Children's home run by Holibrook House Limited in Waltham Forest

Inspection report children‟s home: SC037248 1 SC037248 Registered provider: Holibrook House 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 is a privately operated home which provides care and accommodation for up to six children and young people. The statement of purpose states that staff use a therapeutic approach to care for children and young people who may have social, emotional and multiple complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in 2011.

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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

Date of last inspection: 6 December 2018

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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: SC037248 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2018 Full Good 28/09/2017 Full Good 29/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC037248 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s s homes regulations including the quality standards’, , page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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Recommendations

Specifically, in relation to ensuring that managers do not write up and sign off their own records.  As part of reviewing and revising where appropriate the Statement of Purpose (regulation 16(3)(a)), the registered person should review and update the children’s s guide as necessary, and make sure children are given an explanation of any changes. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, , page 24, paragraph 4.23)

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Recommendations

Specifically, in relation to ensuring that the children’s s guide is updated to accurately reflect the information about Ofsted. Inspection report children‟s home: SC037248 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from a settled and consistent staff group. The home’s therapeutic approach helps staff to understand children’s developmental trauma and presenting behaviours. This approach helps strong relationships to develop, which makes young people feel understood, secure and safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress. The staff team works alongside a psychologist and is supported with strategies to manage and reduce complex and risky behaviours. All young people are on role for education, attend college or receive home tuition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people told the inspector that ‘culturally’ this home is ‘different’, and that they are ‘treated with respect’. Young people said that they like all the staff and feel their views are listened to and acted on. Young people attend regular house meetings where they have their say about how the home is run.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people said that they enjoy cooking with staff and have learned how to prepare and cook meals while living at the home. All young people spoken to said that they were happy living at the home and one gave the home 10 out of 10 for happiness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people experience stability while living at this home. One young person is leaving the home to live independently after two years and said that he really likes the home. He continues to be supported in gaining an apprenticeship and in visiting and preparing his new accommodation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Wherever possible, young people are encouraged to visit the home prior to moving in. This helps them to familiarise themselves with the environment and meet staff and other young people living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Where it is safe to do so, young people are supported to rebuild important relationships in their networks and keep in touch with their families. This has involved staff travelling and/or staying with young people to ensure that they have contact with their families when they live outside the home area. Staff support young people to negotiate public transport routes so that they can travel safely and become more independent.

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

Risks are well identified from the point of referral and are clearly documented in young people’s records. The registered manager and the staff team consider the potential risks that young people may pose to themselves and/or others. Risks are clearly recorded, and potential interventions/strategies are considered to see if young people can be safely admitted to the home.

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

Staff regularly review risk and discuss how well strategies to manage young people’s complex behaviours are working. Regular reflective meetings are held with staff and the Inspection report children‟s home: SC037248 5 therapeutic lead at the home. As part of this process, the members of the team talk about the young people’s emotional needs and devise therapeutic plans for everyday living. This helps young people to stay increasingly safe and reduces incidents in the home.

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

Staff have clear procedures and guidance to follow if young people go missing. Attempts are made to contact and search for young people before reporting them missing to the appropriate authorities. Requests for return home interviews are recorded clearly and placing authorities are chased to ensure that these happen.

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

Staff can access training about sexual and criminal exploitation of young people. Written assessments indicate if young people are at risk in these areas.

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

Bullying is dealt with promptly and young people are encouraged to report incidents to staff. Decisive actions have been taken to keep young people safe and this indicates the registered manager’s and staff team’s desire to confront and resolve such issues.

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

Staff model inclusion and tolerance to difference and expect young people to follow this example. One young person talked about the ‘culture’ of this home being positively different from other places.

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

Staff receive training in the positive management of challenging behaviours. Regular reflective discussions help staff to understand and think about responses to incidents. All staff have had training in de-escalation and restraint techniques and strive hard to understand the young person behind the behaviour. This demonstrates a warm, caring environment where young people feel safe and where consistent boundaries and routines are provided.

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

Staff understand safeguarding processes well. They are clear about whom they should report to and when. The registered manager has good oversight of any allegations made and there are positive links to the designated officer. They work closely together to ensure fair and thorough investigations.

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

There have been two allegations reported to the designated officer in the past year. All the correct procedures were followed. The designated officer described the registered manager as someone who ‘puts the safety of children first’.

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

Restraints are used as a last resort. Where these have occurred, there is clear recording. However, managers do not always ensure that these records are reviewed and signed off by someone other than the author of the record.

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

Staff recruitment is safe. Good practice was seen in verifying documents and references with any gaps in employment having been considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report children‟s home: SC037248 6 Leaders and managers promote a positive environment which allows young people to achieve. There is an expectation within the home that all young people will be involved in education, employment or training. This has a positive effect on new residents arriving at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people benefit from individualised care planning and staff support them to succeed and make progress. Leaders and managers know young people well and take urgent action if they are concerned about emerging behaviours or care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they feel supported by leaders and managers who have a high visibility and presence within the home. The registered manager is responsible for two homes near to one another. There are strong deputy managers in both homes, which always ensures their smooth running.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leaders and managers know their strengths and there is an action plan in place, which is supporting improvement. The six-monthly review of the quality of care at the home is overdue and the registered manager is aware that this monitoring is an area which needs strengthening. The external monitoring of the home via an independent visitor is helpful and picks up areas where the home can change practice and improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is achieving its stated aims and objectives. Staff understand the therapeutic approach and work well together as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose has been updated but a copy has not been sent to the regulator. The children’s guide now includes details of the Children’s Commissioner and advocacy services. However, it still references the children’s rights worker at Ofsted, a post that no longer exists, while the Ofsted address is an old one.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is diverse and young people told the inspector that they feel comfortable and accepted and that staff understand and reflect their cultural backgrounds.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager actively challenges any form of discrimination and takes appropriate actions to address any incidents of bullying and intolerant attitudes.

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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 under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it Inspection report children‟s home: SC037248 7 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: SC037248 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holibrook House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, 172 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London E17 4QH

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Inspector

Christine Kennet, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC037248 9 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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