Children's Home run by Higher Hopes Limited in Cambridgeshire

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for four children aged between eight and 18 who have experienced childhood trauma and/or emotional and behavioural difficulties, and who may be at risk of child exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home opened in June 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 8 January 2020

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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:  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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 2531620 2

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The care of children

There were four children living at the home at the time of this visit. One child has moved into the home since April 2020. One child moved into the home just before the first COVID-19 national restrictions in March 2020. The COVID-19 restrictions affected the staff’s ability to settle this child into a daily routine. No children have moved out during this period.

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The care of children

The home is welcoming and comfortable. Improvement work is being undertaken to make the flooring in the communal areas and the children’s rooms more suitable.

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The care of children

Professionals’ feedback is positive about the relationships that the staff are building with children. External professionals said that the children are learning to trust the staff. This is significant progress for one child, who moved to the home from a secure children’s home. The home’s on-site therapist supports the staff to implement a therapeutic approach to care.

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The care of children

None of the children is currently attending full-time education. However, the staff encourage children to engage with learning and other activities. A young person’s social worker described how the young person’s key worker had skilfully supported the young person to attend college. Staff work with relevant professionals to secure education arrangements. Staff contributed to developing an individual alternative education plan for one child and identified appropriate learning opportunities in the local community to supplement individual tuition. The staff have pursued the placing authority to provide an education, health and care plan for a child.

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The care of children

The staff help the children to maintain relationships with their families. One child is now spending increasing time at her family home. The staff arrange her travel and check her welfare by speaking with her while she is at home.

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The care of children

The children’s care plans are lengthy, but they lack some basic and current important information. This means that staff do not have easy access to information that they may need in an emergency.

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The safety of children

This visit identified concerns about practice in respect of children who smoke. On occasions, the responsible individual has directed staff to provide some children with tobacco. This blurs professional boundaries and does not provide children with healthy and responsible role models.

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The safety of children

Staff respond quickly and in line with protocols when children go missing from the home. The staff follow the plans to reduce risks to the children. When incidents occur, the staff promptly notify the police and safely follow the children. The staff provide the children with basic phones to enable them to make contact. Follow-up conversations with children help them to develop their understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Assurance visit report: 2531620 3 The manager undertakes thorough risk assessments that consider the vulnerabilities of children moving into the home and the potential impact on children who are already living at the home. One child said that she is sometimes scared of another child’s behaviour. The manager has increased supervision and undertaken direct work with both children to help resolve this. Staff are vigilant and continue to review their approach in response to concerns.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are individualised. However, some contain contradictory information, which can lead to inconsistencies in staff responses.

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The safety of children

Physical interventions are rarely used. When physical intervention is necessary, it is justified and proportionate. The manager provides comprehensive oversight of the physical intervention records and she debriefs the children and staff who were involved in the incidents.

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The safety of children

There are some inconsistencies in how staff manage situations. Some staff feel more confident than others to hold boundaries with a child who has been physically aggressive. Managers support the staff by providing regular supervision, therapy-led learning sessions and relevant training. Staff said that they feel well supported.

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Leaders and managers

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and advice, the registered manager has not been on site at the home for extended periods. The manager’s absence has had an impact on the staff and the children. The manager knows the children and staff well. The staff miss her influence and guidance. The responsible individual is temporarily undertaking the day-to-day management of the home. However, this means that there is not a separation of roles and therefore not a clear route for staff to raise safeguarding issues or concerns.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s absence has meant reduced staffing capacity at the home. External professionals said that there has been less frequent communication from the home. The social worker for a child who is not attending school reported some delay in the staff implementing the actions that were agreed at multi-agency education planning meetings.

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Leaders and managers

There continues to be good management oversight and evaluation of incidents involving children. This helps to ensure that children only experience sanctions or interventions that are proportionate and appropriate.

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Leaders and managers

Complaints are managed swiftly and appropriately. Children receive helpful and thorough individual letters from the registered manager once she has completed investigations into their complaints. Assurance visit report: 2531620 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 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all managers and staff understand the law on supplying tobacco and that they act as healthy and responsible role models to the children. 16 December 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h) 1 February 2021 Assurance visit report: 2531620 5 In particular, ensure that all plans relating to children contain accurate, up-to-date information that provides clear guidance to staff.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (1)(a) (2)(f)

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the staff know who the independent people are, outside the organisation, to whom they can report concerns. 18 December 2020

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Higher Hopes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 49 Musley Lane, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 7EW

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Inspectors

Tom Anthony, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2531620 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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