Children's Home run by Heartwood RSC Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2497538 1

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Heartwood RSC Limited

Monitoring visit 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 with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since October 2020. A manager is in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as sustaining effectiveness on 12 March 2020 following a previous judgement of good on 10 July 2019. In August 2020, safeguarding concerns were raised with Ofsted. The subsequent safety actions following the investigations led to reduced staffing capacity at the home. The senior management team, therefore, made the decision to suspend the home’s operation.

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This monitoring visit

The home has now reopened. One child moved into the home on 21 December 2020 and remains the only resident.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the actions that the provider has taken since August 2020 and consider how the lessons learned have informed the home’s practice. The monitoring visit was undertaken on site. No immediate safety or safeguarding issues have been found.

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This monitoring visit

Several changes to the leadership structure have been made. There is a new manager in post and a new permanent staff team. The manager has a positive vision for the home and is enthusiastic in ensuring that the protection of children is central to his leadership and decision-making.

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This monitoring visit

There is no longer an operational manager supervising the registered manager. The responsible individual now has direct line management. This provides her with Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2497538 2 increased management oversight to identify practice concerns and take necessary actions swiftly.

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This monitoring visit

Since joining the team, the manager and the responsible individual have audited all aspects of the service. They have updated the home’s policies and procedures. The manager has ensured that safer recruitment policies have been followed. The staff go through a rigorous induction programme. This enables them to understand the expectation of their role and what good-quality care looks like.

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This monitoring visit

A new electronic case management system has been implemented. This enables an organised recording system that supports staff to monitor and undertake tasks promptly and to regularly review children’s care plans.

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This monitoring visit

The staff receive regular supervision. The manager has fully explored safeguarding issues and encourages the staff to reflect on their practice. Consequently, the staff feel supported and are keen to continue to improve the quality of care that they provide.

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This monitoring visit

The feedback from parents and the social care team is very positive. The staff team is working well to coordinate a multi-agency support plan for the child in their care.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are promoting learning and education opportunities. They have set expectations and provide appropriate support and guidance for the child. Their approach is working well, and they have ensured that the child’s wishes and feelings are fully considered.

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This monitoring visit

The child’s risk assessment and placement plan provide the staff with clear and thorough details of how to safely manage the most immediate presenting risks. However, the child’s wider cognitive and health needs are not as clearly discussed. This means that staff are not fully prepared to manage all the child’s individual behaviours. In addition, not all the staff have undertaken specialist training to meet the child’s identified needs. Some of the staff, therefore, do not have the knowledge to understand what the child’s individual behaviours may mean and how best to respond to them.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements identified at the last inspection have all been met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2497538 3

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the risk and support plans explore all the child’s risks and vulnerabilities, with clear guidance on how to mitigate associated risks and promote the child’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that all staff receive specialist training to meet the children’s identified needs, specifically, managing self-harming behaviours, receptive language disorder, attention deficit disorder and autism spectrum disorders. 26 February 2021

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2497538 4

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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

Leemya McKeown, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2497538 5 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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