Children's home run by London Borough of Haringey

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2687918 1 Registered provider: London Borough of Haringey

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. The home provides assessment and care for up to six children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and children with learning disabilities. Children’s placements are generally between six and 12 months.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager were registered with Ofsted on 29 November 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Inspection date: 18 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 March 2024

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. The inspector has 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 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: 2687918 2

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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

Children have trusted relationships with staff who care for them. Children say that staff are interested in them and that they like spending time with staff, doing activities together that children choose and enjoy.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live healthy lifestyles. They have access to primary health care services and specialist health services as required. Staff communicate regularly with health care professionals such as clinical psychologists, to support children’s emotional well- being.

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Findings from the inspection

Children eat healthy nutritious meals that meet their dietary and religious needs. Staff ensure that there is good quality food for children when they need it. Staff meet children’s individual needs well. For example, staff prepare Halal meals for a child who is a practising Muslim.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from staff’s advocacy in ensuring that they have access to appropriate educational resources. A child told the inspector that they were not enjoying their current school and did not feel that they were learning as much as they could. Staff are working with educational professionals to consider alternative educational resources better suited to meet the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have fun and take part in leisure activities that they enjoy. A child showed the inspector the basketball hoop in the garden that staff purchased as a result of them expressing a keen interest in playing basketball. This child also plays football in local park and a football team affiliated with a premier league Football Club. They are also a member at a local boxing club.

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Findings from the inspection

Children receive pocket money on a weekly basis and are free to spend these funds as they please. For example, one child is currently saving his pocket money to upgrade his phone.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are protected from abuse, harm, and neglect. Children say that they feel safe at the home because staff are kind, and they know that staff care about them.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection risk assessments have improved. However not all risk assessments are explicit in identifying serious historical risks posed to children and others.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work diligently with children to promote their positive behaviour. Children respond well to staff’s boundaries and behaviour management strategies. This means that incidents of challenging behaviour have reduced. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2687918 3 At the last inspection, inspectors noted that behaviour management plans were not sufficiently detailed. These are not yet robust and do not provide staff with guidance about managing serious incidents. In addition, some staff are yet to complete restraint training as the home requires.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from staff’s clear understanding of the home protocols in managing children who are missing from care. When children are missing, staff work effectively with other professionals and take appropriate action which supports children’s safe return home. The number of incidents of children missing from the care of staff has declined over time.

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Findings from the inspection

The Managers’ recruitment processes are safe and robust. This means that appointed staff are suitable to work with children.

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Findings from the inspection

The leadership and management of the home has improved since the home’s last inspection. The registered manager has responded promptly and appropriately to resolve most areas identified for improvement at that inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The previous inspection highlighted the need for managers to revise the home’s statement of purpose and locality risk assessment and to share these amended documents with Ofsted. This has been achieved. In addition, managers now ensure that each child has a personal emergency evacuation plan.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers make clear and appropriate care planning decisions about children moving on from the home. Managers’ decisions are based on children’s best interests and promote their safety and the safety of others. However, some children’s care plans are insufficiently detailed and are not explicit about what action staff need to take to ensure children make progress. Care plans also do not include timeframes for targets to be achieved.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have improved the general presentation of the home by purchasing new furniture, rugs, plants and displaying framed photographs in key areas of the home. Children’s artwork is on display in the ground floor lounge, which gives the room a warm, homely feel. However, some other parts of the home still require some attention. For example, some hallways and the upper lounge walls remain bare. This is not conducive to a homely, nurturing environment.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy living at the home and have good experiences. A child said, ‘I like it here. The staff are kind and are helping me to do new things. I think I may work with the therapist, and I finally get to do the sport that I like.’ Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2687918 4

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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.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the monitoring of key case records including support plans, risk assessments and behavioural management plans. 15 April 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of its children and is a homely, domestic environment. Homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate resources to support their training needs. This relates to staff receiving restraint training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2687918 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Haringey

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, London N22 8LE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Beverley Hendricks

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2687918 6 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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