Children's home run by Branas Isaf (Holdings) Ltd in Hertsmere

Inspection report for children’s home: SC068032 1 SC068032 Registered provider: Branas Isaf (Holdings) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to seven children who may exhibit complex behaviours due to adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since August 2023. A new manager is in post and has made an application to register.

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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: 7 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC068032 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Outstanding 10/08/2021 Full Good 11/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC068032 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and two children have moved in to the home. Children benefit from well-planned moves. When children move from the home, they are provided with a special graduation ceremony to celebrate their time in the home and their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with the staff. Relationships between children and staff are caring and natural. One child said that they felt really cared for and that the staff have supported them. The caring approach of staff helps children to feel that they belong.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual health needs. Children are provided with individualised support that includes support with healthy eating. Staff help children to develop a good understanding of their own health needs through regular key-work sessions. Good communication between the staff and external health professionals ensures that children’s health needs are appropriately met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to grow their independence skills. Children have personalised plans to aid their development in areas such as budgeting, cooking, shopping, and sourcing employment. Children said how much they value their plans, and how these support their journey to independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to make progress with their learning. One child had struggled to engage with education. However, the consistent approach of staff and regular discussions have helped the child to explore their employment and education options. As a result, this child now has clear aspirations regarding their future career. Regular communication with education professionals ensures a collaborative understanding of the children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The lounge and games rooms are homely. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to their tastes. However, there are areas of the home environment that require redecoration and a deep clean.

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

When complaints have arisen, the manager has responded promptly and appropriately. The manager ensures that when children complain they are kept updated on the progress of their complaint and that clear timescales are set for children to receive a response. As a result, children feel that they are being listened to when they share concerns.

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

Children feel comfortable and view the home as a safe place for them to be. As a result, there have been no missing incidents. There are clear missing-from-care Inspection report for children’s home: SC068032 4 protocols and staff are aware of the action to take should a child go missing from the home.

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

When allegations are raised by children, managers ensure that appropriate action is taken. External agencies and professionals are consulted, and timely inquiries are conducted. In addition, restorative work has been undertaken between children and staff to help to rebuild their relationships.

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

Children are spoken to about the consequences of poor behaviour. This helps them to understand expectations and reflect on how they behave. When a consequence is given it is relevant to the child’s actions. However, the manager does not record that he has reviewed the consequences. This means that it is not clear if the consequences used are effective.

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

Staff do not always respond to children’s behaviour in line with their plans. On two occasions, staff did not follow the behaviour management plan of one child. Staff did not respond using the PACE model of care or the calming techniques identified. As a result of staff not following the child’s agreed plan, the child’s behaviour escalated, leading to the child being held. Following these incidents, the manager has worked with the therapist and the staff to enhance staff’s understanding of how to support the child effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new manager has been appointed since the last inspection. The new manager has a clear vision of how he intends to ensure that children are provided with a safe and stable home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has formed positive working relationships with external professionals. The manager works closely with a local college, the police, and children’s social workers. One social worker said, ‘I have been impressed with how the manager has taken time to know my child and they have undertaken some really positive key- working sessions with them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision from the manager. Staff feel supported and able to discuss concerns. The manager uses supervision as an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems which include the monitoring of key performance indicators. This helps the manager to have good oversight of the quality of children’s care. In addition, the responsible also completes regular audits. This ensures that shortfalls are quickly and easily remedied.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment practice is safe. The responsible individual has added an additional stage to the recruitment process. This entails a second verbal verification being carried out by the manager following the check by human resources. As a result, there is added assurance that staff are safe to work with children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068032 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, 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 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

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

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)(v)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities relating to reducing the risk of physical intervention. Also, the manager should ensure that all actions are completed in a timely manner from the legionella risk assessment. 28 February 2024

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Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline, and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068032 6 (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC068032 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Branas Isaf (Holdings) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, POTTERS BAR, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC068032 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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