Children's home run by Action for Children Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 1 Registered provider: Action for Children Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a charitable organisation on behalf of the local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short-break accommodation for up to six children who have complex special educational needs and/or disabilities and physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There are currently 22 children accessing the service on a rotational basis.

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Information about this children’s home

During this inspection, three children stayed at the home on different nights.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 30 October 2023. A new manager has been appointed and is completing the application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the home in response to the allegations were considered, where appropriate, alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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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. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 2 Date of last inspection: 21 February 2023

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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: 2590824 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 07/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently 22 children accessing the service on a rotational basis. Children’s visits are well planned. Children mostly stay with the same group of children, and this supports the friendships they have made. Detailed planning ensures that children enjoy each other’s company. Parents say that children like coming to the home, and some see it as a ‘holiday’, where they can socialise and meet their friends in a safe space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Many children who attend for short breaks are nonverbal. Staff understand children’s communication styles and support them to use different communication methods, including the Picture Exchange Communication System. Each child has a detailed communication passport. As a result, staff can respond dynamically to children’s wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities that are specific to their interests and talents. They benefit from having good routines and structure when they visit the home. Children are supported to choose their activities when they visit, including community activities such as the cinema, local parks and arcades. The home has a range of indoor games and a large garden where children can play. This gives children opportunities to have new experiences in the home with other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff and managers ensure that children’s health needs are met well when they visit. Some of the children have complex medical conditions that require daily medication. Health records are clear and staff know about children’s allergies and individual health plans. Managers have clear systems for training in the administration of medication, and staff show appropriate understanding. Medication errors are very rare. When staff make errors, these are quickly identified and staff seek medical support and monitor children as needed. Managers help staff learn from these incidents; however, the two medication errors recorded do not demonstrate this well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s physical environment is warm and comfortable for children. All children’s bedrooms are themed, adapted and decorated to meet their needs. The home is homely, spacious and maintained to a high standard. Children are comfortable and move freely in the home.

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

Children benefit from high staffing levels, and there are clear behaviour support plans to support their needs. Staff support children to understand boundaries and routines. Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and know how to support children if they are upset. Staff can identify whether children are happy or sad by the sounds or gestures that they make. This means that even children with the most significant needs have positive experiences when they visit. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 5 Children are safeguarded effectively. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures. They work well with parents and external professionals. The stable and consistent home environment, together with the warmth and confidence of the staff, makes the children feel safe and secure.

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

There have been three incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection. Staff only use physical restraint when it is necessary to safeguard children and others. Children receive appropriate support following incidents of restraint to enable them to reflect on their emotions. Managers promptly review incidents and speak with staff. The manager has identified that records need to provide more details and has addressed this in team meetings, arranging refresher training for the staff.

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

Staff understand and manage children’s risks well. However, one child’s risk assessments do not include information about all known risks and the strategies in place to manage these. In addition, some risk assessments were due to be updated at the time of this inspection.

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

Safeguarding practice is strong. Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing procedures. Leaders and managers take allegations of harm seriously and act promptly when issues arise. This increases children’s safety in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager post has been vacant since October 2023. Leaders were prompt in recruiting a new manager, who is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. The responsible individual is present and readily available to support the new manager and the team. The manager and staff know the children well and hold high aspirations for them. Feedback from professionals and parents about the leaders and staff is very positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by leaders and managers. They have access to regular supervision, and managers are available for advice or guidance. New staff have access to a good induction process that helps them settle into their work. All staff have access to training, as well as having joint discussions about children in team meetings. This all adds to staff feeling able to provide nurturing, supportive care that helps children to settle and enjoy their stay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities. They contribute to the successful running of the home and feel valued and respected. They have regular supervision sessions and attend monthly staff meetings. This supports them to work consistently with each other and to provide good-quality care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have an effective procedure for resolving complaints informally as well as through the formal complaints procedure. They address any concerns and complaints efficiently and honestly. They view complaints in a positive light, as opportunities to review, reflect on and improve the service that they offer. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 6 However, one complaint record did not show the details of actions taken to address the concerns raised by one parent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the strengths and weaknesses of the home. For example, managers have reviewed the ‘body map’ recording and reporting system, in which staff record and describe any mark on a child’s body, no matter how slight. They work well with children’s parents and professional networks. Three requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 7

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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)) 2 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 8 In particular, the new manager must submit a complete application to register with 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s risk assessments include information about all known risks and are updated following new information or significant incidents; they must ensure that any incidents of medication errors are recorded and monitored appropriately. 2 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that complaints received from parents about their children have a clear recorded response and actions taken. 2 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 9

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are detailed and have clear information to enable effective scrutiny of staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: 2590824 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Action for Children, 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 11 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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