Children's home run by Action for Children in Watford

Inspection report children’s home: SC013402 1 SC013402 Registered provider: Action for Children Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a registered charity in partnership with a local authority. Care and accommodation are provided in two separate and distinct houses. The home may provide care and accommodation for no more than four children under short-break arrangements and two to live permanently in one house, and no more than five children to live permanently in the other long-stay house. Children may have learning disabilities and/or a physical disability. The long-stay residential house specialises in working with children who have autistic spectrum disorder.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has addressed two of the three recommendations which resulted from the last full inspection. The remaining recommendation is restated. There are two recommendations resulting from this inspection.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff morale is positive. Managers have worked hard to reduce staff turnover. Staff are rightly proud of the progress achieved by the young people. Staff receive a stimulating programme of training and strong management support. Inspection report children’s home: SC013402 2 Young people in the long-stay home are settled. There have been no new admissions since April 2018. All the young people are engaged in full-time education and are making progress towards individualised goals and targets.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The living environment has improved and is homelier. Staff have decorated and refurnished the living room and the shower area of the long-stay part of the home. In addition, young people benefit from a new sensory room.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Support for agency staff is stronger. Agency staff attend group supervision and staff training. However, agency staff use for waking nights is excessive.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restraint practice remains a concern. Recordings still lack sufficient detail about the duration of the intervention. In addition, staff failed to offer a debrief session following one recent intervention. This limits a full evaluation of incidents of restraint.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.2

Recommendations

 Ensure that the required recording made of restraint incidents includes enough detail to identify effective practice. This particularly relates to ensuring that the duration of any physical intervention is detailed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  Ensure that when a restraint occurs that young people be given the opportunity to express their feelings about the experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.60)  No more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night at the home should be from an external agency. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.17)

p.2

Recommendations

Inspection report children’s home: SC013402 3

p.3

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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’.

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

p.3

Children’s home details

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

p.3

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shelagh Frankcom

p.3

Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC013402 4 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.

p.3

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.4

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.4

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.4