Children's home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Dacorum

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC400301 1 SC400301 Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by a local authority, provides care for up to five children. It aims to provide high-quality care that makes children feel safe and nurtured. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2015.

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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.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children continue to make good progress. They have good, trusting relationships with a consistent staff team that knows and understands their individual complex needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one discharge and one admission since the last inspection. The staff manage transitions well. They understand the impact that children moving into and leaving the home can have on the current group.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s education attendance has improved. The manager liaises with the virtual school headteacher to ensure that the children have an appropriate education placement. Communication with education providers is good. This contributes to the children’s progress in education. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC400301 2 Sanctions are fair and appropriate. The children know the consequences of certain behaviours. The staff write to the children to inform them of the consequences of negative behaviour, and the children can appeal against these. The children understand the staff’s expectations.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager monitors care practice effectively and uses the feedback from the monthly visits by the independent person to drive improvement. The manager challenges other professionals appropriately if he feels that plans are not in the best interest of the child.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have a good understanding of children’s self-harming behaviours. They work closely with other agencies to support the children who self-harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are informative and guide the staff in keeping the children safe. The children are involved in writing and commenting on their individual risk assessments. This means that they have a good understanding of the risks and how they can work with the staff to reduce these.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff receive regular, good-quality recorded supervision. They also receive group and individual supervision from the clinical lead. This supports their work with the children and helps them to understand some of the children’s complex behaviours.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is decorated to a good standard, and the children have been involved with choosing the decor and furniture. The home has a warm and nurturing feel.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children spoken with said that they are happy at the home and that they like the staff. Good interactions and appropriate banter between the staff and children were observed during the inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff actively search for children when they go missing. The children are welcomed back into the home. Staff offer them food and drink and give them the opportunity to discuss the incident. However, it was difficult to establish whether the children have return-home interviews with their social workers.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of physical intervention have decreased since the last inspection. The staff monitor incidents and put plans in place to help the children to manage their behaviours before they escalate. However, not all staff have up-to-date training in de-escalation and physical intervention techniques. This means that not all staff are consistent in their approach.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met one of the two requirements and both the recommendations that were set at the last inspection. One requirement is repeated. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC400301 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/05/2019 Full Good 09/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2017 Full Good 02/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 ensure that all employees–

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff have up-to-date training in de- escalation and physical intervention techniques. 20/01/2020

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Interim inspection report children’s home: SC400301 4

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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 difference 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

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: Hertfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Apsley One, Brindley Way, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 9BF

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Inspector

Trish Palmer: social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC400301 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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