They engage in workshops which highlight sexual and criminal exploitation, gang activity, knife crime and acid attacks. There is an acknowledgement that some young people may be members of gangs, however there is a commitment to helping them change.

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

There is a reduction in missing from home episodes since the last inspection and no young people are involved in radicalisation. Staff take appropriate steps to escalate safeguarding concerns. The registered manager is an organisational safeguarding lead and a member of a borough-wide forum.

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

Young people benefit from expert help from the organisation’s behavioural support lead. They have improved their ability to manage their anger. Young people learn relaxation techniques and alternative ways to manage their frustrations, an example being using a punchbag.

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

Health and safety arrangements ensure that young people live in a safe environment. Young people’s risk assessments take into account their vulnerabilities. A police officer described staff as ‘always vigilant and mindful’ of the risks to the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The highly experienced registered manager leads by example, offering a calm, nurturing way of working. The management structure is strengthened by an enthusiastic deputy and highly experienced senior support staff. A social worker described working with the home as a ‘positive experience’ and said they were ‘very impressed’ with the care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The minor shortfalls relate to the statement of purpose and the quality of care review. At the time of the inspection, the home’s statement of purpose did not include information regarding the behavioural support lead. Although the registered manager receives feedback from young people, parents, placing authorities and staff, this information is not included in the quality of care review.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recommendations from the last inspection have been addressed. Young people benefit from their progress being monitored and the efforts to improve their educational outcomes. Staff endeavour to offer young people new experiences and their risk assessments are more detailed, which provides them with better protection. Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 6 Young people benefit from an experienced, culturally diverse staff team, whose members speak a range of languages. The latter is significant, as young people are able to express themselves and be understood in their preferred additional language. Young people are also able to learn another language, such as Spanish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have an appropriate vocational qualification or are completing this course. Their skills are further enhanced by a wide range of training, reflective supervision and appraisals which focus on their personal development. New staff benefit from a comprehensive induction and probationary reviews, which highlight their skills and areas requiring further development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are aware of the home’s strengths and they are striving for continual improvement. Team meetings are an opportunity to discuss research, which informs working practice. The registered manager has requested that independent monitoring is more challenging, as they aim to provide an outstanding service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and staff work well with other agencies. Partnership working with local authorities focuses on having a clear strategy to meet young people’s needs. A social worker commended staff for being ‘incredibly flexible and adaptable to any plans the local authority recommended’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people live in a comfortable, modern, well-maintained home. Positive quotes are displayed throughout the home, aiming to inspire young people to believe in themselves. An educational professional described the home as ‘probably the nicest, well-kept children’s home I’ve ever been to’.

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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: SC423959 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 345 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9TH

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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