Children's home run by Barnardo’s in Redbridge

Inspection report children’s home: SC025940 1 SC025940 Registered provider: Barnardo’s Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a national charity. It is registered to provide care for up to six children. The home’s statement of purpose confirms that the home provides care and accommodation for children who have learning disabilities. The premises are wheelchair accessible, with all bedrooms situated on the ground floor. The types of placements offered by the home include long-term placements, short breaks and respite care. The home’s method of delivering care incorporates the principles of social pedagogy. The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

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Inspection date: 19 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC025940 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 the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to thrive at this home. Staff succeed in creating a warm, comfortable and encouraging atmosphere, where children can lead fulfilling lives. The outcomes for children are very positive, resulting in children moving on to foster care and supported living.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children quickly settle into life at the home. Children are helped by staff to become happier, calmer, more mature, resilient and confident. Staff focus on children’s abilities and not their disability, which enables children to take greater responsibility for their day-to-day lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are achieving, and in some cases exceeding, their educational expectations. They receive awards from their schools in recognition of their achievements. One child has also attended a university open day and was shortlisted in a national writing competition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s activities are personalised to reflect their individual interests. Activities include going to the cinema, go-karting, the gym, visiting their chosen church, swimming and meals out. They also enjoy new experiences, such as going on a cable-car ride and trips to the museum, a comedy show and the pantomime.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children make a positive contribution to the social care sector, through their children’s ambassador role. A good example of this is the invitation to share their experiences at a House of Commons event.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have an active voice within the home, which is captured in their personal documents. One child has been enabled to contribute to the completion of their daily records, by self-critically writing them with staff. This helps this child to be more accountable and it also ensures that this record accurately reflects their life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All children are developing their independent living and personal development skills. They enjoy helping with cooking and baking. Children also learn to appreciate different cultures through international dishes and festivals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The high staffing ratios and meaningful activities ensure that children do not go missing. Staff have a good understanding of children and there are no current behaviour management concerns. Children have good social skills and they are respectful and compassionate towards each other.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children respond well to incentives. Occasionally, staff have to use sanctions to help children learn the consequences of their actions. Sanction records, however, do not Inspection report children’s home: SC025940 3 always include the effectiveness of the sanction, the children’s responses or evidence of oversight by a manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from effective leadership. Staff praised the new senior manager, valuing the fact that she listens and keeps them informed of organisational changes. Staff said that they feel energised and well supported. New staff have appropriate experience and children receive care from a competent and committed staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has a system for continual improvement, which includes the registered manager completing a quality of care review. However, although feedback from children, placing authorities and staff is collected, this information is not detailed in the registered manager’s report. This minor shortfall does not have an impact on the good care provided to children. The majority of the recommendations from the last inspection have been actioned. Staff have benefited from further training, children’s risk assessments are now more comprehensive and children enjoy more activities. An ongoing issue is the institutionalised look of bathrooms. Leaders and managers stated that the organisation hopes in the long term to renovate the property and provide en-suite bathrooms. The organisation has innovative plans for the future. Leaders and managers said that they hope to create a trauma-informed service to benefit children, and stated

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that their aim is to provide a therapeutic service which considers research and good practice. Inspection report children’s home: SC025940 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/05/2019 Full Good 16/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 31/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC025940 5

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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

Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of discipline in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(ii)(c)) 01/04/2020

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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 children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) 01/04/2020

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Recommendation

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, the home should take action to make the bathrooms less institutionalised. Inspection report children’s home: SC025940 6

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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: SC025940 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Head Office, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC025940 8 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 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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