Children's Home run by London Borough of Barnet in Barnet

Inspection report children’s home: SC033805 1 SC033805 Registered provider: London Borough of Barnet

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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 local authority-owned home provides care for up to six children. The home’s statement of purpose states that it is a home for children between the ages of 12 and 18 who have emotional and/ or mild learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 2009.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 18 to 19 February 2019

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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: 6 November 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the last inspection, Ofsted issued one compliance notice relating to regulation 12. A monitoring visit on 19 December 2018 concluded that the home had met this notice. Inspection report children’s home: SC033805 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/11/2018 Full Inadequate 23/05/2017 Full Good 08/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC033805 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

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all young people placed in the home are within the age range given in the statement of purpose. 18/05/2019

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has addressed all of the concerns outlined in the last inspection. Young people now make good progress from their starting points at this home. One parent commented, ‘[My son] really loves the home. They do everything for him; they are a great bunch of people.’ e

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Outcomes for the young people are positive. One young person has successfully moved to a foster care placement since the last inspection. She continues to visit the home to meet with staff and seek advice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy a range of different experiences. One young person enjoyed a recent holiday abroad with staff. He chose the destination and planned the itinerary. Other activities include taking driving lessons and managing a Saturday job.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the young people are engaged in education. Staff work with the young people to quickly establish positive routines and help them to prioritise their studies. Increased educational attainment leads to improved self-esteem and the development of independence. One teacher commented, ‘[The young person] comes to school with greater focus and a more positive attitude.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy good levels of agreed contact with friends and relatives, including overnight stays. Positive contact supports placement stability and helps to reduce the Inspection report children’s home: SC033805 4 frequency of missing from care episodes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The voice of the young people is heard in this home. Their views are incorporated into key documents such as care plans. Young people recently collaborated with staff to choose the colour scheme and decorate the living room. This promotes a sense of joint ownership of their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Behavioural management is effective and there is no use of restraint. When young people display poor behaviour, staff offer effective interventions such as a referral to drug and alcohol services. Positive behaviour is warmly celebrated by activities such as beauty treatments or meals out with keyworkers.

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

The home enjoys positive benefits from being a local authority resource. Staff have access to the authority’s case recording system to quickly share and record key information on the young people. Being part of a local authority also ensures quick access to specialist support such as therapists.

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

Effective multi-agency work supports good safeguarding practice. In one case, staff worked in close partnership with the local police to identify risky associates of a young person. Following receipt of warning notices, these potential perpetrators ceased contact and the risk reduced.

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

There have been no missing from home episodes since the last inspection. Staff are proactive and consistently follow established procedures to help keep young people safe. This includes contacting young people’s friends and the tracking of oyster cards.

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

Key-work is creative and effective. Staff use specialist resources, such as videos, to allow young people to think through their actions and consequences. One young person, who was previously considered to be at a medium level of risk of child sexual exploitation was able to come off their child protection plan.

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

Staff advocate effectively for young people. Keyworkers successfully pushed for a specialist education assessment for one young person. He is now receiving the specialist support that he needs.

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

Risk assessments are comprehensive and offer a good overview of the needs of young people. Assessments guide staff in key areas, such as when young people are ready to spend their clothing money unsupervised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from an experienced registered manager. She is a qualified social worker who has been in post since 2007 and has worked in the home since 1997. She is determined to continue a programme of improvements and ‘learn from the lessons of the last inspection’. Inspection report children’s home: SC033805 5 Senior managers have supported the home by limiting admissions since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is positive. No staff have left since the last inspection. Staff reported effective supervision and opportunities to develop their skills. Training is bespoke, and staff acknowledge its impact on their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the recent procedural changes. Guidance is now much clearer on key areas of practice such as supporting young people at risk of weapons possession. One staff member commented, ‘It makes things so much clearer. Our work is really valued.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The admissions process has improved. Staff now understand and implement new procedures to risk assess each referral. This inspection found that a 10-year-old child was admitted to the home for one night. The child was below the age range given in the statement of purpose. However, there was no negative impact for any child or young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers advocate strongly for the young people. When concerns arise, meetings with key professionals are convened quickly and specialist assessments expedited. This ensures that young people receive the support that they require.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home environment is safe and well maintained. An allocated maintenance person ensures that repairs are conducted swiftly and all necessary risk assessments undertaken.

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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: SC033805 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The London Borough of Barnet, Building 4, North London Business Park Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC033805 7 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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