Children's home run by White Orchid Marston Moretaine Limited in Dacorum

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483714 1 SC483714 Registered provider: White Orchid Marston Moretaine Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to six children. It aims to provide specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in September 2023.

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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: 16 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Following the full inspection in October 2023, the home was judged inadequate. Ofsted served two compliance notices. These were in relation to the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483714 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/10/2023 Full Inadequate 01/02/2023 Full Good 03/08/2021 Full Outstanding 05/02/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC483714 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have taken action to make significant improvements since the inspection in October 2023. Leaders and managers have ensured an appropriate response to safeguarding concerns that have arisen since the inspection. All staff have completed additional training and some staff have had additional supervisions. Staff understand the home’s whistle-blowing policy. Risk assessments have been revamped, are reviewed regularly, and now provide clear guidance for staff. The safety and monitoring of the environment have improved. As a result of these actions, the quality of the service has improved and the steps within the compliance notices have been met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the inspection in October, one child has moved out of the home, and one child has moved in. Another child had moved out to foster care before returning to live at the home a short time later. There were six children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made good progress since moving to the home. This progress is now better captured in records. The children participate in a variety of outside activities, such as rugby and dance classes. Some children attend after-school activities. Children are supported by staff to attend their friends’ birthday parties. Children’s friends are also invited to their birthday parties. This supports them to build friendships with their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child said that she loves spending time with staff, and they are funny and do lots of things with her. Children appeared to be relaxed and were making cakes and chocolate stars for Christmas with staff. Children were observed laughing with staff and talking excitedly about Christmas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff make children personalised photograph albums with individual messages and memory boxes of the children’s time at the home. These keepsakes are given to children when they leave. These mementos provide children with an excellent record of positive memories of their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. They work closely with schools to support children to access and attend education. A child’s teacher said that communication is excellent, and that they speak to staff daily to be able to support the child in school. Children’s engagement with education has improved since moving to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with therapists and use therapeutic approaches to help children to manage their emotions. The staff help the children to understand their past traumas and use the relationships that they have built with children to reduce the need for restrictive measures. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483714 4 The house is undergoing a refurbishment. The kitchen has been refurbished, and the home has had new floors throughout and been repainted. The house looked clean and tidy, and children said that they have been involved in the choice of décor and furnishings for the house and personalising their bedrooms. Children said that they loved their bedrooms. The playhouse has been made safe. This has helped children to feel settled and invested in the home.

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

Since the last inspection in October 2023, a safeguarding concern has been investigated and concluded. As a result, all staff have completed refresher training, including safeguarding, whistle-blowing, therapeutic practice and attachment. Staff spoken to have a good understanding of whistle-blowing, safeguarding and working with the children using trauma and attachment-based theories. These are also incorporated into the children’s risk assessments and care plans.

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

Actions taken by the director have increased staff confidence in the whistle-blowing process. Staff now not only understand the process but feel confident that they can raise concerns safely.

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

Since the inspection in October 2023, when safeguarding concerns have arisen, these have been referred to the local authority designated officer (LADO) and Ofsted appropriately. The LADO said that the manager and director were proactive in reporting recent concerns and follow the advice that the LADO gives.

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

Most staff build very positive relationships with the children. The children identify the staff as trusted adults who they can talk to. A child spoken to could name staff who they would talk to if they were upset, and was confident that staff would talk to them and help them.

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

Careful consideration about the mix of children and a generally positive behaviour approach by staff, has contributed to significant incidents being rare. Consequences for negative behaviour are fair. No children have gone missing since the last inspection. Staff recognise and celebrate children’s positive behaviours.

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

The staff have a good understanding of children’s individual risks and what may trigger incidents. Social workers and other professionals said that children are safe due to staff’s understanding of triggers, and communication is good. Observations of staff working with a child in line with their care plan and risk assessments were seen during the inspection. This resulted in the child being well supported during a potentially difficult situation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced registered manager is respected by the staff and children. Children said that they can talk to her, and professionals said that she is approachable and works in the best interest of the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483714 5 There are clear monitoring systems in place. These support the manager to look at trends and patterns in behaviour and incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that supports them to work with the children effectively and helps each staff member’s professional development. Regular staff meetings are used to discuss children and care practice issues. A psychotherapist and an occupational therapist regularly attend these meetings to discuss children and support staff to work with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed the organisation’s mandatory training. Staff meetings are also used as training sessions. For example, quizzes are used to develop staff knowledge and practice. The staff either hold or are working towards a relevant level 3 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recognise that children should feel valued and listened to. Children attend regular house meetings and staff record these. These records are child friendly. They contain photos of children doing activities that they have requested and capture answers to questions they have asked. This helps children to feel listened to and to see when staff have acted on their wishes and feelings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good working relationships with external professionals. Professionals and family members spoke highly of the support that the manager and staff continue to give the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have ensured that the two compliance notices and four requirements from the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483714 6

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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: SC483714 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: White Orchid Marston Moretaine Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1LF

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Inspectors

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483714 8 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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