Children's home run by Rosedale Children’s Services Limited in Hertsmere

Inspection report children’s home: SC384924 1 SC384924 Registered provider: Rosedale Children’s Services Limited

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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 home is privately run. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children or young people who present with emotional, behavioural and social needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 2012.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 12 September 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2017 Full Outstanding 06/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC384924 2 27/09/2016 Full Outstanding 09/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC384924 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, the 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 registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 30/04/2019

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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 investigation. (Regulation 39(4)) 30/04/2019

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Recommendations

 If it is likely that there might only be one member of staff on duty at any time, the manager should make a formal assessment of the implications for children’s care, including any likely risks. This assessment should be recorded and available for inspection by Ofsted and placing authorities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.18)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good support and care from the staff team. Staff understand the needs of children, and act as positive and forceful advocates for them. Children make good progress from their starting points in all areas of their lives. They have lived in this home for a considerable amount of time and regard the staff as their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have their general and emotional health needs well met. Staff ensure that children attend all routine health appointments. They also ensure that more specialist help and support are made available to relevant children in a timely manner. A therapist involved with the home stated: ‘The staff are extremely resilient. They put the needs of the child first and I cannot fault how well they support children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage fully in their education provisions. Their attendance is excellent, and their attainment is good. Education providers praise the staff team members for how well they communicate with teaching staff. This ensures that all involved agencies always provide consistent care and support for children. Inspection report children’s home: SC384924 4 Children get to keep in touch with people who matter to them. Staff support them to visit and make phone calls to their families and friends. Children engage in a wide range of social activities in the local area. They make friends, further increasing their sense of belonging, engagement and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children contribute their view and wishes when decisions are made about the care and support they receive. They discuss any issues or concerns they may have with staff. One independent reviewing officer commented: ‘Staff ensure the child has a voice and represent her views well for meetings and at all other times. They are responsive and have helped her to increase in confidence and independence.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to become more independent over time. They support them to learn how to make snacks, do their own laundry and use public transport unaided. Such skills prepare children well for their eventual moves to the adult world.

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

Staff understand the actual and potential risks for children. They ensure that detailed risk assessments are in place. They regularly review and update the assessments to reflect any changes. Such attention to detail provides children with an increased sense of security and safety. Over time, any risky or concerning behaviours reduce.

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

Missing-from-care incidents are minimal. There has only been one such incident since the last inspection. Staff have robust and detailed missing-from-care protocols and procedures in place. They work closely and proactively with all agencies to ensure the continual safety of children. Involved agencies consistently praise the staff for their excellent communication and information-sharing skills.

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

Children understand the expectations in relation to their behaviours. Staff understand that children experience attachment issues as a result of their past experiences, and that these have an impact on their emotions and behaviours. They work sensitively to support children to manage their own concerning or risky behaviours and emotions. Staff receive consultation and support from a therapist to further ensure that children’s needs are always known and met.

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

The recruitment of staff is good. Processes for the selection and employment of new and agency staff ensure that unsuitable adults are prevented from working in the home. Managers ably monitor any allegations or concerns relating to staff. They always follow procedures and work closely with the local authority’s designated officer to ensure that children remain safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is currently not in work. The deputy manager is acting up in the Inspection report children’s home: SC384924 5 interim. She is being supported by an operations manager from within the organisation. This provides consistency of care and support for children and staff. Ofsted has been appropriately notified of the interim management arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a detailed and comprehensive development plan in place for the home. It sets out the desired actions and outcomes for the short term and the longer term. Managers regularly review and update it to ensure that the stated goals are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Records clearly reflect work undertaken to support children in all areas of their lives. Information in case files is clear and would be of real value to children if they were to request access to their files at any time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers diligently chase placing authorities for any missing information or documentation. They also ensure that staff take detailed notes during any meetings attended. This enables the staff team to provide the identified care and support for children, pending the receipt of formal minutes from meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The training matrix for staff is confusing. It does not clearly identify what mandatory training staff should complete, or have completed. It also does not clearly set out the dates of planned refresher training for staff. This could lead to staff not completing the required training and development. Managers accept the need to complete an audit of the training matrix and plans as a priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Due to current staffing issues, there are times when there is only one member of staff or manager working at the home. There is a need for managers to carry out an assessment of the staff rotas, to ensure that there are no risks posed to children at such times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Children feel able to report any concerns or issues they may have in relation to the care they receive. They have access to independent advocates. When allegations have been made by children about staff, these have been appropriately responded to. It is less clear as to how children are advised of the outcomes of any allegations they make. A clearer method for recording and responding to allegations and complaints is required.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC384924 6 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: SC384924 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rosedale Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Tracy Murty: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC384924 8 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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