Children's Home run by London Borough of Hounslow in Hounslow

Inspection report for children’s home: SC032600 1 SC032600 Registered provider: London Borough of Hounslow Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides a short-break service for up to six children. The home provides care to children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, a total of six children were having a short break over the two days.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC032600 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Outstanding 01/12/2021 Full Outstanding 13/08/2019 Full Good 16/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC032600 3

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outstanding

Children and young people benefit from excellent standards of care from staff who know them well and understand their needs. Staff are attentive, warm and positive. Because of this, children make exceptional progress in their communication, social and independence skills. This helps children to build confidence. One headteacher said, ‘We see numerous children year on year thrive from the support that they get from the staff at [name of service]. The support that both individual children and their families receive is palpable, with so many moving from crisis to content fulfilment.’

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outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s preferred methods of communication, and consistently support and promote these methods so that children can participate fully in their daily lives. Staff use a range of communication tools to support children to share their views and express choices. Children have easy access to communication aids, like pictural symbols and social stories. This creates a child-focused and inclusive culture, where the needs and experiences of children shape and influence the care that they receive.

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outstanding

Staff work closely with families and external professionals to make certain that children’s health is monitored closely. Staff support children to attend health appointments whenever this is possible and required.

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outstanding

Parents spoke highly of the service and the positive impact of the support provided to them and their children. Parents described how staff had offered additional support and advice. For example, the manager supported a sibling of one child to develop a better understanding of their sibling’s neurodivergence. The provider also helps parents to network with others and prevent isolation, for example by inviting parents to a Mother’s Day tea and cake party. One parent who attended this event said, ‘As a parent of a child with disability sometimes you feel alone, and they always make you feel like you are not alone.’

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outstanding

Staff plan children’s stays carefully to provide a range of meaningful activities for children to choose from, such as messy play, sensory activities or arts and crafts. Children also go out into the community and on trips or events.

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outstanding

Children are learning to complete a variety of tasks independently. As a result, they make exceptional progress in their self-care and independent living skills, and their confidence and self-esteem are growing. Parents gave many examples of the progress their children have made. One parent spoke about their child being able to sit at the table and use the toilet independently. Another parent spoke about how proud their child feels of being able to make their bed, or to clear up after a meal. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032600 4 The building the home is located in would benefit from being updated, but it is well equipped and furnished in a way that shows that children’s needs are prioritised. There is a wide range of games, toys and books. The outdoor play area includes two gardens, one of which is designed to meet children’s sensory needs. This provides a fun, interactive space for children and young people to enjoy and play in. Children’s

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outstanding

photographs and artwork, and many positive affirmations and messages, are displayed throughout the house. This adds to the homely atmosphere of the house. One parent said that, despite the exterior of the building, ‘Inside - the warmth, the sense of family and care, it is just amazing.’

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outstanding

Safeguarding arrangements for children are highly effective. Staff understand the children’s vulnerabilities, as their assessments and plans are thoroughly detailed, clearly recorded and regularly updated. Staff consistently follow strategies that help to keep children safe. Parents and professionals feel that children are safe in the home.

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outstanding

The registered manager has developed a strong safeguarding culture. Safeguarding is discussed at every opportunity, including team meetings and staff supervision sessions. This ensures that staff know their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Furthermore, children are supported through social stories to develop their understanding of risk and how to raise concerns.

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outstanding

Consequences are not used, and staff support children through discussions and promoting positive behaviour. When incidents happen, staff prioritise the children’s well-being above their own. Staff reflect on the incidents and try to understand the triggers and reasons for unwanted behaviour. For one child, staff have been able to identify triggers and worked effectively with the child’s family and the professionals involved, leading to a significant decrease of incidents at school, in the community and at home.

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outstanding

Children do not go missing from home. Despite this, missing-from-home protocols are completed for each child, ensuring that staff know what action to take if children were to go missing.

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outstanding

No allegations have been made against staff members since the last inspection. The manager and staff demonstrate a very good understanding of the procedures to be followed when an allegation is made. They are able to respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns about other staff members and managers.

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outstanding

There have been two incidents of medication errors since the last inspection. In response, the manager has arranged for an external audit of the procedures of receiving, storing and administering medication. The systems in place have been strengthened, and there is more scrutiny to ensure that all children receive their medications as prescribed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032600 5 Staff are trained to restrain children safely when required. Records demonstrate that the use of this measure is proportionate, and only used when necessary to keep children and others safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious, enthusiastic, suitably qualified and experienced. The manager’s commitment to providing excellent standards of care for the children is truly inspirational. The manager is supported in her role by two assistant managers. Their positivity and commitment to achieving exceptional outcomes for children are reflected by the whole staff team. This is evident from the way that staff talk about children and the way that care plans are developed and delivered. Each individual child is valued and celebrated. For example, staff help children to prepare their ‘what makes me great’ posters, which are displayed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The quality of partnership working between the home, parents, schools and professional networks is an exceptional strength of this service. The manager ensures excellent communication, and an attention to detail which promotes consistency of care for children. One professional said, ‘[the manager]’s engagement with parents/carers, schools, and professionals is exemplary. She fosters strong partnerships and collaborative relationships with all stakeholders, recognising the importance of working together to achieve the best outcomes for young people. Her open and transparent communication style, coupled with her willingness to listen and respond to feedback, ensures that everyone feels valued and heard.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they feel supported by managers extremely well. They feel valued, listened to and unafraid to make mistakes because these are treated as learning opportunities. Staff appreciate the reflective aspect of supervision that is being promoted. They feel it helps them to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight and monitoring in the home are comprehensive. This ensures that all documentation accurately reflects the children’s current needs. Leaders and managers use learning from practice and feedback to improve the children’s experiences and the care they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The culture of the home is characterised by striving to achieve better outcomes for children with learning disabilities. The manager promotes this culture, both within the home and externally. The manager has delivered several training sessions to social workers in her local authority, on working with non-verbal children and capturing the voice of the child. The inspector was informed that, as a result, ‘Social workers who have attended reported feeling more confident in this area of practice.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC032600 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: SC032600 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hounslow

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: London Borough of Hounslow, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB

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Inspector

Aneta Wasilewska, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC032600 8 regulates 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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