Children's Home, Residential special school run by St Elizabeth’s Centre in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495377 1 Registered provider: St Elizabeth’s Centre

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a large charitable organisation. It provides care for up to 52 children aged five to 19 years with complex medical needs, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy and associated learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home consists of seven individual houses. Most children attend the on-site school. The inspector only inspected the social care provision at this school.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the time of this visit, 23 children were living at the home. No children have moved into the home since the last inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of the visit was to establish the provider’s progress in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice that Ofsted served following the assurance inspection in November 2022. The compliance notice was in relation to the leadership and management of the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit identified that the provider has addressed all the steps set out in the compliance notice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have improved monitoring activities, which now include additional scrutiny of environmental issues. There are now more effective systems to identify shortfalls promptly. This has resulted in a number of improvements, including the repair and widening of a damaged fire door and the safe storage of outdoor play equipment. These monitoring systems are more likely to ensure that children are kept safe from environmental hazards that could pose risks to them. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495377 2 Leaders and managers have improved the general decorative condition of the accommodation. Good-quality furnishings and well-planned individual spaces meet the individual needs of children well.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have attended recent workshops on effective risk-assessment practice. When new risks for children have arisen following recent incidents, good-quality risk reduction strategies have been devised. These guide the staff on how to manage children’s behaviours and reduce emerging risks effectively.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have revised procedures in relation to submitting notifications to Ofsted. Information is checked and assessed before notifications are made. Managers have created a checklist to guide staff and ensure that accurate information is provided. This also includes clear guidance on alerting other safeguarding professionals when appropriate.

p.2

This monitoring visit

All staff now receive supervision sessions, in line with the home’s policy. Monitoring trackers are embedded in the manager’s checks and this has improved leaders’ and managers’ oversight. This has provided increased opportunities for staff to reflect on practice and discuss their professional developmental objectives.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have ensured that fire-safety training has been addressed. This ensures that staff are better equipped to understand their responsibilities and respond safely in the event of a fire.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the independent person has provided increased feedback that reflects the views of children and their experiences. This strengthens the independent person’s evaluation of the quality of care provided to children. Leaders and managers are taking action to further improve the effectiveness of external monitoring.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Two recommendations that were raised at the last inspection were outside the scope of this visit and were not reviewed. These recommendations have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495377 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/10/2021 Full Inadequate 28/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495377 4

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny. In particular, ensure that an independent member of the management team who has not been involved in the incident reviews the use of physical interventions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access resources to support their training needs. In particular, they should ensure that staff access training in understanding learning disabilities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

p.4

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495377 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: St Elizabeth’s Centre

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Elizabeth’s Centre, South End, Much Hadham SG10 6EW

p.5

Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495377 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.5

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6