Horsebridge House

Inspection report children’s home: SC452713 1 SC452713 Registered provider: Greenfields Adolescent Development Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private national company operates this home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted her application to register with Ofsted. This is currently being processed.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 27 November 2018

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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. 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, the manager ensures that she fully scrutinises records in relation to accidents, body maps and sanctions. As a result of this scrutiny, she has a clearer understanding of any potential concerns and takes effective action to address them. In addition, the manager now ensures that staff training records are kept up to date.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to encourage and support children to do well in their education. One child has recently been awarded ‘student of the week’ and has received a certificate of Inspection report children’s home: SC452713 2 achievement from the school. However, another child is not receiving full-time education. The manager has been very proactive in raising her concerns in relation to this to the local authority and has been consulting with education providers. As a result of this challenge, the child is receiving home tuition on a daily basis. The manager continues to work closely with education providers and the local authority to identify an appropriate school for the child. Staff provide him with a wide range of meaningful education-based activities. However, they are not always recording these activities, which makes it difficult to monitor his progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to receive good-quality care and support, and staff have developed positive relationships with them. Children actively take part in their review meetings. A recent review for a child is very positive and confirms that he is making good progress and staff have established trusted relationships with him.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restraint is used as a last resort to keep children and others safe. The manager scrutinises and evaluates restraint records to ensure that the intervention used is proportionate and appropriate. Staff seek children’s views of the intervention used, and these views are clearly recorded. In addition, discussions are held with staff following the use of an intervention, so that they can reflect on their practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s healthcare needs are closely monitored, and staff ensure that children’s health needs are met, in particular the use of prescribed medicines. The manager and staff are knowledgeable and observant of potential side effects and take effective action if concerns arise. As a result of this, prompt action is taken, and medicines are reviewed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has developed a protocol for the use of an ‘as required’ medicine, and this has been shared and agreed with a healthcare professional. Good records are kept in relation to the use of this medicine. However, the manager has not always fully evaluated its use as part of her monitoring.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy a wide range of activities. Memory books and scrap books contain photographs of activities both in the home and in the wider community that children keep and can look back on.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The arrangements to safeguard children are good. The manager ensures that she communicates safeguarding matters to safeguarding agencies and other professionals effectively. Children have not been missing, and there are no current concerns in relation to bullying or the misuse of substances.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Sound recruitment and selection processes safeguard children. The manager ensures that newly appointed staff receive a comprehensive induction that includes mandatory training and specific training to meet the needs of the children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, no children have left or moved into the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC452713 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/11/2018 Full Good 07/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, continue to work together with the education provider and the child’s placing authority to ensure that the child receives full-time education. In addition, ensure that staff clearly record the education-based activities they provide. 30/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC452713 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure where children have specific health needs or conditions, they are supported to manage these subject to their age and understanding (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10). In particular, ensure that the use of ‘as required’ medicines is reviewed and evaluated by the manager.

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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: Greenfields Adolescent Development Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caretech Community Service Ltd, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Mark Lazarus Inspection report children’s home: SC452713 5 Registered manager: Post vacant

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Inspector

David Kidner, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC452713 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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