Children's home run by Heartwood Residential Services Ltd in Barnet

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC423959 1 SC423959

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Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for children who generally present with social and emotional difficulties. The aim is to break the negative cycle of multiple placement breakdowns.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager started working at the home on 16 February 2021 and Ofsted is awaiting an application for his registration. The previous manager left the home on 21 January 2021. The home was supported by the deputy manager and senior managers during the intervening period.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted this visit on site after receiving a complaint from a child living in the home. This visit focused on the progress and safeguarding of the child and another child named in the complaint.

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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 assessed on this occasion. An additional requirement relating to the home environment results from this visit. The additional requirement has not impacted on the care offered to children.

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This monitoring visit

There were four children living in the home at the time of this visit. The home’s manager is still familiarising himself with the home’s policies and is building a relationship with the children.

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This monitoring visit

This visit involved meetings with two children, the home’s manager, deputy manager, allocated key worker, care and business support manager and operations manager. In addition, two allocated social workers provided feedback regarding the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC423959 2 Placing social workers provided positive feedback. One social worker commented about staff ‘going over and above to support my young person and make her safe’.

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This monitoring visit

Children have been unsettled by a recent altercation between them and staff. This visit found that their concerns regarding both this incident and other matters were being addressed by the home’s new manager. The altercation has been investigated properly via the appropriate authorities and no further action is planned. The designated officer states that the home’s investigation into the incident was ‘very thorough and timely’.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is currently investigating the children’s additional concerns via the home’s complaint procedure and anticipates concluding this on 31 March 2021. A copy of the report will be forwarded to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The environment in the home requires urgent attention. An unpleasant odour was detected on the ground floor, which staff attributed to a plumbing issue. Children reported intermittent heating in their bedrooms and a lack of hot water. Two bedrooms that were seen during this visit were dirty, with visible stains on curtains and windowsills. The bedroom furniture was damaged and poorly maintained. A child’s bed was found to be too small and a bedside cabinet damaged, presenting a possible hazard to children.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s manager states that he is ‘embarrassed’ by the findings and is ‘committed to addressing the maintenance problems’.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/09/2019 Full Good 13/08/2018 Full Good 07/11/2017 Full Good 14/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC423959 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 system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) 1 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;

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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)(e)) 1 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children attend health appointments. 1 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff have training to raise their awareness of gangs, knife crime and contextual safeguarding. 1 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure; 1 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC423959 4 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are supported to keep their bedrooms clean, that the nasty smell in the downstairs toilet is eliminated, that the heating and hot water supply are consistent, and that children are provided with suitable furniture, including beds that are big enough.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, ensure that progress reports meaningfully capture all the work undertaken with children. Also, ensure that correction fluid is not used and that language used is child-centred. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child. In particular, risk assessments must include all identified risks, such as offensive weapons, sexual assault and threats from others in the

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Recommendations

community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure the maintenance of good employment practice. In particular, ensure that staff have enough information technology tools to maintain the home’s records. Consideration should also be given to staff concerns regarding the activity budget, placement matching and feeling unvalued. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that records are kept of all individual incidents when children go missing from the home (regulation 36) (schedule 3(14)). In particular, records must accurately detail the dates when a child is missing. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.31) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC423959 5

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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: Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9TH

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC423959 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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