Children's home run by Woodford Children's Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1268886 1

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Woodford Children’s Home Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home provides care and accommodation for up to five children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager was registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was conducted as a result of information received from the home’s independent visitor. They raised concerns about the number of incidents when children went missing from home. The visit was conducted off site.

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This monitoring visit

The main finding of this visit is that there are no serious concerns about children’s care or welfare. However, there are some shortfalls identified.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, the home was looking after two children. The children are settled, and both are attending school and are engaged in formal and informal online learning. Staff liaise closely with educators and provide appropriate guidance and support.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the departure of one child from the home, there has been a reduction in the number of times children go missing from the home. However, the frequency of children going missing from the home and the risks this places them at remains a concern.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are based on a therapeutic approach to supporting children and keeping them safe. However, these documents lack strategies and clear procedures to follow to support positive behaviour, to reduce incidents of children going missing from the home. Plans are not individualised for Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1268886 2 each child and contain similar information on procedures to follow, including the locking of the front door.

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This monitoring visit

Multi-agency work is effective. Key partner professionals, such as therapists and a mentor from a virtual school, report that staff work in close partnership with them. Information sharing allows staff to develop their understanding of the impact of children’s past experiences on their presenting behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

Managers failed to inform Ofsted of a serious safeguarding incident, which raises concerns about the impact and influence of children’s behaviour on each other. This failure to report is a breach of regulation and prevents Ofsted from understanding what is happening in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are offering appropriate and regular supervision to staff. Staff described the supervisions as helpful and supportive, with a focus on improving their work with children.

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This monitoring visit

Three new requirements are made as a result of this visit. One requirement made at the last inspection, relating to keeping accurate records on measures of control and discipline, was not reviewed at this monitoring inspection, and it is therefore repeated in this report.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/10/2019 Full Good 20/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1268886 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

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

any restriction, other than one imposed by a court or in accordance with regulation 22 (contact and access to communications) on—

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Requirement Due date

a child’s contact with parents, relatives or friends. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff are clear about the prohibited behaviour management controls; that staff do not restrict children’s access by locking the front door. 12 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 12 April 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1268886 4 the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, 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

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Requirement Due date

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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 12 April 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1268886 5 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, make sure that risk assessments are individualised to each child and contain all the information necessary for staff to understand how to manage the risk to a child. 12 April 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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Woodford Children’s Home Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 More London Place, Riverside, London SE1 2RE

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Inspector

Juanita Mayers, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1268886 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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