Children's home run by Action for Children

Inspection report for children's home: 1266835 1 Registered provider: Action for Children Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides short breaks for children aged between eight and 18 years who may have a learning disability and/or complex health needs. The home provides care for up to five children at any given time. The home is owned and operated by a national organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2019.

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Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 15 December 2021

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Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1266835 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 this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have taken effective action to address the shortfalls. Six of the seven requirements are met, and one recommendation is also met. One requirement has been restated as there has not yet been sufficient progress. One recommendation is repeated because further recruitment has not yet happened.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to offer children a homely and welcoming environment in which to enjoy their short breaks. The manager seeks the children’s views to ensure they feel safe and to see what they would like to change in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff clearly record incidents that happen within the home. Their reflection and learning helps to inform the manager’s overview. The manager implements actions identified to improve experiences for children. Staff take action to safeguard children’s welfare and keep parents informed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Team meetings take place regularly. They explore important issues within the home, including changes to children’s plans or stays. Staff receive regular supervision. The quality of the records of supervision has improved. Records of discussions demonstrate reflective supervision contributing to professional development. However, agency staff do not receive supervision. Team meetings and supervision records reflect discussions about safeguarding.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care plans contain the information needed to care for children. Behaviour plans now contain more detail about distraction techniques to use with children. The use of specific equipment for support and monitoring is now clearly documented. Documents clearly state who has authorised them and when.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffing remains a challenge for leaders and managers. As such, the manager continues to frequently work on shift. This reduces the time spent on management tasks and developing the home. In response to the staffing difficulties, the home’s operating hours have been reduced. This provides continuity for children attending and means that stays do not get cancelled. The manager employs agency staff but has not ensured suitability checks are completed in line with regulatory requirements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent person is now seeking views from parents and professionals. Inspection report for children's home: 1266835 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 05/08/2019 Full Good 01/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: 1266835 4

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that the staffing of the home is sufficient to allow them to undertake the tasks associated with their role and to have oversight of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 29 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 1266835 5 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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,

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that they satisfy themselves that the required checks have been completed for agency members of staff and record this. 15 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that regular agency staff receive practice-related supervision. 29 April 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should seek references form all the applicants’ social care employers.(‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report for children's home: 1266835 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: 1266835 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford, WD18 8AG

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Inspector

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1266835 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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