Children's home run by Action for Children in Watford

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC438751 1 SC438751 Registered provider: Action for Children Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short breaks for up to eight children who have diagnosed learning difficulties and/or complex health needs. A charitable organisation operates this setting.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2018

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, good progress has been made to address the requirements and recommendations. Although two requirements and one recommendation are restated as they are not fully met yet, the manager has actions planned and clear timescales for completion. These actions relate to major improvement work to the conservatory area and improving the heating of the building. In addition, the manager has planned training for the staff in record-keeping, safeguarding and behaviour management. These actions will be reviewed at the full inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have good experiences and enjoy their time at the home. The staff are dedicated and committed to providing good care to the children. The staff spend time getting to know the children and their individual personalities. The children are well supervised and well supported. Each child has an identified key worker who knows the Interim inspection report children’s home: SC438751 2 child well and communicates with parents and professionals to ensure that the child’s records are up to date and that relevant information is shared.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager undertakes an impact assessment prior to new children starting at the home. This assessment identifies the needs and behaviours of each child and how these may affect the other children. These assessments are an important tool when reviewing the dynamics of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A child who has recently started staying at the home as an emergency placement has several complex health needs. Historical information about the child is limited. The staff are working hard to get to know the child. They spend quality time building relationships and providing round-the-clock high-quality care. She is making progress, and the local authority is happy with the care that she is receiving.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have clear health plans. The staff liaise with health professionals to ensure that the children are healthy and well. The staff administer medication appropriately and ensure that children’s health routines at home and at school continue during their short break. The children’s care plans reflect their current needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are several enrichment activities available for the children. Staff arrange visits to local parks and they have a seaside visit planned. There are a variety of indoor puzzles and craft activities, and a sensory room for the children to enjoy when the weather is colder. The large outdoor area for the children to play in is equipped with adapted playground facilities. Visits to the home by organisations such as African drummers, as well as themed and cultural activities, enhance children’s stays.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are safeguarded. The manager liaises appropriately with the designated officer and investigates and manages any practice issues. One notification of a potential allegation was not sent to Ofsted in a timely way. Delays in notifying Ofsted of such concerns prevent Ofsted from having a current view of the home and the action that managers take to address concerns.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are very few significant incidents at the home. Staff have used one low-level physical intervention since the last inspection. This intervention involved the manager. However, the record of the intervention was not overseen appropriately by a suitable senior manager in a timely way. There was no clear view given as to whether the intervention was appropriate and proportionate. The staff are skilled at de-escalating behaviours and only intervene when necessary. The home is generally settled.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are current. Consequently, all staff are aware of any recent changes for children and any potential increase in risks. The location risk assessment has been updated. This is now current and comprehensive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has written a workforce development plan. External reporting is effective. It identifies actions for the manager to address following each monitoring visit. This monitoring helps the manager to continue to develop the quality of the service provision. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC438751 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2018 Full Good 22/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 24/10/2016 Full Good

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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 is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 01/04/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC438751 4 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii)) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to making sure that staff are provided with training in areas such as de-escalation and safeguarding in a timely way, and that staff have opportunities to undertake training in alternative methods of communication. 01/04/2019

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) In particular, ensure that records of all physical interventions involving the manager are overseen in a timely way by a senior manager.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) In particular, ensure that clear and appropriate language is used in records, and that the home’s internal plans help staff to consistently encourage children’s independence.  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover

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Recommendations

the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Interim inspection report children’s home: SC438751 5

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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

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.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Debbie Young, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC438751 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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