Children's Home run by Centre 404 in Tower Hamlets

Inspection report for children’s home: 2644282 1 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 10 June 2021 and is run by a registered charity. It provides short breaks for up to five children.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for children with autism spectrum disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since September 2023.

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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: 2644282 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Good 28/06/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2644282 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s personalities, likes and dislikes are known. Staff build good relationships with the children and have high aspirations for them. They work closely with parents to ensure that children receive good, individualised care. Care plans are detailed and support staff to be attuned to children’s needs. Children are supported to express their wishes and feelings. One child likes video games and listening to music, and another child likes to play on the trampoline.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a range of communication methods to engage children. This ensures that children who communicate nonverbally can express their views and wishes. Leaders and managers support new members of staff in understanding behaviour cues of children and to be inquisitive to discover what children are communicating. Social stories are used to prepare children for attending the home and to support their learning about a range of topics, including preparing them for puberty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points. Children with complex needs benefit from caring staff who know them well and understand their needs. Care is taken to ensure that children’s routines are consistent, and children are aware of what will be happening throughout their time at the home, whether they are attending after- school clubs or staying for longer periods. Children are encouraged to develop independence skills. One child has learned to eat meals independently, and another child is able to carry out their own associated care tasks. This promotes a sense of confidence in the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a range of activities which are bespoke to their interests. This includes trips to the zoo, trips to sea-life centres and visits into central London. Children also participate in activities in the home, such as games, trampolining and creative pursuits. Children enjoy their time at the home, and some return to visit the home when they are adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment appears neglected and lacks warmth. Although the children’s bedrooms have been updated, they could benefit from additional work. The general presentation of the home needs to be updated to ensure that the home is warm and welcoming for children.

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

Risk assessments are comprehensive and cover all known risks that are specific to each child. They provide appropriate strategies to support staff to keep children safe and anticipate risks which could arise between children and adults who care for them.

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

When incidents occur, they are managed well. Debriefs take place and are very child focused. They support staff to reflect on how they can improve interventions with Inspection report for children’s home: 2644282 4 children. Records of incidents are clear, detailed and include management oversight. This supports staff in integrating the learning from incidents and developing their skills and understanding of children’s needs.

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

When children may be at risk of harming themselves or others, physical intervention is used appropriately to ensure everyone’s safety. Clear records are kept which show the reason for the restraint, and reviews take place to ensure that good practice is maintained.

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

Safer recruitment practices have improved since the last inspection. However, more care needs to be taken to ensure that proof of address, verbal verification of references and evidence of relevant qualifications are obtained from potential employees.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has made several improvements to the home’s monitoring and review systems. This has been effective in creating a smooth-running home where staff are accountable and understand their responsibilities to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers show high aspirations for their service and for staff and the children in their care. Supervision is reflective and supports staff to build their professional skills and to be attuned to the needs of children. Staff receive appropriate training to meet the needs of children and are supported to develop professionally. Supervision records are detailed and include management oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A number of staff are new and are enthusiastic about children. Despite the staff team being new, the team is stable, and staff are happy at the home and feel that their colleagues and managers are supportive of them. Induction processes are appropriate in ensuring that staff feel confident in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers respond quickly to allegations and complaints. They carry out thorough investigations and ensure that there is no delay. Following investigations, appropriate actions are taken, which are fair and support staff in ensuring good practice. The learning from allegations is promoted in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular team meetings that provide them with learning and development opportunities and focus on key topics. Inspection report for children’s home: 2644282 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they provide a homely environment and continue to repair and clean all areas of the home. This includes repairs to water-stained ceilings, updating damaged furniture and ensuring that the home is decorated to create a warm, welcoming and child- friendly environment. 28 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; 28 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2644282 6 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff recruitment records should include two proof of address, verbal verification of references and proof of relevant qualifications.

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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: 2644282 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Centre 404, 404 Camden Road, London N7 0SJ

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Inspector

Angela Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2644282 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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