Children's Home run by Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited in Hounslow

Inspection report children's home: SC409851 1 SC409851 Registered provider: Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home which provides care and accommodation for up to three children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2010. The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 January 2020

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC409851 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/06/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children's home: SC409851 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care that meets their needs. This means that children have good experiences and make steady progress. Children and staff have very positive relationships with each other.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel at ease and are very comfortable with the staff team. One child’s parent said, ’The staff are doing an excellent job. They’re committed, offer good support and structure. My child has a sense of attachment and his engagement is consistent.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good opportunities to share their wishes and feelings about the home and how it is run. Staff encourage children to make day-to-day choices. For example, children choose which of the bedrooms they wish to move into and how to personalise their private space. Staff hold very regular key-work sessions, while the registered manager also holds one-to-one meetings with children. This is to ensure that children contribute to shaping the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to complain, but generally do not. Recent complaints have been managed well by leaders and managers.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s learning outcomes are good. Staff communicate effectively with educational professionals. This ensures that children are allocated educational provision that meets their specific learning needs. For example, for children who do not attend school, staff advocate on their behalf, ensuring that home tutoring takes place. Staff routinely celebrate children’s achievements.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun and take part in hobbies and interests that they enjoy. Staff offer children opportunities to participate in new experiences. For example, dirt bike activities and day trips to the seaside. One child said of one such trip, ‘I had a great time and can’t wait to go again.’ One child has a keen interest in the care of dogs. Therefore, the registered manager’s specially trained emotional support dog spends time in the home with the child at weekends.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with dignity and respect. The needs of individual children are considered by the manager and staff. Key documents take into consideration the impact on some children of their special needs, such as learning disabilities. Staff simplify their language and written information for children to ensure that children fully understand what is being said and shared.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to live healthy lifestyles. Staff ensure that there are effective systems in place to prevent COVID-19 infection. Children’s health needs and requirements are understood by staff, who manage their healthcare and treatment plans safely. Children’s emotional and mental health needs are very well met by the Inspection report children's home: SC409851 4 staff team. However, errors are noted in medication records. This does not demonstrate that staff administer and manage children’s medication safely.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Older children are prepared well for adulthood. The home’s independence programme helps children to develop essential daily living skills. This includes tasks such as budgeting, shopping and meal preparation. Children demonstrate a good level of ability in one task before moving on to work on another. Staff encourage and support children to apply for jobs, when this is what they wish to do.

p.4

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

Staff work hard to protect children from harm, abuse and bullying. The staff are familiar with child protection procedures and they adhere to safeguarding protocols. Staff training and induction have a strong focus on safe care.

p.4

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

Risk assessments identify and highlight risks to children. These are specific to individual children and staff update these regularly. Risk management plans are detailed and effective. They provide staff guidance about anticipating and managing any risk-taking behaviour. This helps to reduce risks and to keep children safe. Staff promote positive behaviour and children largely adhere to the house rules. Staff’s supervision of children is good, and they manage children’s behaviour well. This promotes the protection of children. Since the last inspection, there have been few critical incidents. Staff do not restrain children, and children do not go missing from the home.

p.4

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

Staff recruitment and vetting practices were of concern at previous inspections. This has greatly improved. Staff personnel files now contain comprehensive information about staff applying to work at the home. The exception to this is the confirmation of applicants’ formal qualifications. This does not ensure that potential new staff have the necessary qualifications to work with children.

p.4

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

The home’s premises have recently been refurbished and redecorated. Children are very comfortable in their surroundings. The building is safe and secure. However, window restrictors are not always in place. This poses a potential risk of harm to children while in their bedrooms. Staff work effectively with other safeguarding professionals to ensure that children are kept safe. Communication with partners is frequent and staff highlight placement issues as soon as they arise. Managers participate in professional network meetings that explore safeguarding issues and how to best resolve these. This helps to keep children safe from harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management of the home have significantly improved in recent months. The registered manager’s efforts are supported by the responsible individual and a newly appointed service manager. Staff roles and responsibilities are now well defined and there is collective accountability for the quality of care provided. This had not been the case previously. Inspection report children's home: SC409851 5 The registered manager is well qualified and experienced to manage the home. The staff team works effectively and sensitively with children. Staffing ratios are appropriate to meet the individual needs of each child. When staff identify high risks for children, additional support staff are promptly made available. This ensures that children are kept safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the shortfalls identified at the home’s last inspection have been resolved. The home is meeting the aims and objectives outlined in its statement of purpose. However, the statement of purpose does not include clear information about stakeholders making complaints. This does not make it clear to stakeholders as to who they should approach if they have concerns.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have ambitious vision for the development of the home and high aspirations for children’s achievements. The home’s monitoring systems are robust and explore most aspects of the home’s functioning. Reports provide insight into the quality of the service. This helps to improve the quality of the service. However, managers are yet to complete and forward to Ofsted an updated quality of care report. This is not in compliance with the regulations.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers provide good support to the staff team. A member of staff said, ‘It is a pleasure being a part of the team. There is support, guidance, a joyful working environment, high standard safeguarding and development opportunities.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction of new staff is effective, and staff receive regular, meaningful supervision that meets their development needs. Managers complete staff appraisals and staff training; mentoring and coaching opportunities are excellent. The support for staff has significantly improved. This has resulted in children receiving high- quality, safe care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff share a very effective working relationship with other professionals. This ensures that all parties are aware of concerns and issues for children. Feedback from external partners has been overwhelmingly positive. A placing authority commissioning manager said ‘I am very happy and pleased with the service’s progress. It has been an impressive journey.’ Inspection report children's home: SC409851 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c)) 1 December 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.6

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.6

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(d)) 1 December 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 1 December 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC409851 7 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(1) (2)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates to windows being fitted with window restrictors.

p.7

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This relates to including information about making complaints. 1 December 2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

p.7

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and 1 January 2022 Inspection report children's home: SC409851 8 make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.8

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: SC409851 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited

p.9

Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC409851 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10