Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 1 SC444176 Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides residential care for up to four children, aged between seven and 17, with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 29 June 2022. The current manager has been in post since June 2022 and is not registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted this monitoring visit after receiving a complaint on 5 December 2022. This children’s home was judged requires improvement to be good at the full inspection on 29 and 30 November 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This visit did not identify any shortfalls that support the concerns reported or have any impact on the care offered to children.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the inspector did not review the requirements set at the last inspection, as this was not in the scope of this visit. These requirements are restated.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of this visit, there was one child living at the home. One child moved out of the home in October 2022 after notice was served. Although the initial assessment was that staff would be able to meet the child’s needs, the child’s needs changed.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made improvements to the decoration and cleanliness of the home. The carpets have been cleaned, and artwork and soft furnishings have been purchased, which make the communal areas feel welcoming. The manager has an action plan to continue to make improvements to the environment.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns were raised about children’s families coming to the home to spend time together. The inspector has found that arrangements are suitable. The manager and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 2 social workers carefully consider any risks through detailed plans. Staff stay with children and their families throughout their time together. Children are helped to spend time with people who are important to them in an environment in which they feel comfortable.

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This monitoring visit

Records of physical interventions are clear and factual. De-escalation strategies are used before a hold. The manager has signed and evaluated each intervention record within timescales. Permanent and agency staff are trained to carry out the physical interventions. The child is spoken with by staff following incidents. Physical interventions are proportionate and used when necessary.

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This monitoring visit

The manager carries out welfare checks on staff if they have been injured. Staff are provided with time, space and medical attention if needed. The manager makes certain that staff have the opportunity for debriefs after any incident. This includes the manager attending handovers to listen to any concerns that staff have. Staff are supported if they are injured.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk and behaviour management plans are detailed and regularly reviewed and updated. This helps staff work consistently with the child and understand their vulnerabilities.

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This monitoring visit

The manager addresses any concerns about agency or permanent staff’s practice without delay. Investigations are carried out that explore the facts. The manager meets with staff to encourage them to reflect on their practice. The manager carefully considers whether staff are suitable to work at the home.

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This monitoring visit

One child, who no longer lives at the home, required a high level of staff support. Alongside this, several staff left their employment at the home. This meant that the manager was unable to maintain the required balance of agency and permanent staff working together. The manager informed Ofsted when this happened. To reduce any impact on children, the manager used consistent agency staff. Since that time, the manager has recruited more staff. Only one child is living at the home, and there have been no further concerns about the balance of agency and permanent staffing levels.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s mobile phone and SIM card went missing. Concerns were raised that staff’s contact numbers were stored on the phone or SIM card. The manager and staff looked for the phone, which was found, but the SIM card was missing. The manager reported the SIM card missing to the police. No staff were contacted because of the SIM card not being found. The manager has since taken further action and added a PIN number to the new phone and SIM card. This means that staff’s contact information is now more secure. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/09/2022 Full Inadequate 15/02/2022 Full Good 27/07/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the stained carpets are cleaned or replaced, the walls throughout the home are cleaned or painted where needed and that the home provides a homely environment for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

engage with them; and 31 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 5 take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interest when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the child’s wishes are listened to and responded to accordingly and that consultations with the child are recorded.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(v)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are supported to access further education and informal opportunities to learn.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 January 2023

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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— 31 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 6 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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and

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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)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that investigation records have all relevant information recorded, training records are clear, children’s files are well organised and that the statement of purpose is reviewed and sent to Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

staff have debriefs following the use of physical intervention;

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Requirement Due date

the manager reviews and evaluates the physical interventions for the effectiveness of use; and

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Requirement Due date

the duration of the physical intervention is clearly recorded. 31 December 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 7 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 December 2022

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 January 2023

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to review practice at the home following a complaint raised to Ofsted.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 8

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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

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC444176 9 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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