Children's home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Dacorum

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC382138 1 SC382138

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Hertfordshire County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by the local authority and provides care for up to five children. The aim of the home is to make children feel safe and nurtured.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 2018 and registered with Ofsted in January 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as good following a full inspection on 19 August 2019. There has been an increase in safeguarding concerns notified to Ofsted since November 2020 and an increase in physical interventions. The purpose of this visit was to assess how the provider has managed these concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The visit was a blended approach of off-site and on-site activity. Information was gathered by speaking to staff and children to gain their views. Records of physical intervention and safeguarding were reviewed electronically. No immediate safety or safeguarding concerns were identified.

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This monitoring visit

There are currently four children living at the home. Four children have moved in to the home and two have moved out since April 2020. One child is temporarily living away from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding concerns have been managed well. The manager reports concerns appropriately and works with a wide range of professionals and services to keep children safe. The manager has referred allegations against staff to the designated officer. The allegations have been investigated thoroughly by the manager and outcomes recorded and shared with the appropriate agencies.

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This monitoring visit

The staff have built trusting relationships with the children. These relationships were observed during the visit. The strength of the relationships has contributed to a Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC382138 2 decrease in safeguarding incidents since February 2021. A child said that they feel safe because the staff genuinely care about them. All the children spoken with said that they can speak to staff if they are worried or upset about anything and that the staff listen to and help them.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s risk assessments are informative and regularly reviewed by staff. The staff know the children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities and understand that children need to learn to manage risks in a safe environment.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an increase in physical interventions since December 2020. These pertain to one child. The staff have built relationships with the child and supported them through discussions and key-work sessions to understand and manage their behaviour. Consequently, the need for physical intervention has started to decrease.

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This monitoring visit

The staff have a good understanding of children’s mental health and well-being and work closely with mental health services in the community. This helps the staff to understand children’s anxieties and supports children to understand their feelings and develop strategies to manage them.

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This monitoring visit

The children have been able to see their families during COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic restrictions. One child’s parent has been able to visit them at the home, supported by staff. Children have been able to video call their parents and people who are important to them.

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This monitoring visit

The staff encourage and help the children to attend education virtually and physically. A child was seen preparing for a virtual lesson, helped by a member of staff. Another child explained how he is attending school and will be spending one day a week at college.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has met the three requirements and one recommendation from the last inspection. All staff have or are currently undertaking a relevant level 3 qualification. The recruitment of agency workers is now in line with regulatory requirements and the manager ensures that all required checks are completed and verified. The independent visitor makes recommendations in their reports to support the monitoring and development of the home. The visitor also comments on whether they consider that the children are safeguarded effectively.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/08/2019 Full Good 21/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/07/2018 Full Good 03/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC382138 3

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of the visit was to assess how the provider has managed safeguarding and physical intervention concerns.

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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: Hertfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DQ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Neil Sutherland Inspector: Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC382138 4 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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Children’s home details

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Children’s home details

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Children’s home details

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

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