Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC379199 1 SC379199

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Hertfordshire County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers care for up to seven children. It aims to provide a place in which children can feel valued, safe and cared for.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2014 and possesses a suitable level 5 qualification.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as good following a full inspection on 28 May 2019. Since June 2020, there has been an increase in safeguarding concerns notified to Ofsted. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess how the provider has managed these concerns. No immediate safety or safeguarding concerns were identified. The monitoring visit was a blended approach of remote and on-site activity.

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This monitoring visit

There are currently five children living at the home. All these children have moved into the home since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an increase in notifications concerning some children’s mental health and associated self-harming incidents, incidents of children going missing from care and bullying at the home between peers. The staff have managed these incidents well.

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This monitoring visit

The staff have supported the children’s mental health and emotional well-being. The staff have worked closely with the community and mental health teams, the home’s therapists and other professionals to ensure that detailed plans are in place. The plans support the staff to recognise patterns of behaviours and triggers. Incidents of children self-harming and going missing have started to reduce.

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This monitoring visit

A child said that, since living at the home, she has a better understanding of her mental health. The staff are supporting her to redirect feelings of anxiety and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC379199 2 explain to her why certain plans are in place. This support has helped her to feel safe.

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This monitoring visit

The frequency of incidents of peer bullying at the home increased during the summer months. These incidents involved the police being called on several occasions. The staff have worked with the children to understand the impact that bullying has on other people and themselves. The children engaged with a member of staff to understand what bullying is, the implications of bullying and the consequences. As a result, the children and staff rewrote the home’s anti-bullying policy. A child said that the staff were always supportive when bullying incidents occurred. They said that they feel safe and that bullying at the home has decreased.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents of some children going missing have led to safeguarding concerns. Some children have met with unsuitable people, which has led to unsafe behaviours. The staff have worked well with the police missing persons team. The response from the staff supported the children to keep safe.

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This monitoring visit

Two requirements from the last inspection have been met. Two were not looked at as part of this monitoring visit and will be repeated. No new requirements or recommendations were made.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/05/2019 Full Good 23/07/2018 Full Good 11/07/2017 Full Good 03/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC379199 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 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 their full potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to the manager’s monitoring of the children’s progress. 26 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that records contain an evaluation of the effectiveness of any sanction that has been applied. 26 February 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC379199 4

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DQ

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC379199 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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