Children's Home run by Destiny House in Harrow

Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 1 SC038906

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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 three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2002. The registered manager post has been vacant since August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Due to the home not having a registered manager since August 2022, a compliance notice under regulation 27 (appointment of manager) of The Children’s Homes Regulations (England) 2015 was issued on 14 June 2023. This compliance notice was met. However, a further compliance notice was issued on 16 October 2023 under regulation 28 (fitness of manager) of The Children’s Homes Regulations (England) 2015, due to the manager failing to submit a complete application. Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2023 Full Inadequate 04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/05/2021 Full Good 20/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 3

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improvement to be good

The home environment requires improvement and significant renovations are currently being undertaken by the provider. There has been some redecoration to parts of the home and there is a plan to complete the outstanding work to ensure that children live in a warm and homely environment. Some parts of the home, including the kitchen, are cluttered and there are items in the garden that need to be removed.

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improvement to be good

Children do not settle in the home and there have been a number of short-term placements. Some children have had to move out of the home in an unplanned way after only living there for short periods of time. This creates instability for children.

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improvement to be good

Children’s privacy is not always respected. CCTV is used in the hallways and communal areas of the home. The purpose of this surveillance is not for the immediate safeguarding of children. Leaders and managers obtain consent for the use of CCTV from children’s social workers, but they do not review its use to see if it is necessary and proportionate. This form of surveillance has been installed without adequate consideration of children’s rights.

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improvement to be good

Staff use a handheld electronic device to perform body searches on some children each time they come into the home. The device is used to detect metal objects, such as knives. However, staff do not record the reasons for the searches, the actions taken or children’s views about the impact this has on them. In addition, managers do not continually review children’s risk assessments to determine the effectiveness of the device, to ensure that its use is required, appropriate and proportionate. This does not create a homely atmosphere or help children to feel comfortable in their home.

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improvement to be good

Children are routinely registered with universal health services and their health needs are met. Children are supported and encouraged to think about their health and the impact of lifestyle choices. Key-work sessions focus on relevant issues, such as diet, smoking and drug misuse. This supports children to understand the importance of good healthcare and life choices. However, the system for the recording of medication is not clear and some staff do not always sign the records following medication administration.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff take effective action when children are not in school. They talk with education professionals and provide children with educational activities at home. The manager advocates for home tuition for the children while appropriate schools are identified. As a result, children access education and make good academic progress. Feedback from the tutor and a social worker is positive about the work staff do to help children engage in education. Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 4

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improvement to be good

Some staff do not have a robust understanding of safeguarding practice. They are not aware of the policies and procedures relating to whistle-blowing or understand their role in keeping children safe. This compromises effective safeguarding practice in the home.

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improvement to be good

Generally, staff manage incidents well and are able to de-escalate challenging situations. However, there have been some incidents when staff have had to call the police to manage children’s behaviour. In addition, leaders and managers do not routinely review and evaluate significant incidents and concerns in order to identify any themes, patterns and/or shortfalls. Therefore, opportunities to learn and improve staff practice to support children are missed.

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improvement to be good

The admissions process for new children moving into the home is not sufficiently robust. Leaders and managers carry out an assessment of risk from the information provided in the referral and meet children before they move into the home. The assessment considers the needs and behaviours of new children as well as those of children already living in the home. However, leaders and managers do not consider if staff have the specific skills to meet children’s needs or if there are risks in the local area that may impact on children. This limits the manager’s ability to carry out a full assessment of a children’s suitability to live in the home and prevent placement breakdown.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments are updated following incidents. However, these assessments do not contain clear analysis and strategies to help staff manage potential risks to children. In addition, some risk assessments include chronologies of incidents and do not show how managers have evaluated incidents, to understand what they mean for children and how this relates to their level of risk.

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improvement to be good

Children receive a well-coordinated response when they are missing from home. The manager and staff work effectively with other professionals when children are missing. Children are helped through individual sessions to understand the risks when they are missing from home and staff ensure that independent return home interviews are carried out. Feedback from the police is positive about how staff manage these situations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home are undermined by the absence of a permanent registered manager. The home has not had a registered manager since August 2022. The home’s manager was appointed in June 2023. He has applied to register with Ofsted but needs to submit further documents in order to complete the application. This continues to be closely monitored by Ofsted to ensure that the application is completed within the agreed timescales. Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 5 Leaders and managers do not take effective action to ensure that the quality of care provided to children is good. The condition of the home has been deteriorating and in need of repair for some time. A number of requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection have not been met. However, some action is being taken to address the shortfalls identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight, monitoring and reviewing systems are poor. The quality of care review does not include an analysis of the impact of the quality of care provided to children or reflection on how practice will develop or improve. Previous actions are not reviewed and there is no feedback from children. In addition, managers do not always respond to the recommendations from the independent person’s reports when shortfalls are identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s care plans do not always include important information about their diagnosis or how it affects them. In addition, care plans do not demonstrate that children’s views, wishes and feelings are taken into account when planning their care. This compromises the ability of staff to fully understand and meet the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is not adequate. Staff undertake a range of online and face-to-face mandatory training. However, they do not receive specialist training in specific topics such as criminal exploitation, gang culture and knife crime. This training would help them to gain a broader understanding of the needs of the children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff benefit from having regular individual supervision as well as monthly reflective supervision sessions with a therapeutic practitioner. However, supervision sessions do not consider the needs and progress of children. In addition, staff appraisals do not always consider feedback from children or others involved with the children. Consequently, managers do not have effective oversight of staff practice and the progress that children are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose is not updated regularly. It does not reflect the current management arrangements and staff team. Additionally, the statement of purpose refers to the use of door sensors, which have not been used for some time. Furthermore, revised copies of the statement of purpose are not sent to Ofsted within the required timescale. Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 6

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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

*A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

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Requirement Due date

within the last 5 years, worked for at least 2 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children;

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Requirement Due date

worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role; and

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Requirement Due date

the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 5 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) 5 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 7 In particular, the registered provider must demonstrate that the individual managing the home has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children, by ensuring that the individual managing the home submits a complete application to Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from harm. Leaders and managers must ensure that all incidents and risks to children are thoroughly evaluated when updating risk assessments and that staff have a clear understanding of the risk levels and strategies to manage identified risks. Leaders and managers must ensure that they consider staff skills and training when admitting new children to the home. 20 January 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 20 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is effective oversight, monitoring and review of the quality of care provided to children.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 20 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 9 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all renovations and redecoration are completed promptly and the home, including the kitchen, is decluttered to provide a homely environment. The managers must ensure that the garden is maintained, and any old items are removed.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the use of CCTV in the home is necessary to meet the needs of individual children and is justified. Managers must ensure that any use of internal surveillance is regularly reviewed to assess its purpose.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 20 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff have access to training to help them meet children’s additional needs and to support their professional development. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff supervision reflects the needs and progress of children in their care. 20 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 10 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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is kept up to date and a copy sent to the regulator within the required timescales. 20 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals consider, 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)  The registered person should ensure that, under regulation 23, medicines are only administered in line with an approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, with a clear system for recording medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that children’s views, wishes and feelings are taken into account when planning and reviewing their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any searches of children and their possessions are carried out sensitively and with due consideration, given their need to feel safe and have their dignity and needs respected. In addition, the registered person should ensure that all searches are appropriately recorded, including the reasons for the search, efforts to seek the child’s consent, any risk Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 11 assessment and management oversight of a decision to carry out a search. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

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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: SC038906 12

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Inspectors

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Amanda Burrows, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC038906 13 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

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

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