Children's home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Dacorum

Inspection report children’s home: SC382138 1 SC382138 Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home aims to provide high-quality care that makes children and young people feel safe and nurtured. The manager has been in post since November 2019 and is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

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.

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and young people since the most recent 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

Two requirements were set at the last inspection. The manager has met one requirement, and one will be repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been five admissions since the last inspection and two discharges. Two children admitted during the same period were not well matched. The previous manager did not undertake thorough impact risk assessments. This led to staff having to manage a number of safeguarding issues. The admissions led to a rise in incidents of missing from care and an increase in police involvement. Since the children have been discharged, the home has settled. The remaining children are progressing well.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three children have return to their family homes. Staff are currently supporting one of the children with daily phone calls and twice-weekly visits. Children can see that staff Inspection report children’s home: SC382138 2 care about them beyond their time living at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have good, trusting relationships with a consistent staff team that knows them well. Children commented that they like the staff because they listen to and help them. A child said, ‘Staff understand my needs and know how to look after me.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities in the home and community. The staff understand the importance of children having the same opportunities as their peers and being able to develop their social skills. Children said that they enjoy the activities offered to them and spending time with staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff recognise children’s achievements. They write a positive-feedback weekly reflection record. This helps children to see their achievements and to know that staff are proud of them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of children going missing have decreased since the discharge of two children. Children’s individual protocols include a safe word that they can say to staff if they are feeling unsafe. Staff physically look for children when they are missing. Records of incidents are accurate and clear. However, there is no evidence that children are receiving return home interviews with an independent person.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use defusing and distraction techniques in response to unwanted behaviours. Because the staff know the children well, these techniques are successful and have avoided the need for physical intervention.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one complaint since the last inspection, from a member of the public. The record of the complaint did not contain the date of the complaint or the outcome. Lack of accurate recording does not provide clear evidence of the action that staff take in response to complaints.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints from children. The children said that they know how to complain if they need to. All children could name staff to whom they would speak if they were upset or worried. Children are confident that staff would listen to and help them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regularly updated, individualised placement plans guide the staff in working with the children effectively. Risk assessments are current, clear and informative and help the staff to keep children safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection there have been several safeguarding incidents, which were managed well. The manager and staff notified all of the relevant professionals and put plans in place to keep children safe. Clear records reflect the action taken and outcomes. However, staff have not recorded the reason for specified actions not being taken.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have undertaken safeguarding training. Safeguarding discussions take place during every staff meeting. Staff have undertaken training in the ‘Prevent’ duty, and the manager is due to attend training in understanding gangs and knife crime. Inspection report children’s home: SC382138 3 The house is decorated to a good standard. Children are in the process of choosing new furniture for the front room. They said that they are fully involved in making decisions about their home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2018 Full Good 03/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/05/2016 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 care planning standard is that children–

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the children’s needs can be met by the home and that the needs of all of the children are considered before admitting a child to the home. 28/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any 12/03/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC382138 4 investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all complaints are followed up and recorded comprehensively.

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the 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 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Ensure that all children’s case records are kept up to date. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) In particular, ensure that the staff fully complete entries in records.

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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 difference 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC382138 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hertfordshire County Council, Apsley One, Brindley Way, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 9BF

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Inspectors

Trish Palmer, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC382138 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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