Children's home run by Woodford Children's Services Ltd

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1268886 1 Registered provider: Woodford Children‟s Home Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home. The home‟s statement of purpose states that the home provides care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 17 October 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 this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person is making good progress in all aspects of their development due to the help and care that they receive from the staff team. A young person said, „l feel safe and settled living here.‟ Risk-taking behaviours and missing-from-home episodes have reduced in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has had one admission and two discharges since the last inspection. One young person had made significant progress in developing positive strategies to manage his behaviour. This resulted in a planned return to family members. A joint decision was made between the placing authority and the home to end the placement of another young person in a planned way due to an increase in negative behaviours. This young person returned to a previous placement at her request.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the two requirements and three recommendations that were Interim inspection report children’s home: 1268886 2 raised at the last inspection. The statement of purpose has been updated and a copy has been received by Ofsted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans have been reviewed and are now individual to each child, with clear strategies in place to manage risks.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most of the staff team have completed a foundation therapeutic course and are in the process of starting a certificate in integrated systemic therapy course. The staff team continues to receive group supervision from a qualified psychoanalyst. These sessions offer support and strategies to support work with the young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are engaged in differing types of education provision. Since the last inspection, young people are more involved and settled in education and for one young person attendance has improved since their placement in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements in the home‟s environment due to new decor and furnishings have resulted in a larger, newly decorated living area. The living environment is now homelier and more welcoming.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding incidents, complaints and episodes of children going missing from the home have all reduced. When incidents have occurred, reflective debriefings with staff and the children help to identify changes required to staff responses and strategies for the child concerned.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff work well with external agencies and families. The manager is child-focused, with a good understanding of young people‟s needs. She is a strong advocate for young people and is quick to escalate with other agencies any shortfalls in the young people‟s care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two shortfalls were identified during this inspection. The manager‟s monitoring report fails to include the involvement of children, other professionals or families. The report also lacks detail of the further changes and improvements that the manager wants to make to the quality of care at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

External monitoring of the home occurs monthly. However, the reports fail to identify pertinent points, or provide professional challenge or dialogue to the manager. This independent evaluation of practice is required to improve the quality of care at the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2018 Full Good Interim inspection report children’s home: 1268886 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

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) In particular, the independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home‟s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child accommodated at the home. 20/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45(2)(b)(c)) 20/05/2019

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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. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1268886 4 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: Woodford Children‟s Home Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Flat 4, 130 Brighton Road, Purley CR8 4EX

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Inspector

Juanita Mayers, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1268886 5 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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