Children's Home run by Stonelake London Limited in Brent

Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 1 Registered provider: Stonelake London Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

 This privately owned home provides care for up to four children.  In the home’s statement of purpose, the provider states that care is provided for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2018. She has a suitable qualification.

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Inspection date: 19 December 2019

Date of last inspection: 10 September 2019

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Inspection date: 19 December 2019

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met the requirement and two of the four recommendations made at the last inspection. Fire safety has improved as staff now make sure fire doors are not wedged open. The registered manager has made some improvements so that the building is now homelier for children. Staff now evidence that the children are eating a healthy diet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has provided new books to encourage the children to read for enjoyment. However, staff do not sufficiently encourage those children who are not attending school to learn during ‘school’ hours, limiting their progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s educational outcomes and progress vary. While some children attend their education provision and are eager to return to mainstream school, others refuse to attend or are not receiving their entitlement to full-time education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children experience varying degrees of placement stability. One child moved on from the home in a planned, positive way. This child stays in touch with staff who they feel connected to after many years of living in the home. Another child has settled and is doing well in their new placement. However, other children have experienced the breakdown of their placements. Sometimes, staff have not been able to help children change some of the behaviours which place them at risk, and so the senior management team has had to give notice on the placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child said that they liked all the staff and that they felt safe in the home. However, two staff have left since the last inspection. In some situations, a few staff have found it difficult to enforce boundaries and manage challenging behaviour. Not all staff have a good understanding of the risks to children’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager did not inform Ofsted of two serious events. This prevented effective information-sharing with the regulator. Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2019 Full Good 18/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 4

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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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 31/01/2020

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Recommendations

 The ethos of the home should support each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. The home must make available suitable facilities, equipment and resources for learning and ensure that the home’s routines do not form barriers to children wishing to use the home’s resources to study. Staff must support children with home study by encouraging them to learn independent study skills and helping them to practise those skills. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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Recommendations

Specifically, staff should implement routines to encourage children to learn during school hours when they are not attending school. .

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Recommendations

 Children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 5 attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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Recommendations

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 The capacity and competence of staff to build constructive, warm relationships with children that actively promote positive behaviour, provides the foundations for managing any negative behaviour. Staff should have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. Where necessary they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14)

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1264048 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stonelake London Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sinckot House, 211b, Station Road, Harrow HA1 2TP

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Inspector

Jacqueline Graves, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1264048 7 to 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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