Children's Home run by Harmony Residential Homes Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2617499 1 Registered provider: Harmony Residential Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for five children with social and emotional needs, or who have experienced trauma which has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in October 2021. There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 19 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2617499 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager has addressed three of the four requirements and two of the three recommendations that were raised at the last inspection. One of the requirements and one recommendation have not been addressed. These have been raised again along with one further recommendation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When a child moved into the home, the manager assessed their needs and planned the move. This was carefully detailed and included visits and overnight stays before the move. The associated risks have reduced for this child since moving to the home. However, the staff have not received training to support the child’s specific diagnosis. This lack of training and knowledge means that staff are not properly equipped to support this child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are two children currently living at the home. Following an unsettled period earlier in the year, the acting manager has not taken any new children into the home. This has provided the two children with less change and increased stability. Both children benefit from good relationships with the staff and a structured routine. The staff fully support the children’s hobbies and activities, which helps the children to develop their skills and interests. One child engages regularly with a tutor who comes to the home, and the other child is applying for an apprenticeship in childcare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager left three months ago. Since then, the experienced deputy manager has provided day-to-day management of the home. She has been supported well by the responsible individual and has maintained a clear focus on the children’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have been considerably affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . This has led to several staff being off work and other staff working extra hours to cover shifts. The staff have worked together tirelessly to maintain consistent support for the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from spacious communal living areas and a large garden. The house is freshly painted, clean and comfortable. Any damage to the house is quickly repaired. The children are encouraged to take care of the home and the garden. At times, staff ask the children to help with maintenance in replacement of a sanction. This helps children to understand the repairs and costs caused by any damage.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are encouraged to respect the house rules, maintain a daily structure and helped to recognise potential risks to their safety. The staff use a token Inspection report for children’s home: 2617499 3 incentive scheme that works well. However, the records and oversight of sanctions are not good enough. At times, the staff stop children’s free time and internet access without any detail of the timescales. This does not help the staff to maintain a clear and consistent approach or help children to understand the sanction.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child leaves the home regularly for short periods of time. The staff always follow the child. On occasion, these events have developed into a missing-from-care incident and the police have been called. The incidents are not long in duration and the manager has arranged an independent return home interview for the child each time. However, the information from these interviews is not used to inform the child’s risk management plan. Inspection report for children’s home: 2617499 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2617499 5

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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

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that all staff access the relevant training to support and meet the children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 25 February 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. In particular, ensure that records of sanctions include the duration of the sanction and children’s feedback. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Inspection report for children’s home: 2617499 6

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 for children’s home: 2617499 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Harmony Residential Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 155 Cross Road, Mawneys, Romford RM7 8EA

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2617499 8 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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