Children's Home run by Footsteps Care Limited in Waltham Forest

Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 1 SC481293 Registered provider: Footsteps Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care and accommodation for up to eight children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home looks after children who have a learning disability and/or physical and significant health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 3 December 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2019 Full Good 02/10/2018 Full Good 30/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care that meets their needs well. Many of the children do not communicate through speech and so staff work hard to interpret and understand their needs and offer person-centred care. This means that children make steady progress and have good day-to-day experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children, and staff share positive relationships. A staff member said, ‘The thing I like best? Attending to the kids’ needs. I’m not key working anyone yet, but I’m really looking forward to it.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff continue to work on innovative ways to promote their understanding of what children and young people are conveying. Some children make significant progress in their use of speech. There has been a concerted effort by staff to make greater use of symbolic and pictorial cues to obtain children’s views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children do not always benefit from information being provided to them in different communication formats. For example, the minutes and outcomes of children’s meetings are not yet available in pictorial form.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to live healthily. This has been the case prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic and is particularly important as some children live with very complex healthcare needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff receive good guidance and training to help them manage the healthcare needs of children. Staff work in close collaboration with healthcare professionals to ensure that children receive appropriate specialist healthcare services. This promotes the safe co-ordination of children’s health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Improvements made to the home’s medication system mean that staff’s management of medication is comprehensive and safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s learning outcomes are good. While schools and colleges have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have made good efforts to support children’s continued development. For some children, this has meant a greater focus on developing key life skills such as dressing and undressing themselves. For others, speech and communication development or learning to read has become the key learning focus.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Older children who move on from the home access appropriate adult care provision. Staff are instrumental in preparing children and young people for this transition and contribute to the decision-making process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work at the children’s own pace, help them to develop key life skills and celebrate their achievements. Staff and children mark the departure of other children through parties, the exchange of gifts and providing memorabilia of their stay. Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff work hard to keep children safe. They provide 1:1 supervision to most children. This ratio of staff increases if activities take place away from the home. Staff are knowledgeable and vigilant about children’s individual vulnerabilities. This helps to keep them safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children do not go missing from the home, experience exploitation, abuse, or bullying.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff’s supervision of children is effective. This results in there being very few critical instances. Staff very rarely use restraint, and when they do so it is to protect children and others from harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The recording of restraint incidents has improved since the home’s last inspection. However, managers do not always conduct or record debrief sessions held with children following a restraint incident. This shortfall means that those involved do not have an opportunity to indicate how they are feeling and to explore any learning points.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Managers swiftly and effectively manage any allegations made against staff. They adhere to expected protocols, and their liaison with key safeguarding agencies is consistent and informative. Subsequent internal investigations have been thorough and fair. Managers ensure that the focus of their investigations is on the protection of children. This helps to keep children safe from harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff’s risk assessments highlight known and anticipated risks posed to children. These documents contain good guidance to staff about managing and reducing risk- taking behaviour. Management strategies are tailored towards the specific needs and circumstances of individual children. Recommended strategies are largely effective when used and help to keep children safe. Staff’s management of self-harming incidents is a good illustration of this.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff devise clear and individualised behavioural management plans. These consider the impact of children’s disabilities. Staff work together with other professionals such as psychologists to establish boundaries with children. Staff are consistent in supporting children and young people to live safely, and yet have fun and good experiences at their home and when elsewhere.

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good

The leadership and management of the home shows significant improvement since the home’s last inspection. The registered manager has since made many changes to improve the overall service provided to children. The registered manager has an Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 5 ambitious vision for the development of the home. However, several requirements made at the last inspection are yet to be resolved.

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good

An area identified for further improvement is the decor and maintenance of the building. Some lounge furniture requires replacement, and some children’s bedrooms require repair and decoration to make bedrooms more homely and reflect individual interests. In one bedroom, the window is not sufficiently covered and so the child’s privacy is somewhat compromised.

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good

Despite the need for ongoing refurbishment, there have been significant environmental developments to the home. These include the complete modernisation of the kitchen, the redecoration of some bedrooms, and the sensory room being better equipped with new sensory and play equipment. Care has been taken to visually display images of children themselves, learning and interacting with others.

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good

The home receives very few complaints. However, some children indicated that they have little faith that complaints will be dealt with effectively. They said that it is their experience that it can take a long time for issues to be resolved. Managers acknowledged that this is an area for further review.

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good

The last inspection highlighted that the quality of several key records was of a poor standard. Leaders have since invested in new electronic technology that supports clear and orderly documentation. Files show improvement in the quality of records. The exception to this, however, is staff’s recording of key-work sessions. These are sometimes not clear or meaningful.

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good

The last inspection also highlighted that staff morale was low, that there was a lack of team cohesiveness and that this was having a negative impact on the quality of care provided. Managers have worked hard to rectify this, and staff said that their working environment has greatly improved. One staff member said, ‘The registered manager is a great man. He listens and really takes on board what staff say. Those who need to go, go. It’s a good thing, we’re more together now.’

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good

Staff said they feel very well supported by their line managers. Staff induction and training opportunities are good. This supports them to provide safe, person-centred care. A staff member said of the registered manager, ‘He’s 100% supportive. He’s flexible and understanding when I was feeling low. That said, the children always put a smile on my face.’

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good

There are gaps in the frequency of supervision and appraisals for of some staff and managers. This needs some attention to ensure that staff development is in line with management priorities for the home.

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good

Leaders and managers promote equality and diversity. As a result, children’s identity needs are well met. For example, one child enjoys accessing French African music and cultural events on television and via the internet. This child is of the Muslim Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 6 faith and enjoys programmes that include readings from the Quran. This is in line with her parents’ wishes.

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good

Children enjoy visits to the home from a barber who is patient and understanding of the impact of learning disabilities. He is skilled in carefully cutting hair in current popular styles. Children feel good about themselves as they mirror trendy styles like those of their peers and celebrities.

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good

The provider has made a significant investment in improving the quality of services provided to children. There is a newly appointed operations manager and development officer in post to support the efforts of the registered manager. Managers regularly attend the organisation’s management team meetings to discuss the home’s development.

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good

Leaders have developed robust systems that help to monitor placement issues and progress. The home’s development plan highlights future improvement priorities.

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good

Leaders and managers work in close partnership with parents and other professionals. During the pandemic, despite restricted visits, children enjoyed remote contact with people important to them. Minutes of a Child Looked After review states, ‘The home continues to provide X (child) with stability and a safe environment for her to continue residing in. Staff are supportive and ensure X accesses the support she needs.’

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good

The home is achieving its stated aims and objectives, and as a result children make steady progress and have positive experiences. Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 7

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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 registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 31 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii)) In particular, that children’s bedrooms and the lounge area are appropriately decorated, that the worn furniture in the lounge is replaced, and that glass doors and windows are appropriately covered to promote children’s privacy. 31 July 2021

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 31 July 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 8 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) In particular, that the registered person ensures that staff’s recording of key-work sessions is of a high standard.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children who cannot or choose not to verbalise, have the right to have their views, wishes and feelings heard and respected in the same way as other children. This relates to staff using communication symbols and pictorial cues that children are familiar with (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.24)  The registered person should ensure that any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint, taking the age and circumstances of the restraint into account. Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. Children should be offered the opportunity to access an advocate to help them with this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes

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Recommendations

regulations including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)  The registered person should ensure that children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Footsteps Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Orchard, Ashmead Drive, Denham, Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire UB9 5BA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anslim Narinesingh

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC481293 10 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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