Children's home run by Sequel Support Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2634911 1 Registered provider: Horizon Care Mayfield Lodge Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home can care for up to two children with learning disabilities. There are currently two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2634911 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2634911 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in this home and receive support from a staff team who knows them well. Children form strong relationships with staff as a result of focused attention. Staff regularly consult children about their care. This includes choosing the weekly menu and deciding how to spend their spare time. Monthly summaries capture children’s memories and experiences and will eventually become their life- story books as they move on in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress. Staff understand what children need support with. Both children enjoy attending college. One child receives support and encouragement from staff to sit exams. The other child receives support to continue to practise the same skills they learn at school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have meaningful conversations with staff about the important issues in their lives. Staff facilitate conversations in a sensitive way to ensure maximum benefit for children. Family and professionals speak highly of the home and the support staff offer to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers planned for one child’s move into the home well. They took time to understand the child’s experiences and how to meet their needs. Managers recognise that both children will move on as they approach adulthood. They ensure that local authorities consider and plan the next moves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm, welcoming and homely. Children decorate and personalise their rooms. Children take over the home with their toys, books and photos. The home is generally in good repair, with the exception of some of the lighting upstairs that needs attention.

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

Staff keep children safe. They understand and report safeguarding concerns. Any concerns reported are swiftly investigated, with a clear chronology of any action taken. Managers respond quickly and have conversations with staff if there are issues with their practice. Safeguarding is an agenda item in supervision and team meetings. Managers share information to ensure staff remain aware and alert.

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

Children’s behaviour is well managed. Managers show curiosity following incidents. They sit with staff and help them to think about how they can manage situations differently. This has led to a reduction in incidents for one child. Staff sensitively support one child to identify and manage their anger. Staff offer the child reassurances about their emotions and help to explore strategies that will support them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2634911 4 One child receives support to develop their online safety. Their awareness of not giving out personal information to strangers was demonstrated well when speaking with inspectors. Managers provide staff with information about the online platforms the child uses. Because staff have developed strong, trusting relationships with the child, they are open and honest about their online activity.

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

Recruitment practice follows safer recruitment processes. Managers complete a clear evaluation and rationale for the candidate’s suitability for the job. This helps to show how they have considered the candidates’ skills and experiences against the home’s ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership in this home is characterised by a focus on reflection and learning. Consistent management oversight is clear across all aspects of care in the home. Managers identify where to make improvements, and staff take action as a result of the suggestions made. Managers understand the quality of care in the home well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in the home. They are child-focused and know the children well. Supervision takes place regularly. Supervision offers staff a reflective space through which to explore their practice and the support they give to children. Staff have a variety of training opportunities, both face to face and online. However, records do not capture the informal training completed around children’s specific needs. This means managers cannot accurately identify staff training needs. Team meetings contain detailed conversations about the children, providing space to help staff explore the quality and consistency of the care they provide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff update documents after key events. Managers monitor the language used by staff in documents. However, this language is sometimes institutional. Documents written in the second-person perspective provide clear, child-focused records. These are written for and to the children, placing them at the centre of the care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2634911 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the language used in records is clear to understand and avoids institutional or professional jargon where possible. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure action is taken to ensure the lights upstairs are in good repair. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure records of training reflect the learning that staff have done, for example around autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (‘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: 2634911 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Horizon Care Mayfield Lodge Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Horizon Care Mayfield Lodge Limited, 264 High Road, Harrow HA3 7BB

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Inspectors

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2634911 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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