Children's Home run by Heartwood RSS Limited in Redbridge

Inspection report for children’s home: 2701539 1 Registered provider: Heartwood RSS Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 19 December 2022. The registered manager resigned on 1 April 2023. A new manager has been in post since February 2023 and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2701539 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are thoughtfully welcomed into the home. Managers and staff ensure that children receive a friendly welcome, with cards, balloons and a choice of their favourite meal. This helps to reduce children’s anxieties and settle them into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience positive relationships with staff who understand their needs and show compassion towards them. Despite the children and staff being new to each other, they have established meaningful relationships already. One child said, ‘I really like my key worker; he helps me, and I can talk to him about things.’ This helps children to feel accepted and settled in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s cultural needs are understood and are met well. Religious celebrations are observed, and detailed plans are put in place to support children. This is further enhanced by a diverse staff team that represents children’s cultural needs and backgrounds.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to re-engage in education. Some children who have been out of education for a period of time have started to attend school again. There are clear plans in place to support children to achieve their goals and targets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. All children are promptly registered with local health services and attend routine appointments. In emergency situations, staff contact health services to ensure that children receive the appropriate medical attention and advice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in activities and hobbies that interest them. For example, children are registered with local sports clubs and fitness facilities. Managers and staff are proactive and keep children engaged in positive activities. This provides routine, stability and stimulation for children.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture in the home. Managers and staff work closely with social workers and family members to keep children safe. At the time of this inspection, there had been no safeguarding concerns or incidents in the home.

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

Children can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about their concerns, and they reported that adults listen to them. This allows staff to provide the appropriate support and helps to keep children safe.

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

Children benefit from responsive key-work sessions to help them to learn how to keep themselves safe. Planned key-work sessions are in line with children’s risk assessments and plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701539 3 Managers and staff understand children’s needs and triggers for their behaviour. They are proactive and think about new ways to support children to manage their feelings. This helps children to improve their behaviour and has a positive impact on their overall well-being.

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

Leaders and managers do not consider all known risks and the potential risks to children in the local area when considering the suitability of new children moving into the home. While this has not had a direct impact on children, it limits the support that the staff can offer to children to help to keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager shows ambition and high expectations for children. This is an exciting time for the home and staff morale is positive. Staff are enthusiastic and want to achieve good outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s plans are comprehensive and specific to their individual needs. Leaders, managers and staff follow children’s plans to ensure that they achieve the desired outcome, such as working towards children returning home to their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children have formed good relationships with other children in the home and share positive experiences. This provides stability for children and creates a calm atmosphere in their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff receive regular and effective supervision. Supervision is reflective, and focuses on the children’s needs and plans, as well as staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current workforce development plan is out of date. This limits a full review of the staff team and development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701539 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that leaders, managers and staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, and risk assessment, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to- day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should have an up to date workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 2701539 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood RSS Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9JX

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Inspector

Leanne Grant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2701539 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 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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