Children's home run by CareTech Community Services Limited in Hertsmere

Inspection report for children’s home: SC376211 1 SC376211

p.1

Registered provider: Caretech Community Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for six children who have learning disabilities. The home forms part of a large private company.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A monitoring visit was completed on 5 June 2024 following a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection. An investigation by the appropriate authorities is continuing. Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspectors spent some time with all children during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC376211 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/05/2023 Full Good 22/08/2022 Full Good 20/10/2021 Full Good 14/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC376211 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the monitoring inspection, one child has moved into the home and one young person has moved on. The manager and staff ensure that children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned and considerate of each child’s needs. Children are supported to meet people who will be caring for them and visit their new home. This helps them to prepare for what is a significant change in their lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff help them to develop self-care skills, which helps them to be a little more independent. One child, who likes to cook, is supported to make a range of tasty meals and desserts.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to explore their hobbies and interests. For example, children enjoy arts and crafts, sensory play such as sand play, gaming, swimming, going for walks and visiting the park.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted well by staff. Children’s school and college attendance is excellent. Staff recognise and celebrate milestones that children make and help children to reach their potential. Communication between staff and teachers has improved, and this helps to provide a coordinated approach when supporting the children’s learning.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive help from staff to keep in touch with people who are important to them. Staff recognise the importance of these relationships and how children benefit from spending time with others. As a result, one child is now able to spend time with their family without needing staff support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have up-to-date health assessments and attend routine appointments. Staff help children to access specialist support, such as physiotherapy, child adolescent mental health services and dieticians, to promote their health and well- being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The outcome of speech and language assessments is not known for all children. This means that staff do not have up-to-date information about communication strategies that are assessed by specialists. Staff have positive relationships with children and rely on their good knowledge of each child to meet children’s individual needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, there have been no occasions where children’s whereabouts have not been known. Children have not experienced bullying or been subject to exploitation. There have been no allegations of harm against staff who work in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC376211 4 It is rare that staff use physical intervention. On the one occasion they did, staff used this to prevent the child from hurting others and to prevent damage to property. The manager promptly reviewed the incident and spoke with the child and staff involved. This helped them to assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the measure used.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and manage these well. Children with self-injurious behaviours are supported and given strategies to help them reduce the chances of them hurting themselves.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individual reward charts to help them to achieve their goals. For example, one child has a visual reward chart to support them to develop their life skills. Encouragement, praise and reward promote positive behaviour and support children’s progress.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to use specialist equipment to help them with their mobility and sleeping arrangements. Equipment is used correctly and serviced regularly to ensure that children’s safety is maintained.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has effective recruitment systems in place. This reduces the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable individuals. Children participate in interviewing applicants who apply to work in the home. They enjoy this and like contributing to the process that decides who comes into the home to care for them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a good understanding of children’s needs and experiences. Children benefit from receiving care from a consistent staff team who they know well. This helps children to build trusting relationships with staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff receive training that supports them to meet children’s individual needs well. For example, staff have received training from specialist nurses to help them respond appropriately and confidently to children’s specific health needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and have their performance appraised by the manager. This contributes to staff feeling supported. A staff member said, ‘Working in the home is rewarding; the managers are fantastic and always focus on providing the best care for children and support for staff.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are reflective and provide staff with the opportunity to review children’s individual needs and progress, any barriers to these and how challenges can be overcome. This means that children’s plans are kept under review and updated to support children’s progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC376211 5 The manager collaborates well with external professionals and people who are important to children. One child’s social worker said, ‘It is one of the best homes I work with, and communication is great.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems are used by the manager. This means that they have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and overall, the home is maintained and furnished to a good standard. One busy hallway requires redecoration due to wear and damaged caused by mobility aids. Inspection report for children’s home: SC376211 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should work in partnership with relevant people as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support, appropriate to their age and understanding, to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. This may include the use of and support to use communication aids or any necessary language support. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)  The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home, including outside areas and buildings, are maintained to a good standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

p.6

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: SC376211 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Caretech Community Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

p.7

Inspectors

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Kirsty Truesdale, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC376211 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8