Children's Home run by London Borough of Hillingdon in Hillingdon

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 1 SC032502

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The London Borough of Hillingdon

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The London Borough of Hillingdon operates the home. The home provides care for up to 13 young people of either gender. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home specialises in mostly looking after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people. The registered manager was registered by Ofsted in April 2018.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place to address specific issues raised in quality assurance reports received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This was an off-site visit, in line with current COVID-19 (coronavirus) guidance. The inspector held telephone interviews with children and the registered manager, gained feedback from care professionals and reviewed documents.

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This monitoring visit

Children said that they are happy and well cared for. Children told the inspector: ‘Staff are helpful and nice’, ‘They are helping me to study’, and ‘When I am sad, they talk to me and make me feel better.’

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This monitoring visit

The independent visitor commented that she observes warm relationships between children and staff. Staff prioritise spending time with children, which makes the home ‘very homely’. The independent reviewing officer also said that one child had a key worker of a similar background, reflective of their cultural identity. The home provides a secure base for children.

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This monitoring visit

Children said that they feel safe. The registered manager deals with safeguarding concerns effectively. Appropriate measures are put in place to support children and protect them. Staff displayed a good understanding of the measures put in place to keep children safe and they implement them well. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 2 However, risk assessments and care plans are not always sufficiently detailed to capture the complexities, or reflect the progress, of children. One risk assessment contained information about another child. The registered manager addressed this and amended the version shared with the inspector.

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This monitoring visit

The home did not notify Ofsted about three serious incidents. The registered manager acknowledged these should have been sent in and subsequently forwarded the notifications to Ofsted; no children were placed at risk of harm due to this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

Opportunities have been missed in relation to quality assurance. For example, the home has not ensured that quality assurance reports reflect the views of children, staff, professionals and parents/carers/relatives.

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This monitoring visit

Children commented that they enjoy having a large garden at the home, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. They have enjoyed a range of fun activities with staff in the garden during the summer. These included barbeques, dancing, trampolining and playing snooker, table tennis, football and badminton.

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This monitoring visit

Children have been on outings with staff when the pandemic guidance permitted this. Children said that they wished to have some sports and gym equipment as they are spending a lot of time at home due to the pandemic. The registered manager is aware of this and she has already considered children’s wishes.

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This monitoring visit

Children continue to learn during the current COVID-19 pandemic and benefit from a study room in the home. Staff support children in education during the day and work well with children’s schools. The registered manager effectively requested support from the professional network to ensure that children have laptops. This ensures that children receive online education during periods of COVID-19 restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

Staff told the inspector that they feel supported and receive regular supervision. Staff said that managers have communicated with them regularly during the pandemic and given clear instructions about COVID-19 guidance.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have continued to receive some online training during the pandemic. However, staff have not received sufficient training concerning unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, such as the risks associated with child trafficking.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit has made three new requirements. Requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection have not been reviewed during this monitoring visit and reappear in the requirements section with adjusted timescales.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 3 24/04/2019 Full Good 09/10/2018 Full Good 18/07/2017 Full Good 19/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who–

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to–

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, make sure that the garden and building are maintained to appear homely and non-institutional in all areas. 23 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, make it clear that children from the local authority may also be accommodated in the centre and include staff’s experience and qualifications. 23 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must– 23 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 5 maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, record in admission and discharge registers all details required by regulation.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out the independent person’s opinion as to whether–

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b)) 23 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the missing child policy’) setting out–

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, review the measures that staff may take to prevent children from placing themselves at risk by going missing; gather feedback from return-home interviews; and seek to reduce the overall number of children going missing from the home. 23 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 23 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 6 a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(d)(i)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, send the three safeguarding notifications to Ofsted as highlighted during the monitoring visit.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure risk assessments and care plans are up to date and reflect the details and complexity, and are accurate. 23 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)) 23 April 2021

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Recommendations

 The children’s guide should help children to understand: how to make a complaint in line with the home’s complaints procedure; how they can access advocacy support or independent advocacy if eligible; and how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.22)  Homes should take account of information provided by independent return home interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  If the child raises concerns about the implementation of their plans, staff should advocate for the child and seek to ensure that their concerns are addressed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.11) Specifically, accelerate concerns about one child’s wish to be moved to

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Recommendations

another area. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 7

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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: The London Borough of Hillingdon

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Childcare and Early Years Service, 4E/02 Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW

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Inspector

Gulcin Ardic, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC032502 8 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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