Children's home run by Heartwood Residential Services Ltd in Barnet

Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 1 SC423959 Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to five children and young people. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for children who generally present with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The aim is to break the negative cycle of multiple placement breakdowns. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2013.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 16 to 17 September 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2018 Full Good 07/11/2017 Full Good 14/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/09/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 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 system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) 01/01/2020

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the performance appraisal takes into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of the other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards (2015)’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress and enjoy a variety of activities, including recent visits to Scotland and India. Experiences such as mountaineering and teaching in local schools have helped to develop self-confidence and to broaden horizons for the young people. Progress is recorded in personalised scrapbooks for each young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people develop trusting relationships with staff. On leaving the home, some young people return to the home to visit staff and to maintain relationships. One staff member is presently seeking to provide approved weekend contact at her home for a young person who is due to leave the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One placing social worker commented, ‘I can’t speak highly enough of the help and support offered by staff in often difficult circumstances.’ In addition, a visiting police officer referred to the ‘completely positive turn around for a young person within two months of being in the placement’. Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 4 Young people recognise the benefit of staff input. One young person informed the inspector of his pride at addressing a chronic cannabis habit. The young person said, ‘They really helped me stop. I am so happy. After using it for so long, it’s great.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are actively involved in the running of their home. Young people use a ‘you said, we did’ book to exchange thoughts and ideas with staff. Recently, one young person was able to choose a new colour scheme and bed for her bedroom by using this book.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make progress in their education. One young person arrived at the home with a 20% school attendance rate that increased to 76% within four months. The establishment of positive, learning-based routines supports improved behaviours and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Behaviour management is effective and there have been no police call-outs or use of restraint since the last inspection. When young people misbehave, staff use effective key work to help the young people to reflect on their behaviours. Young people learn to apologise and in some cases support staff to repair any resulting damage.

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

Staff are proactive and advocate strongly for the young people. Recently, this included a successful challenge to a placing authority regarding an unplanned move from the home. Young people are routinely offered independent advocacy to ensure that they are fully aware of their rights.

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

Young people learn to manage their own behaviour and to reduce anger outbursts. They use effective coping strategies such as resorting to exercise or self-relaxation techniques. This helps the young people to remove themselves from points of conflict and risky situations.

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

Risk assessments are effective. Assessments incorporate the wishes and feelings of the young people on key issues, such as a preferred staff response when they are struggling. This helps to build trust in the home.

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

Staff support the young people to reduce going missing from care behaviour. When going missing behaviour occurs, staff consistently follow an established procedure to help keep the young people safe. Independent return to care interviews occur routinely and any feedback is used to inform risk assessments.

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

Strong safeguarding practice is supported by positive multi-disciplinary work. Professionals’ meetings are quickly convened when concerns arise. This ensures that information is quickly shared, and safety plans are put in place.

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

Independence work is effective in this home. Staff challenge the young people to learn new skills, such as managing their medication or learning how to bake cakes. Achievements, either big or small, are celebrated and support the further development Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 5 of trusting relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management of the home remains stable. The experienced registered manager was on annual leave during this inspection. However, her deputy manager fully supported this inspection. She has been in post since July 2018 and aims to complete the required management qualification by July 2020.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers support a strong, child-centred culture. The ethos of the home is clear and consistently applied by staff. One staff member said, ‘We are all motivated by the chance to help young people achieve change.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from a small and close-knit staff team. Staff turnover is minimal and there is no use of agency staff. This provides consistency for the young people and is integral to the creation of a family-style atmosphere.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Bespoke training provision motivates and engages staff. One staff member recalled the positive benefits of a recent course on the impact of cannabis use on complex mental health conditions. She is now able to address the resulting behaviours and to support the young people more effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An effective admissions policy supports positive outcomes. Managers scrutinise each referral and this results in a better placement match. Managers have the confidence and the capacity to accept risk and to work with it. This supports the stability of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision occurs regularly and is effective. Supervision challenges staff to reflect on learning. Recently, a session challenged a staff member to outline the role of the designated officer within a local authority. Performance appraisals will benefit from more holistic feedback from other professionals and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management monitoring report continues to lack feedback from parents, placing authorities and staff. The requirement is repeated for this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well maintained and safety checks are conducted regularly. The warm, family-style environment is a source of pride to staff and the young people.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 6 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: SC423959 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9TH

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC423959 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 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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