Children's Home run by Action for Children in Kent

Inspection report children's home: 2742583 1 Registered provider: Action for Children

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to provide care for up to four children who have physical and learning disabilities. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

There has been no registered manager since February 2024

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 31 January 2024

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2742583 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 2742583 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff, who nurture and care for them. The staff are skilled and knowledgeable about children’s individual needs. Staff take time to invest in building positive relationships with children. This gives children a sense of trust and belonging. One member of staff said, ‘We are a home where children feel safe and cared for, we are a team that helps children to be happy and to flourish so that they can reach their full potential’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is welcoming and child centred. There is plenty of space for children to spend time together or separately if they prefer. For example, there is a large sensory room and a spacious lounge with a book corner and toys. The home is decorated to a high standard. However, some areas of the home require attention to make it cosier and free from clutter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s needs are well understood by staff, who are attentive and responsive to any changes to children’s usual presentation. Children’s anxieties, often communicated through their behaviour, are thoroughly documented in incident reports. Staff have a sound understanding of children’s communication methods and their preferences, and support children to have their say about living in the home. Children choose their activities and meals and can express how they are feeling through a range of communication tools.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are sensitively supported to participate in a range of physically and emotionally stimulating activities, such as arts and crafts, trips to the parks, baking and playing games. Children also enjoy spending time in the large garden, particularly on the trampoline and swings. Children’s enjoyment and progress are captured well in monthly reports and achievement folders. Children have fun at the home and are encouraged by staff to expand their experiences and make positive memories. However, there are missed opportunities to showcase children’s artwork and photographs around the home for everyone to celebrate their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is promoted, and children enjoy school. Staff have good relationships with key members of staff in the children’s classes and attend all meetings. As a result, children’s care is consistent, and they are developing appropriate independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a clear focus on promoting children’s time with their families. Staff show sensitivity when they are managing and supporting family relationships and work in partnership with people who are most important to children. The social worker for one child said, ‘Staff show good insight into the child’s needs. This has been particularly evidenced by their close and positive working with us which has led to a significant reduction in what we believe to be trauma-led behaviours’. Inspection report children's home: 2742583 4

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

Staff make good use of effective strategies to help keep children safe. These are clearly set out in individual behaviour support plans that are reviewed regularly. Staff understand the organisation’s safeguarding policies and practice. They know how to raise concerns and who to contact for advice or support when this is needed.

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

Some children have complex health needs, and video and sound monitors are used to ensure their safety and well-being. Consent for their use is sought from children’s families and external professionals. Staff are mindful of children’s privacy when they use them. The use of monitors does not replace visual checks on children.

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

Processes for monitoring health and safety matters are sound and the physical environment is safe and secure. Recommendations arising from the fire risk assessment have been completed. Children’s personal evacuation emergency plans provide staff with clear information about how to respond in the event of a fire. Regular fire drills are held so that children also know what to do.

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

There are effective and organised medication processes in place to ensure that children receive their medication in a safe manner. A medication auditing system has helped to improve the process for recording when medicines come into the home. This reduces the risk of medication errors.

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

Safe recruitment practices are understood and implemented by staff responsible for this area of practice. All necessary checks are in place to ensure that children are protected from unsuitable people working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has not had a registered manager since February 2024. The responsible individual and an interim manager oversee the management of the home. There is a detailed development plan that highlights areas for change and improvement based on the learning from the findings of the last inspection. As a result, all requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They demonstrate a commitment to ensuring high standards of care for children and have implemented effective monitoring systems, which have strengthened the development of the home to monitor children’s care. This has improved the oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Positive partnership working helps to build trust and engagement. Feedback from external professionals is very positive regarding communication and partnership working. This demonstrates a culture of openness, which keeps children’s needs at the heart of decision-making. Inspection report children's home: 2742583 5 Staff are given opportunities to develop their skills and there is good succession planning. Staff receive a thorough induction and training that is tailored to meet the specific needs of the children in the home. However, not all staff receive regular supervision in line with the home’s policy. This means there are missed opportunities for some staff to consistently reflect on practice and explore their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff ensure that children’s health needs have been met to a high standard and children have access to health services and therapists. This collaborative way of working informs strategies to support children to manage their behaviour and in supporting children’s ongoing health needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are effective discussions in team meetings regarding children’s behaviours, their past experiences and known risks. This helps to strengthen staff understanding and ensures a consistent response to caring for children. Inspection report children's home: 2742583 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, 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the manager applies to register with Ofsted. 12 July 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children's home is a nurturing and homely environment. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should recognise and celebrate the experiences, memories, and progress of the children. This is in relation to memory books, and photograph and evidence of achievements being showcased around the home for everyone to see. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 31, paragraph 6.7)  The registered person should ensure that all staff receive regular, practice related, supervision in line with the providers policy. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Inspection report children's home: 2742583 7

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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 children's home: 2742583 8

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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

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2742583 9 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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