Children's Home run by Heartwood RSC Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report children’s home: 2497538 1 Registered provider: Heartwood RSC Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since May 2019. A manager is in post, and she has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 12 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2497538 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.

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children and young people since the most recent 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 have good relationships with the staff. One child is making good progress. Her social worker said, ‘She has come on in leaps and bounds.’ Another child, who has recently moved into the home, has settled well. However, two children’s placements have ended prematurely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the two children’s move from the home, there has been a period of stability. The home’s management has reflected and learned from this. As a result, the approach to placement matching and admissions has changed. Managers are now more fastidious about gathering detailed information from placing authorities and questioning the accuracy of the information that they receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Over recent months, the number of significant incidents has reduced. This is not just a result of fewer children living at the home, as children’s individual incidents have reduced, too. Consequently, the risks to children are reducing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and the staff work well with external professionals and families. Issues that arose after the last inspection have been addressed. Families and professionals are positive about the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. The staff, including agency staff, have received training in physical intervention.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are now receiving supervision in line with the workforce plan. In addition, staff recruitment is ongoing. There are enough staff to support the number of children who live at the home. Managers recognise that any increase in the numbers of children will necessitate an increase in the number of permanent staff members.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been occasions when the manager has not been satisfied with the actions of placing authorities; however, there has been limited challenge in response. This does not ensure that placing authorities’ actions and decisions are scrutinised effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When necessary, the management team undertakes reviews of staff’s conduct; however, the actions identified are not always implemented in a timely manner. The failure to act promptly increases the potential for the errors to be repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safe recruitment checks are lacking. They do not consistently contain information on why applicants have left prior employment with adults and children. Ineffective safe recruitment leaves children at risk of unsuitable people being employed. Inspection report children’s home: 2497538 3 External monitoring takes place. However, between July 2019 and January 2020 all the independent monitoring visits were announced. This limits the scope and effectiveness of the process. Therefore, the process is not providing the level of safeguarding that it should afford. Inspection report children’s home: 2497538 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2497538 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff–

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 31/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that–

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to–

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, following management investigations, ensure that the actions identified as necessary are carried out promptly. 31/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which 31/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2497538 6 the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(12)(a)(b)(3)(d))

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Recommendations

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) In particular, ensure that external monitoring visits are not always announced.

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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: 2497538 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood RSC Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford IG3 9JX

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Inspector

Ashley Hinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2497538 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 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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