Children's home run by Heartwood Residential Services Ltd in Barnet

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423959 1 SC423959

p.1

Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 1 March 2011. The registered manager post has been vacant since 20 September 2023. A new manager has been recently appointed and has submitted an application for registration.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Inspection date: 6 January 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 6 January 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: SC423959 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home. Leaders and managers have improved the way they approach decision-making about children moving in. This includes considering any competing needs with children who already live in the home. This has been effective so far and the children are settling in.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children develop positive relationships with the staff. Staff understand the importance of the children receiving individualised care to help them make positive progress. Children have opportunities to share their views through regular conversations with staff and engaging key-work sessions. Key-work sessions are also used as an opportunity to help the children understand the impact of their behaviour. In addition, they help children understand their own risks, for example around internet safety and substance misuse.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The staff understand the importance of children maintaining safe family relationships and are committed to supporting children in this. For example, on Christmas Day, staff supported a child to travel a long way to meet their sibling who lives in another children’s home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff encourage the children to engage in age-appropriate activities and interests. For example, children enjoy sports activities, shopping trips and games.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the importance of education. One child attends school. The other child recently moved into the home and the manager is aspirational for them to also attend school. The manager is working with the professional network to find a suitable school that is local to the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Children have individual risk assessments that identify their triggers, protective factors, and strategies for staff to respond to risk. Incidents are rare. When they happen, staff openly discuss the situation with children to help them understand ways to avoid the situation happening again. Leaders and managers understand the importance of communicating with children’s professional networks so that there is a consistent understanding of how children are supported.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have formed good relationships with local police to better understand strategies to keep children safe. Staff have improved their supervision of children and incidents of children going missing from the home are rare. Staff understand child protection procedures and what they are required to do if a child discloses a child protection concern, or if they have a concern about another staff member’s practice. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423959 3 Leaders and managers have made some progress with the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. A manager has been appointed and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted. The day after this visit, Ofsted was notified that the responsible individual had resigned. Senior managers have developed an interim action plan for oversight of the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reviewed and updated the home’s statement of purpose. They have improved their communication with local authorities and other professionals. Consequently, they have been able to obtain children’s care planning documents to guide their support for the children. Children’s records are clear and well organised, and the manager is continuing to refine these documents.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Staff said they feel supported and enjoy working in the home. They also spoke about how training has helped them professionally and personally. Leaders have developed their oversight of this area and arranged specific training to meet children’s needs. However, not all staff have completed this training yet.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not ensured that all staff are receiving regular supervision, and one member of staff’s appraisal was not on file. In addition, leaders and managers have not yet updated the workforce development plan.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/03/2023 Full Good 12/08/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423959 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.4

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)(a)(c))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive appropriate support, have appraisals and are up to date with training specific to children’s needs and risks, to provide care in line with the statement of purpose.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 10 March 2025

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff receive regular supervision.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 10 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423959 5

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they have a workforce plan which fulfils the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423959 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood Residential Services Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9TH

p.6

Inspectors

Chelsea Agyeman, Social Care Inspector Salean Bryant, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423959 7 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.

p.6

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 .

p.7

Inspectors

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.7

Inspectors

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

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7