Children's Home run by Woodford Children's Services Ltd in Havering

Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 1 Registered provider: Woodford Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. The provider is part of a commissioning partnership contract with eight local authorities. There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 26 October 2021. The registered manager left on 16 March 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 18 October 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care provided to children is good. Staff place children at the centre of their practice and ensure that children’s day-to-day needs are met. Staff are warm and sensitive in their interaction with the children. Children are supported to manage difficult life experiences, which helps them to develop coping strategies, build resilience and enhance their growth and development.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, all three children have remained living at the home. However, there are plans for all the children to move on from the home due to changes in their care plans. For one child, this will be a move to semi-independent provision. Plans are in place to support the children’s moves. Staff sensitively promote positive endings when children leave the home. They provide children with picture albums so that they can take with them special memories of the staff and the home. One child had their leaving dinner with the staff and their siblings at a local restaurant.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills in line with their needs. Staff help children to learn how to clean, budget and cook their own meals.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s placement plans are comprehensive and detailed. These plans support the staff to understand children’s past traumas and guide them on how to meet their current needs. However, children’s case records do not always include important information, for example, details of children’s most recent education plans and looked after review minutes. In addition, there is no evidence that children are involved in updating their records and their views are not documented. This reduces the manager’s and staff’s understanding of the children’s wishes and views.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer children a range of activities. They ensure that activities are available in the home that are specific to the children’s needs and interests. Out of the home, staff arrange trips that the children enjoy, and provide opportunities to have new experiences. Children can also do activities with their friends.

p.3

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

Children say that they feel safe. They can identify a trusted person to talk to if they have any concerns. Allegations against staff members are managed appropriately and swiftly. Concerns are shared with the relevant agencies. However, one member of staff did not demonstrate a strong understanding of whistle-blowing policies and procedures.

p.3

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood by staff. Staff work closely with other agencies to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to keep children safe. Leaders and managers have worked very well with the placing authority to Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 4 source additional support to manage the children’s complex needs. As a result, incidents in the home have reduced.

p.3

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

Children receive a well-coordinated response when they are missing from home. Staff understand the risks when children are missing and have a good understanding of the missing-from-home protocol. The manager and staff work effectively with other professionals when children go missing. They ensure that children receive independent return home interviews to gather important information to help to manage and reduce risk.

p.4

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

Focused key-work sessions with children help staff to gain a better understanding of what is happening in the children’s lives. These session help to inform the children’s safety plans and risk assessments. Despite staff’s creative approaches to meaningfully engaging all children in these sessions, some children’s engagement is limited.

p.4

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

Staff’s response to managing risk is variable. Although risks are well understood and risk assessments include clear strategies, staff do not consistently follow them. For example, bedroom searches are not regularly undertaken, despite concerns highlighted in individual risk assessments.

p.4

good

The leadership and management of the home are not stable. The registered manager left in March 2023, as did the deputy and the senior support worker. A new manager has been appointed but has not yet applied to register with Ofsted. The new manager went on leave shortly after his appointment. The responsible individual is currently managing the home and has recruited new staff.

p.4

good

Having a new team and the use of a high number of agency staff are negatively impacting on the continuity of care and children’s stability. For example, two children said they are missing the staff who have left and who they had developed good relationships with. Furthermore, they said some staff had left without informing them.

p.4

good

Leaders and managers have not satisfactorily addressed all the requirements raised at the last inspection. In addition, actions from the independent visitor’s monthly reports are not always considered, for example, checks to ensure that children’s bedrooms are clean. This does not demonstrate that leaders and managers have effective systems in place to monitor children’s outcomes and ensure that continuous improvements are made.

p.4

good

Team meetings and regular supervision provide staff with opportunities to reflect on practice and discuss the children’s needs and plans. In addition, the in-house clinical lead supports the team to understand the children’s emotional well-being. Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 5 Staff benefit from a variety of training that is relevant to the needs of the children. However, not all staff have completed their mandatory training, for example, in restraint.

p.4

good

Leaders and managers ensure that repairs in the communal areas of the home are carried out promptly. However, repair work in the children’s bedrooms is not always carried out as quickly. There are a broken cupboard and drawers in one child’s bedroom and the walls need repainting.

p.5

good

Leaders and managers work well with children’s professional networks. Feedback from professionals is positive regarding the quality of care provided and communication from staff. There is a shared approach to providing children with good-quality care and support. Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the manager applies to register with Ofsted in a timely way. 30 June 2023

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a) (2)(c)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that there are effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care provided to children and take action to address any shortfalls. They must ensure that staff are appropriately trained before they start working with the children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.7

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 (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that risk assessments are consistently updated and that staff follow them. Leaders and managers must ensure that all areas of the home, including children’s bedrooms, are maintained to a high and safe standard. 30 June 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 8 are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should encourage children to contribute to their records on a regular basis in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

p.8

Information about this inspection

Inspector has 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: 2647767 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Woodford Children’s Services Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Abacus House, 14-18 Forest Road, Loughton IG10 1DX

p.9

Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 10 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.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10