Children's home run by Action for Children in Watford

Inspection report children’s home: 1226969 1 Registered provider: Action for Children Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This registered charity-operated children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in January 2019.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

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

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no admissions or discharges since the last inspection. One of the children was admitted shortly before the last inspection. This child initially displayed a high level of challenging and self-injurious behaviour, which resulted in many physical interventions to keep the children and staff safe. Over time, these incidents have significantly decreased. Dedicated staff have worked in a consistent manner to enable the child to settle and gain secure attachments.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have detailed risk assessments and comprehensive behaviour management plans. These guide the staff on how to manage individual risks effectively and to reduce the number of incidents. Good-quality risk assessments equip staff with the necessary knowledge to ensure that the children are helped and protected. Inspection report children’s home: 1226969 2 The staff have built trusting and nurturing relationships with the children. During the inspection, these relationships were evident. Children are warmly greeted on their return from school and the staff are attentive to their individual needs. Home-cooked, healthy meals are enjoyed, and the children engage in fun activities of their choice before settling for the night. Children are encouraged to develop both socially and emotionally, which helps them to make progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children both attend local schools, and their attendance levels are high. Staff and education staff work closely together. One of the children is non-verbal. The manager is a strong advocate for the children and visited this child’s school to gain advice on what works well for the child at school. This proactive approach helps to equip the staff well to increase their levels of communication with the children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff work in partnership with families and professionals. They respond promptly to any concerns and work in a transparent manner. As a result, there have been no formal complaints. Social workers and parents spoken with during this inspection were very complimentary. A parent said, ‘Communication is good. The staff facilitate what my child enjoys. He likes the home. He likes the staff and he is very happy.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Further improvements have been made to the home’s environment. This has been made possible due to the manager working with a charity and arranging a volunteering open day. The lounge and dining room have been redecorated. The back garden now has colourful murals on all the fences. Children enjoy spending time on the specialised swing and trampoline in this stimulating and private garden.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met the one requirement and one of the recommendations that were raised at the last inspection . The home’s statement of purpose has been kept under review, updated accordingly and submitted to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new system has been introduced to ensure that records of incidents and physical interventions are clearly filed separately. This means that important information that guides practice is now easy to locate and more accessible to the staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive yearly appraisals and good-quality supervision. However, several of the staff have not received practice-led supervision at the frequency set out in the home’s own policy. This reduces opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and development in a planned way.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One recommendation from the last inspection is repeated. The manager has introduced a new training record that identifies any updates or further training required. However, the new system has not been updated consistently to show any new training that the staff have undertaken. Its effectiveness is further reduced as new staff have not been added to the record. Inspection report children’s home: 1226969 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2019 Full Good 31/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2017 Full Good

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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

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 24/01/2020

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Recommendations

 Implement a workforce plan or training plan that details the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report children’s home: 1226969 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 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

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: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 The Boulevard Ascot Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 8AG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Andreia Alves Da Silva

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1226969 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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