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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068789 1 SC068789

p.1

London Borough of Hillingdon

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

 The London Borough of Hillingdon operates this home.  The home provides care for up to nine children staying for short breaks or long- term care.  In the statement of purpose, the provider states that care is provided for children who may have physical and/or learning disabilities and emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2017.

p.1

This monitoring visit

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

p.1

This monitoring visit

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

p.1

This monitoring visit

Parents said their children are happy and well cared for and told the inspector staff do a wonderful job. One said, ‘We appreciate the effort and how they look after our child’, and another commented, ‘My child has a lovely relationship with the warm and caring staff, who recognise my child’s love of humour and share lots of fun times together.’

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that children enjoy a variety of home-based activities during periods of restrictions due to COVID-19. These include board games, movie nights with pizza and popcorn, sensory activities, painting, arts and crafts and messy play. Children can also play in the garden when the weather is nice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068789 2 Staff spoken with clearly know children well and feel confident in meeting their needs. Care plans are of a good quality and are detailed. They reflect children’s individual complex needs. One health professional said, ‘Staff have been very supportive and caring. They take on board health advice, which helps children make good progress.’

p.1

This monitoring visit

The designated officer commented that there are no systemic safeguarding concerns about the home. Staff have received safeguarding training. There was a learning point for the home in one recent safeguarding incident. The home addressed this and learned from it.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home did not notify Ofsted about two serious incidents. The registered manager subsequently forwarded the notifications to Ofsted; no children were placed at risk of harm due to this shortfall.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There are some missed opportunities in relation to quality assurance. For example, the managers have not always ensured that quality assurance reports reflect the views of children, staff, professionals or parents/carers/relatives.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Social work professionals told the inspector that staff maintain good communication with them. This ensures children’s individualised needs are met to a high standard.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff commented that they feel supported and receive regular supervision. They also said that managers are always available and accessible to support them.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Two requirements are made as a result of this monitoring visit. The one recommendation made at the previous inspection has not been reviewed during this monitoring visit and, therefore, reappears in this report.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/12/2019 Full Good 22/05/2018 Full Good 14/06/2017 Full Outstanding 16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068789 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.3

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.3

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.3

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 30 April 2021

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

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)) 30 April 2021

p.3

Recommendation

 Staff must help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27). Specifically, this relates to preparing children for the safe use of the internet and social media. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068789 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hillingdon

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: London Borough of Hillingdon, Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW

p.4

Inspector

Gulcin Ardic, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068789 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.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.5