Children's Home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC424089 1 SC424089 Registered provider: Action for Children Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a short break service for children with learning disabilities, sensory impairment and physical disabilities. The home can accommodate up to 14 children. However, the needs of children mean that the occupancy rarely reaches this level.

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Information about this children’s home

A national children’s charity runs the home. It comprises two units. One is specifically for children who may have challenging behaviours associated with their disability and the other is for children who require some degree of nursing care.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2016.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC424089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/08/2021 Full Good 16/07/2019 Full Good 20/08/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC424089 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy their stays at the home, where they are supported by friendly and warm staff who know them well. Children receive care that is specific to their individual needs. Because of this, children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care is individualised and staff provide consistent support to enable children to make choices in all areas of their lives. As a result, children benefit from care that recognises them as individuals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s views are known at key meetings. They know how to advocate for children and recognise the importance of children’s voices being heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in all areas of their lives. Clear and achievable goals are in place that encourage consistent growth and development. Staff work closely with children to achieve their goals, which are closely monitored. Children are involved in the setting of new goals, which promotes their dignity and recognises their values.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff attend education reviews at school and receive information that helps them to work with children in the home. This consistent approach means that plans align with school. This helps to promote continuous learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have several opportunities to express their views, wishes and feelings. For example, children are consulted about the development of the home and have access to an independent advocate. This gives the children a sense of being respected and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and encourage their involvement in activities that keep them engaged and stimulated. Children enjoy arts and crafts activities, gardening and trampolining. Relationships with the local community are strong. For example, a small farm has been introduced to the home that has provided the children with the opportunity to learn about animals and the natural world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The process of introduction to the home is done at the child’s pace, allowing them to feel ready to stay. When children leave the home, they are provided with a memory book, which contains a snapshot of their time there and the progress that they have made. This helps them feel valued and gives everyone a chance to celebrate their time in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC424089 4

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

Children do not go missing from this home. They are monitored closely, and safety measures are in place to ensure that they cannot leave the building without an adult.

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

Bullying in the home is not tolerated and information about what it is and how to report it is readily available. This creates an environment where children can feel safe and well cared for.

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

Children are cared for by staff who know them well and are confident in managing their behaviours. Clear and consistent boundaries contribute to a feeling of well- being and security for children.

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

Physical interventions have not been used for some time. Staff receive specialist de- escalation and behaviour management training. As a result, they are skilled in keeping children safe and are committed to providing an environment where children can thrive physically, emotionally and socially.

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

Good recruitment practices are in place. This ensures that only appropriately vetted individuals work at the home and provide care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that children receive high standards of individualised care and that every child makes good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A bespoke monitoring tool ensures that leaders, managers and staff can track the progress and development of each child. This means that they can respond quickly when changes need to be made to a child’s plan. However, risk assessments are not always reviewed within agreed timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers take effective action when it is evident that responses from other services fall short of expectations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported despite staffing shortages. They receive training that meets their individual development needs as well as training specific to working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction process is strong, and staff receive annual appraisals of their work. Supervision is received within stated timescales. However, three templates are used and have different names, but do the same thing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the strengths of the home and the areas for development. They have good professional relationships with external partners, which means that children receive good all-round care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC424089 5 Leaders and managers have a strong commitment to the promotion of equality and diversity. This is evident throughout the home. There is a diversity board on entering the building that shows a range of activities that the children have been involved in, for example Eid celebrations and collecting for Ukraine. Inspection report for children’s home: SC424089 6

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for a child’s risk assessment to be reviewed according to timescales. 31 August 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). In particular, ensure that supervision documents are consistent in terms of their names, what is being discussed and what is expected. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: SC424089 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: Action for Children, 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Lucellta Wallace-Esnard

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC424089 8 regulates and inspects 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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