Children's home run by Heartwood RSL Ltd

Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to five children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides person-centred care for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered with Ofsted in August 2019 and the manager was registered at the same time.

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Information about this children's home

Previous inspection date: 28 January 2020

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Information about this children's home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children's social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills is leading Ofsted's work into how England's social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 2528264 2

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The care of children

During the pandemic, children have had the opportunity to thrive and they are growing in confidence and self-belief. Staff concentrate on nurturing children’s strengths and encouraging their independence and individuality. Children enjoy a range of activities and they have been able to maintain contact with their relatives. Staff have managed the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic well. This has enabled children to move in and out of the home in a stress-free manner. Children have successfully moved on from the home, for example into semi-independent accommodation, returned to foster care or moved to an alternative home more suited to their needs.

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The care of children

Children quickly settle into life at the home and they have a sense of belonging. Staff succeed in forming amiable, mutually respectful relationships with children. Children are successfully working on their goals at their own pace. Children are attending college, engage in online learning and enjoy informal learning opportunities. During the pandemic, children have achieved functional skills certificates and other qualifications. Children’s ambitions for the future include joining the marines, attending university and pursuing careers in construction and social care. Staff work well with professionals to manage children’s physical, emotional and mental health. Children are receiving the necessary therapeutic support and they also appreciate discussing their negative feelings with staff. Children also have the option of expressing themselves through singing, song writing and recording in a music studio.

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The care of children

Children are learning to develop their independent living skills. They enjoy cooking and baking with staff and eating together at the dining table. Children also learn to appreciate equality and diversity; an example of this is taking part in discussions regarding the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.

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The safety of children

All children who were present during the visit stated that they felt safe. The home succeeds in being a stable base for them. Children feel cared for and highlighted how living at the home had helped them. Since living at the home, children have significantly reduced their episodes of going missing. A care professional who works to reduce such missing behaviour confirmed ‘the placement (the staff) are aware of safeguarding processes around missing and do not delay any missing reports being made’. A comprehensive risk management system is also in place. The home has resources linked to COVID-19 and the impact the crisis can have on children’s mental health. Staff also have a good system to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19. Procedures include children and staff regularly having their Assurance visit report: 2528264 3 temperatures checked, the frequent washing of hands, the availability of hand

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The safety of children

sanitiser and staff giving masks to children when they leave the home. When given, sanctions are appropriate and help children to understand the consequences of their actions. However, sanction records do not always include the time of the incident. This makes it difficult to monitor and analyse trends to learn from events.

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The safety of children

Children receive training and clear messages regarding keeping themselves safe. An online training hub enables them to obtain certificates which cover a range of safeguarding issues. Courses include raising their awareness of the dangers of gang involvement, child sexual exploitation, going missing, social networking and internet safety. The organisation learns from safeguarding concerns. This has resulted in the updating of the safeguarding and staff recruitment procedures. A safeguarding week was also launched to increase the knowledge of staff and improve their practice.

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Leaders and managers

Children benefit from effective leadership and management and strong partnership arrangements. Leaders and managers are child-focused, reflective and aspirational for children. Feedback from professionals is positive; a social worker highlighted that she is ‘very impressed’ with the care.

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Leaders and managers

Children are cared for by a competent and culturally diverse staff team. Staff share their hobbies and interests with children. Staff enjoy making a positive difference in children’s lives and they express pride in their work.

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Leaders and managers

The implementation of a range of COVID-19 related policies and procedures is helping staff to manage the unique challenges that the current crisis brings. Leaders and managers have appropriately used the flexibility of the temporary amendments made to the children’s homes regulations. The home benefits from constructive monthly reports from an independent visitor. During the period of lockdown, these were undertaken remotely. The registered manager completes a quality of care review. This report includes the views of children; however, the views of placing authorities, parents or staff are not included.

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Leaders and managers

The organisation has continued to recruit new staff. New employees benefit from a comprehensive induction. A wide range of online training and individual supervision is also available, to support staff in their respective roles.

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Leaders and managers

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. A strength of the service is the support from senior managers. The introduction of the business and care support manager is commendable; as it provides additional mentoring for the registered manager and a further layer of quality assurance for the service. Assurance visit report: 2528264 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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c)(5)) 06/01/2021

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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 to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the time of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3) (a) (iii) 06/01/2021 Assurance visit report: 2528264 5

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2528264 6 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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