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

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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 care for up to 13 young people who have social and/or emotional difficulties. The home specialises in looking after unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. One of the home’s bedrooms is used for emergency admissions.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered by Ofsted in April 2018.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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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: SC032502 2

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 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 quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure— that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the removal of hazards from the garden and replace the furniture in the living room. 15/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that behaviour support plans include the views and opinions of young people. 15/12/2018

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 4 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 The home should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 The home should ensure that the children’s guide helps children to understand the Statement of Purpose of the home (the care they can expect to receive while living there). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.22)

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Recommendations

 The following elements of the workforce plan should be included in the statement of purpose: (in accordance with schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20)) the staffing structure, experience and qualifications of staff and arrangements for supervision of staff practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.10)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Outcomes for young people are positive. Young people make good progress and successfully move on to placements in foster care and supported housing. Some also return home to their families. In the last six months, staff have supported young people from thirteen different countries and the local area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Educational progress is good. Staff follow established procedures with the local authority to quickly access school provision. Staff support young people with homework and the development of English language skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive praise and acknowledgement. Six young people have been nominated for awards for their progress in sport and education. This improves their self- esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Behaviour management is successful. Young people understand the clear and consistent expectations set by staff. When incidents occur, young people learn to apologise and take responsibility for their behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from young people and social workers is positive. One young person refers to staff as a ‘second family’. Social workers refer to the ‘nurturing and caring staff team’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people feel heard and represented. Staff support them to successfully challenge unwanted or inappropriate placement moves. Young people learn to chair their own Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 5 residents’ meetings and statutory reviews.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence work is positive. Young people enjoy learning to cook with staff and practising budgeting exercises. This supports good relationships.

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

Risk assessments are detailed and effective. Staff quickly identify key areas of risk such as internet use. Protective actions, such as the introduction of a written agreement, work well in keeping young people safe.

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

Multi-agency work is good. Staff make use of the council’s IT system to share important information with social workers. This ensures good monitoring and further supports young people. All young people have prompt access to specialist services such as therapy.

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

Staff are well trained and confident. Staff are aware of key areas of risk such as sexual and criminal exploitation. Staff respond quickly and effectively to young people who require extra support.

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

Staff are proactive in safeguarding young people. For example, staff accessed a specialist mentoring provision to work with a young person at risk of radicalisation.

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

Care plans and risk assessments do not reflect the views of young people. They do not guide staff in how to support young people when they are struggling with their feelings and behaviours.

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

The response to young people who go missing from the home is mixed. Young people do not often go missing. However, when young people do run away, they are not provided with an independent return to care interview. This shortfall has been identified at two previous inspections.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management of the home is stable. The registered manager is a qualified social worker and has worked in the home for over eighteen years. Her deputy, who has worked in the home since 1994, supports her well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home environment needs attention. The garden contains hazards such as loose masonry. In addition, the living room furniture is worn and requires replacement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The admissions process is not always effective. The home accepted one young person who did not meet their stated admission criteria. Despite this error, managers acted quickly to provide extra staff support and minimise risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff morale is good and there is little use of agency staff. No staff have left since the last inspection. Managers delegate tasks such as supervision to experienced staff. This Inspection report children’s home: SC032502 6 supports the development and retention of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers respond quickly to young people’s concerns. Young people now have access to their own lockable bedroom safes following a recent incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Some documents are not up to date. These include the statement of purpose, children’s guide and workforce development plan. This means that some information provided to young people and other agencies is not currently accurate.

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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: SC032502 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The 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 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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