Children's Home run by Smartcare Services in Enfield

Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 1 Registered provider: Smartcare Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to four children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in April 2020. The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. The inspectors spoke to both children.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A dedicated staff team prioritises building positive relationships with children. Children receive child-centred care. Staff show care, empathy and warmth towards children. When asked what they like best about the home, one child said ‘staff’. Staff and children appreciate the family-style atmosphere of the home. When asked what they are doing well, one member of staff said, ‘Creating a family atmosphere for staff and children; everyone feels like they belong.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can express their views about their day-to-day care through key-work sessions and house meetings. Children know how to make a complaint, and action is taken to address their complaints. Subsequently, children feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff promote children’s education well. Children are encouraged and supported to attend school, and their educational achievements are rewarded. Subsequently, one child was able to re-engage in education after a long period of absence. When children are not attending school, the manager and staff identify the most appropriate provision to meet the children’s needs in line with children’s wishes. For example, staff are supporting one child to find a vocational course in their chosen field of work.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. Staff support children to attend medical appointments and ensure that they have access to specialist advice when necessary. Staff ensure that children take their medication as prescribed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to participate in a range of activities in the home and the community. Staff and managers understand that this helps to build children’s self-esteem and sense of achievement. Staff capture these moments through taking photos and videos for children to keep as part of their life story.

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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.

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

Children receive a coordinated response when they go missing from home. Each child has their own missing-from-home protocol, which is known and understood by staff. The manager and staff work closely with other professionals when children are missing from home. Staff consult with children following missing-from-home incidents to build an understanding of the triggers and work towards preventing further incidents. As a result, missing-from-home incidents have decreased for some children.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of children’s known and potential risks. Children benefit from regular key-work sessions that are either targeted to their known risks Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 4 or are more informal sessions to help children build resilience, develop coping strategies and manage difficult life events. Key-work sessions are written in a child- friendly way so that children have a record of their experiences in the home.

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

Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of whistle-blowing policies and safeguarding procedures. When an allegation was made, it was shared with the safeguarding partners and followed up by the manager. However, Ofsted was not informed of this allegation as required.

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

Staff manage incidents well and use effective de-escalation techniques to support children. This means that even children with the most significant needs have positive experiences. There have been no incidents requiring the use of physical intervention since the last inspection.

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

Children’s safety and well-being are prioritised. Leaders and managers implement safe recruitment policies when appointing new staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively and efficiently by an experienced registered manager who demonstrates a genuine commitment to the children in her care. Leaders, managers and staff strive to make a positive difference to children’s lives and strongly advocate on their behalf.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Agency staff are used to supplement the permanent staff team. Leaders and managers work with agencies to ensure that known agency staff are used to provide consistency for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. A more-reliable and user-friendly recording system is one of the areas that leaders and managers are focusing on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they feel well supported by leaders and managers, who are available and approachable. Staff receive regular and effective supervision, which considers and prioritises children’s needs. All permanent staff have received their annual appraisal. However, appraisals could be strengthened by including the views of children and professionals who have worked with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to regular training that is relevant to the needs of the children in their care. Furthermore, team meetings are used effectively as learning and development opportunities for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have failed to share the updated statement of purpose and their quality of care review report with Ofsted, as required. This compromises the regulator’s external oversight of the home. However, the registered manager shared the documents with the inspector during this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 5

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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, The 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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI and make a copy of it available upon request to—

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Requirement Due date

a child, or a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered;

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Requirement Due date

a parent of a child, or a parent of a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered;

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a qualifying school, the Secretary of State. (Regulation 16 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 28 July 2023

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 28 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and 28 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 6 make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and of children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 2561501 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 10 Watermark Way, Foxholes Business Park, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 7TZ

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Inspectors

Aneta Wasilewska, Social Care Inspector Julie Cresswell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2561501 8 and 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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