Children's Home run by Action for Children in Hertfordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC426172 1 SC426172 Registered provider: Action for Children Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This service is run by a large charitable organisation. The home provides short breaks for up to six children who have learning and/or physical disabilities. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2015.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 18 October 2018

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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 manager has made some progress to address the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. However, two of the requirements have not been met and are therefore restated. The manager has clear plans and timescales to meet these two requirements. One of the restated requirements relates to children’s meetings. The manager has a plan to change these meetings completely to ensure that all of the children’s voices are heard. The first meeting is planned to take place within the next few weeks. Times of the meetings are to be adapted so that all of the children can participate. The staff continue to engage with the children, seeking their views after short-break visits. Good communication was evident between the staff and children during the inspection.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The other restated requirement relates to one staff member who has yet to complete a relevant level 3 qualification. The staff member is making good progress towards this and is meeting with the assessor within the next few weeks. The manager envisages Inspection report children’s home: SC426172 2 that the qualification will be achieved by the end of January 2019. The home continues to provide a good level of care to the children. There are good transition plans for the children who come to stay at the home. These plans include several introductory visits, and meetings with parents. The children benefit from a gradual introduction to the home. Good information sharing about children’s plans means that children and their families are well prepared. Social workers are happy with the care provided to the children. A social worker said, ‘I am really happy with the provision. I have a really good relationship with the manager. I

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

know that she tries her best to give as many overnights as possible.’ Families said that their children are happy at the home. One relative said, ‘He [their child] has a lovely time. He always comes home smiling.’ The staff manage behaviour well. There are very few incidents. There is additional support for children who present with challenging behaviours, and the staff are proactive at seeking this support when needed. Consequently, behaviour is assessed in a timely way and strategies are used to manage it effectively. Agency staff are now being supervised regularly. This ensures that support and information sharing are available to guide practice. New agency starters also access regular supervision. Medication is administered accurately. An additional recording sheet has been introduced to include all complex medical equipment and regimes. This ensures that medication is signed in and out correctly.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no significant safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. The team continues to practise safeguarding scenarios as part of their training. This training is recorded in the safeguarding file, which has been updated with the correct safeguarding guidance. A display board in the office provides clear visual guidance to the staff about the actions to take in the event of an emergency or safeguarding issue. Training on safeguarding children with disabilities is booked for February and March 2019. All of the staff are due to attend this training. The location risk assessment has been updated to include more detailed information. This alerts the staff to any hazards in the locality. The children’s files are easy to access and contain comprehensive placement plans. However, some of the records are out of date and action to address the issue has not been timely. Although the impact of this is lessened by good communication within the

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

team, lack of current information means that the staff may not be provided with accurate points of reference. Inspection report children’s home: SC426172 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2018 Full Good 05/12/2017 Full Inadequate 05/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/09/2016 Full Good

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.3

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, take effective action to respond to children’s wishes and feelings that are communicated during house meetings. 15/2/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.3

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

p.3

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.3

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or 15/2/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC426172 4 in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5))a)(b))

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) In particular, ensure that all plans for the children are up to date and incident forms are fully completed in a timely way.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shelagh Frankcom Inspection report children’s home: SC426172 5 Registered manager: Julie O’Connor

p.4

Inspector

Debbie Young, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC426172 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6