Children's Home run by Woodford Children's Services Ltd in Havering

Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 1 Registered provider: Woodford Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. This provider is part of a commissioning partnership contract with eight local authorities. The home provides medium- to long-term care on a planned basis and in an emergency.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2021. The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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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.

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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: 2647767 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well cared for and have positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Senior leaders make sure that children are welcomed into the home in a sensitive and creative way. For example, when one child was not able to visit the home before moving in, the registered manager arranged a virtual tour of the home. When children move out of the home, staff ensure that children experience a positive farewell, with a meal, a gift and a memory book.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff carefully consider children’s interests when arranging activities. This respect has enabled children to enjoy going to funfairs, on trips to the cinema and on shopping trips. One child said that this home is good for their mental health as they are always kept busy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated with pictures of the children and staff doing activities. There is artwork on the walls done by children and staff, reflecting the familial atmosphere in the home. All children have had their bedrooms decorated in their personal style.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are enrolled at school and one child is receiving online tutoring. The two children attending school are currently completing their exams and have plans to attend college from September. Staff have good relationships with children’s schools and provide support to teachers if there are concerns about a child’s behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional, physical and mental health needs are well met. Children have good access to local health services and benefit from therapeutic support. This gives them opportunities to talk about their emotions and their feelings in a safe space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children spend time with their families and, when needed, staff provide additional family support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage with key-work sessions. This gives them a chance to think about why professionals are worried about them. Children also have regular group meetings. This gives children the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their independence skills. For example, children learn how to cook and to manage their money.

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

Children say they feel safe and can identify an adult they can trust. Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 4 Staff form effective partnerships with safeguarding agencies and the police. This enables them to have an awareness of emerging risks in the community. Staff take rapid action whenever concerns are raised, to ensure that risks are minimised.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff ensure that there is a well-coordinated response. When children are safely back home, requests for a return home interview are made. When delays occur, senior leaders are quick to escalate this with the placing local authority.

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

Staff use creative ways to manage risks. For example, they ensure that each child is given a self-care box that holds important information about how to stay safe. Children are encouraged to get involved in training that is aimed at helping them to understand risk.

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

When there are concerns about a child’s use of the internet, appropriate steps are taken to manage any potential risks. When room searches are necessary, these are conducted in a sensitive way.

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

Staff ensure that children are given the correct amount of medication at the right time.

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

Staff implement effective incentives and rewards to promote positive behaviour. When consequences are used, these are carefully reviewed to ensure that they are balanced, proportionate and fair.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have high aspirations for the children and an ambitious vision for the home. The registered manager advocates for the children and challenges the local authority when children’s needs are not appropriately met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a wide range of forums to discuss practice and to explore any emotional impact of their work. For example, they receive an informative induction, regular supervision, frequent team meetings, training and clinical therapeutic support. All staff are safely recruited and suitably qualified to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders make use of appropriate monitoring systems to analyse children’s care. This helps them to understand children’s progress and experiences and where additional support is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professional feedback is positive. Healthcare professionals say that staff support children with education and in engaging with activities. Social workers say that staff and senior leaders provide the children with a safe and therapeutic space where the child feels safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager makes sure that all staff have annual appraisals. However, the registered manager has not received their own annual appraisal. Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 5 The registered manager has completed a formal review of the quality of care. However, sometimes these reports lack in-depth analysis. Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff, including the registered manager, are appraised annually. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review analyses and evaluates the care provided in the home, the experiences of the children and the impact the care has on their outcomes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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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: 2647767 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Woodford Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Abacus House, 14-18 Forest Road, Loughton IG10 1DX

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Inspector

Chelsea Agyeman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2647767 8 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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