Children's home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Dacorum

Inspection report for children's home: SC382138 1 SC382138 Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to five children. The aim of the home is to make children feel safe and nurtured.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 15 December 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC382138 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/12/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Good 21/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC382138 3

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outstanding

Five children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. One of these children was temporarily receiving care at a specialist provision as part of an agreed plan. Children benefit from extremely good relationships with the staff. The manager and staff know the children really well and are attuned to their needs. Staff fully understand the impact of children’s past traumas and complex needs. The highly skilled staff provide emotional warmth and nurture to children. The staff are excellent role models. Their interactions with each other and the children create a calm and respectful culture.

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outstanding

Managers and staff are ambitious for children. They understand children’s targets and aspirations. They work with children to address any barriers and support children to reach their potential. The highly experienced and dedicated staff team helps the children to work through and understand past trauma. A therapist said, ‘I can honestly say that the progress the child has made is outstanding.’

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outstanding

Parents are positive about the relationships that the staff have with their children. One parent said, ‘I know that my child is safe, well cared for and even loved by the staff, and that’s very important to me.’

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outstanding

The staff help children to recognise the positive changes that they have made. Children recognise the difference that living at the home has made to them. Children value staff and talk about them in a positive and warm way. The interactions between the children and staff are genuine and caring. Children who have previously been at risk of harm and suffered acute anxiety have overcome these difficulties with the help and understanding of the staff.

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outstanding

Staff listen to children’s views in regular children’s meetings and one-to-one discussions. Children’s wishes are listened to and actioned. Children are fully involved in the development and review of their care plans, which they contribute to and comment on. This empowers children and ensures that they are central to decisions about their care. Consequently, children have an excellent understanding of how the staff are working with them towards clear, shared goals.

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outstanding

The children have good educational attendance and make significant academic progress from their individual starting points. Children’s education is highly valued by staff and communication with education providers is strong. Staff have worked effectively with education providers to overcome barriers to children’s learning and to improve attendance.

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outstanding

The children benefit from a wealth of experiences which support their hobbies and interests and provide them with new and exciting opportunities that they can continue into adulthood. Inspection report for children's home: SC382138 4 The atmosphere at this home is positive, warm and welcoming. Children are involved in all aspects of their home and are proud of it. The staff and children work together to ensure that the house is kept to a high standard. Children’s rooms are extremely personalised and they choose colour schemes for the corridor outside their rooms. This makes their personal space individual and meaningful to them.

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outstanding

Children have become significantly safer since moving to the home. The safeguarding systems are efficient. Staff are vigilant and curious, and this protects children.

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outstanding

Staff have developed an extremely good understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities. They discuss risks with children in key-work sessions. This supports individual children to understand the risks that they face and how to reduce these. Risk assessments are of the highest quality. The staff regularly review and update these to ensure that they are current and responsive.

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outstanding

The staff are innovative and forward thinking. A member of staff has built a memorial fairy garden. Children have contributed to the garden. This gives children a tranquil place to think and reflect.

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outstanding

Children rarely go missing from the home. The staff are highly skilled at helping children to talk openly and honestly about their thoughts and feelings. This is particularly important for children who are vulnerable when they are out in the community. Some children work towards having free time away from the home. The staff manage this well. The children understand that they need to build trust for this to happen.

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outstanding

Children have made exceptional progress in taking responsibility for their behaviours and understanding the impact that these have on others. Staff help children to reflect on their actions and find better ways of managing their feelings. These effective strategies have reduced the frequency of behavioural incidents. The children speak to staff if they are worried or upset and the staff help them. This has helped children to build their self-esteem and confidence, making them responsible and resilient.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is extremely dedicated to his role and leads by example. He clearly wants the best possible outcomes for the children. His enthusiasm is mirrored by the staff, and this is evident in their practice. The management team works effectively to provide excellent leadership and direction for the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals described the home as excellent, one in a million and exceptional. They commended managers for their ‘above and beyond’ attitude to ensure that Inspection report for children's home: SC382138 5 children have the best outcomes. One social worker said that they could not expect any more.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has successfully challenged professionals when he believes that plans are not in children’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and effective supervision that supports them to develop their practice. Regular staff meetings and training sessions support the staff’s work and well-being. This ensures that children receive excellent care and support from trusted adults who are fully aware of their diverse and changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff’s professional development is fully supported. Staff are actively encouraged to identify and attend training to support their roles. This gives the staff a wide range of skills and knowledge to meet the children’s complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff have successfully provided a happy, warm space in which children can learn and grow. Staff and children are proud of this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are clearly at the centre of the home and practice. Staff speak about children with warmth and compassion. One child said, ‘This is a home for children, not a children’s home.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC382138 6

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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: SC382138 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DQ

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC382138 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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