Children's home run by CareTech Community Services Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1245823 1 Registered provider: CareTech Community Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered for six children. The home provides care for children who have physical and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: 1245823 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

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. The registered manager and staff worked with the child to support her planned move to a foster placement. The support from the staff enabled the child to settle quickly into her new home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When children move into the home, the registered manager and staff work very hard to support children in accordance with their needs. For one child, dedicated staff spent time with him while he was in hospital and planned his move to the home over a protracted period. Children can personalise their rooms. For example, one child, who spends part of his week with his parents, has the same bed at the home as he has at his parents’ home. This level of personalisation helps children to feel less anxious and helps them to feel settled.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff work hard to understand children’s complex needs. For example, staff have an excellent understanding of one child’s complex relationship with food, and they work hard to manage this. Staff show a level of dedication in meeting the individual needs of children. This means that children receive a consistently good level of care and make good progress in all aspects of their lives, including their education, health and well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children take part in a range of variety of activities which promote their interests. This improves their self-esteem and confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support children to develop appropriate independence skills. Adjustments to the home have been made to enable children with physical health needs to be able to develop new skills, for example in cooking.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children take part in regular meetings. Staff ensure that these meetings are child- friendly. Staff have a good understanding of the different ways to enable children to express their wishes and views on issues like redecorating the lounge, menus and activities. In addition, two children have an independent advocate and the other children are waiting for an independent visitor to be allocated to them. This helps children to feel valued and listened to and to contribute to the day-to-day running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff work closely with partner agencies. This joined-up working with other professionals ensures that there are effective and well-managed plans in place for children. Inspection report children’s home: 1245823 3 Generally, the registered manager monitors the service effectively. She has implemented a new auditing system which enables her to retain largely good oversight of the quality of care provided to children. However, she does not always act quickly to address issues that arise from this monitoring. For example, a child requires the use of an evacuation chair in the event of a fire at night. When an issue around staff practice was picked up during a fire drill relating to this, sufficient follow-up action was not taken to ensure that this was addressed to minimise risks to the child in the event of a fire at the home. Inspection report children’s home: 1245823 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2019 Full Good 06/03/2019 Full Inadequate 09/08/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1245823 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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that there is prompt follow-up in relation to fire drills when issues around staff training and staff practice arise. 18/04/2020

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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: 1245823 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CareTech Community Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: CareTech Community Services Limited, 5th Floor Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1245823 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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