Children's home run by Heartwood Residential Services Ltd in Barnet

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 1 SC423959

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Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

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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 five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 1 March 2011.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 20 September 2023. At the time of this inspection, there was a manager in post who had not submitted an application to register with Ofsted. The manager has since resigned and no longer works in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 2 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and the responsible individual were not present for this inspection. The deputy manager led this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s individual interests are understood well by staff. For example, one child has shown an interest in a future medical career. The manager and staff are working closely with the virtual school to promote the child’s return to education, to help them gain the qualifications they will need to achieve their ambition.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have positive relationships with staff. They speak to staff about their lifestyle choices and what is going on for them. This helps the staff and manager to understand children’s behaviours and help children to reflect on the decisions and choices they make.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s wishes and feelings are taken into account. They engage in regular house meetings to discuss various issues, including making choices about food, bedroom decor and complaints.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risks are understood and addressed in key-work sessions. This enables children and staff to think about how to reduce risky behaviours. If risks do not reduce, leaders and managers raise their concerns to placing authorities to help make safer arrangements for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff follow protocols appropriately when children go missing from the home. They contact children and their families to locate them and encourage children to return to the home. Staff report children as missing to the relevant safeguarding agencies, including the police and placing authority. Due to the positive relationship one child has with staff, they keep in regular contact with staff when they are away from home. This helps to manage and reduce the risks to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents of negative behaviour are managed well. When incidents occur in the home, the staff and manager take appropriate action to de-escalate challenging behaviours. Staff ensure that children receive medical attention promptly when there are concerns about their health and well-being. There has been a reduction of incidents requiring police involvement to manage children’s behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken steps to rectify the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. They have developed a robust action plan and are working to implement positive changes in the home, and progress has been made in relation to children’s experiences and safety. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 4 Leaders and managers work in partnerships with other agencies. Positive feedback was given from one child’s social worker about the manager and staff’s commitment and dedication towards children.

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Findings from the inspection

Although staff have completed various training courses, they have not completed training to meet the specific needs of children. For example, they have not completed training about child criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation and substance misuse. This limits staff’s knowledge and how well they can support children around these issues.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive supervision that focuses on their individual practice and development needs. New staff receive an adequate induction into the home. This enables leaders and managers to have effective oversight of staff practice and the support being given to children. However, in the absence of the manager and responsible individual, the deputy manager was unable to provide samples of further supervisions, appraisals and team meeting minutes during this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/03/2023 Full Good 12/08/2021 Full Good 16/09/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 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

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

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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive the appropriate support and relevant training specific to children’s needs and risks, to provide a good quality of care.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 29 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and 29 June 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 7 the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that those with a management role are able to deliver their management responsibilities and access all required records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9TH

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Inspector

Amena Begum, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC423959 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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