Children's home run by Action for Children Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 1 Registered provider: Action for Children

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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 that is run by a national charity. All children have a learning disability and additional complex social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 26 November 2020.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 15 March 2023. The home was judged inadequate. Following the full inspection, the provider was issued with a notice suspending the registration of this home. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to consider the provider’s progress following the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has made some improvements since the full inspection was carried out. However, several requirements have not been addressed by leaders and managers, and further work is required to ensure the safe care of children.

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This monitoring visit

The serious child protection allegations that were identified have now been investigated and concluded by the appropriate authorities. Recommendations have been made, and the provider is in the process of addressing these. During the monitoring visit, staff raised with the inspector some historical concerns regarding leadership and management that did not form part of the previous investigation. This was shared with leaders and managers, and the inspector was given assurances that a subsequent investigation would commence.

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This monitoring visit

Staff now feel involved in the daily running of the home due to the support given by the interim manager. Staff now receive regular, practice-related supervision and have received an annual appraisal that supports their professional development. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 2 Leaders and the interim manager have improved the training for staff in relation to safeguarding, and staff are now aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. For instance, staff spoke of scenarios that had supported their learning, and one staff member said, ‘I have learnt to be more curious and report any concerns’. Staff now have a better understanding of the whistle-blowing policy.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems have been reviewed and updated to improve the quality of the home, although these are not yet embedded. Audits have been completed and further areas for development have been identified. Staff have received some training. However, training to support children’s communication methods is yet to be fully explored and implemented.

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This monitoring visit

Generally, children can access activities safely within the home, and individual risk management plans reflect areas that need to be restricted for some children. However, these plans have not considered the entrance space that remains restricted for all children.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose has been reviewed and sent to Ofsted. Staff have been involved with this process and are aware of the home’s ethos, aims and objectives.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have reviewed and updated children’s relevant plans, which are now individualised, and staff demonstrate a clear understanding of these plans. Audits of the plans have been completed by the interim manager, responsible individual and the wider organisation to ensure that there is oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s placement plans have been reviewed and updated with photos showing activities children like. However, how staff will consult with children has not been further explored. This means that children’s views and what matters most to them is yet to feature in their plans.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment files have been audited, and there is a system in place to ensure that required details are obtained to assess staff suitability. However, gaps in employment still require further scrutiny.

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This monitoring visit

There continues to be significant damage to an area outside of the home due to leaders and managers not addressing this. As a result, the health and safety risks of this area remain. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Inadequate 08/02/2022 Full Good 16/01/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 26/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 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 with 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any repairs to the home are completed in a timely way. 21 May 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—

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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

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; 21 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 5 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’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)(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that consideration to the entrance space and secure garden, which is restricted, is given. 21 May 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

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

ensure that staff— 21 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 6 ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to prepare for any review of the child’s relevant plans and to make the child’s views, wishes and feelings known for the purposes of that review; and

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)(i)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand children’s communication methods so they can regularly consult with them.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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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)(3)(d)) 21 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 7 In particular, ensure that satisfactory explanations of any gaps in employment are obtained.

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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.

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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: 1271380 8

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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

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271380 9 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 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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