Children's home run by Area Camden Limited in Haringey

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC473639 1 SC473639

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Area Camden Ltd

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 provides care for up to 10 children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home cares for children who have social and emotional difficulties. The home is situated on two sites near one another.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager has been in post since April 2020 and was registered in December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

There were seven children living across both homes during this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted this visit on site due to concerns about the quality of the independent person’s monthly reports. The reports suggested that the independent person had limited consultation with other professionals and had not sought children’s views since August 2020. These reports allow Ofsted to understand what is happening at the home, to hear about children’s progress and reveal any potential shortfalls in practice.

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This monitoring visit

Because of the limited scope of the visit, the requirements and recommendations that were set at the last inspection were not considered on this occasion. These are repeated following this visit with the addition of two further recommendations. The additional recommendations have not impacted upon the care offered to children. These recommendations refer to the independent person’s reports and the home’s policy regarding the investigation of allegations and complaints.

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This monitoring visit

This visit involved the inspector having conversations with staff and children, and gaining feedback from the local police, other professionals and from the Ofsted annual survey. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC473639 2 A child informed the inspector that they were really happy in their home. Feedback from all professionals was universally positive. Professionals referred to the commitment, proactivity and ‘welcoming feel’ of both the home and the staff team. Professionals recognise the positive relationships that children build with staff and the reduction in key risk-taking behaviours such as running away and going missing from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff feel motivated and supported. Staff report good levels of supervision and training. One staff member commented: ‘I enjoy making a difference in the lives of young people.’

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This monitoring visit

The home’s policy regarding the investigation of allegations and complaints requires revision. A member of staff participated in the evaluation of a recent complaint in which the staff member was named. This limited the impartiality of the investigation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/10/2019 Full Good 06/03/2019 Full Good 26/06/2017 Full Outstanding 19/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC473639 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 fulfil their 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff’s recording of information is of a high standard. This relates to care plans, risk assessments, behaviour management strategies and young people’s independent living booklets . 1 April 2021

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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

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

information relating to the care, protection or safety of the child

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Requirement Due date

the date and circumstances of all incidents where a child goes missing from the home, including any information 1 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC473639 4 relating to the child’s whereabouts during the period of absence.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that records of children going missing distinguish between missing episodes and unauthorised absences. Records must be accurate in reflecting the length of time that the child is absent from the home.

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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;

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the provider ensures that children’s identity needs are identified and met. 1 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 1 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— 1 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC473639 5 the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide should help children to understand how to make a complaint in line with the home’s complaints procedure. In particular, that information about making complaints is explicit in advising children that they can contact Ofsted to share any concerns they may have. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)  The registered person should ensure that all electronic records accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to review are reproduced in a legible form. Electronic records should be held at the individual home in accordance with data protection principles. IT systems should ensure the safe storage of these records and business continuity planning should be in place to prevent loss or damage to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that as the home uses CCTV or other monitoring equipment should have a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. Homes must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of the placement. This relates to ensuring that the home’s CCTV policy contains accurate information. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. In particular, ensure that the views of young people and key professionals are ascertained on a regular basis. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC473639 6 the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that the policy for the protection of children from abuse and neglect should include arrangements for dealing with allegations involving staff in the home. In particular, ensure that all allegations are investigated by staff who are not involved in any concerns raised. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.19)

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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 address: 1 Turnpike Lane, London N8 0EP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nuala Harrington

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC473639 7 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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