Children's home run by Jubilee House Care Trust Limited in Welwyn Hatfield

Inspection report for children’s home: SC019441 1 SC019441 Registered provider: Jubilee House Care Trust Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a registered charity and provides short breaks for up to five disabled children aged between five and 18. Day care is also offered for children who have similar needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2004.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were having short breaks 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: SC019441 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Good 10/10/2022 Full Good 17/01/2022 Full Good 17/07/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC019441 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 10 children have started to access short breaks, with 43 children in total accessing short breaks on a rotational basis. At the time of this inspection, there were four children at the home. The inspector spent time with three children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children were observed to be happy, playful and relaxed with the staff. Staff have meaningful relationships with children, and they show genuine care and interest. Children feel secure, valued and loved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager is responsive to families’ circumstances, including emergency situations. Parents are included and feel welcome at the home. One parent delivered a presentation at a staff meeting about her child and the family’s positive experience of short breaks at the home. During the presentation, she said, ‘When our world is not the “normal”, you make it the normal. We’ve found a place where my child, and us, fit. Thank you.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and families feel understood and find a sense of belonging at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have complex health and dietary needs. Staff receive training from nurses on specialist healthcare needs. They understand the importance of providing high-quality care to meet children’s health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities, including visits to the zoo, mini golf and bowling. The children have also been on day trips to the fire station, beach experience days and fruit picking. They thoroughly enjoy these fun and enriching experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to work towards simple, achievable independence targets. Staff encourage children to make choices about their care. Children achieve important targets to increase their independence and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are introduced to the home gradually. Staff meet children, parents and teachers from the child’s school. Families can visit the home multiple times before children have overnight stays. Children feel welcomed to the home. One parent said that the transition was excellent, particularly as she had thought that her child would not manage an overnight stay. Careful and thorough planning reduces children’s anxieties about staying away from their family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have had planned moves on from the home. Children are given social stories to help them to understand that they are moving on. Children celebrate their time at the home and take memory books with them. On one occasion, the managers advocated for a child and, consequently, the child had a specialist adult provision funded. Without the managers’ intervention, the child would have unlikely received the provision that he needed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC019441 4 The home is spacious and vibrant with several communal rooms for children to relax in. There is a sensory room and a large garden for children to play in. Children’s bedrooms cater for a range of needs. However, there are marks on the lounge and hallway walls that detract from an otherwise welcoming and positive environment for children.

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

Children are safeguarded and feel safe at the home. The manager has ensured that staff have the appropriate training and understand the safeguarding procedures. Staff are confident and equipped to manage safeguarding incidents, which helps to keep the children safe.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Staffing levels are high, and children are constantly supervised due to their individual needs. Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and take effective action to keep them safe.

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

Risk assessments are detailed and provide staff with good guidance. Staff understand and implement risk assessments.

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

Children’s behaviour support plans are individualised and include strategies for staff to help children to safely manage their emotions. The plans include input from parents, staff and school staff. The home’s staff have attended training in therapeutic approaches to understand how trauma affects children. Staff understand how to support children and what they need to manage their feelings. Consequently, there has been no use of physical intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and has relevant diplomas at level 5 and 7. She is an excellent role model to the staff. She provides excellent care for children. The manager has support from a competent deputy manager. The children have excellent experiences during their short breaks at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that the managers are brilliant, approachable and supportive and that they go above and beyond expectations for children and their families. Staff are enthusiastic and caring and provide excellent child-centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive good-quality training. They said that they have thorough inductions, supervision and a wide range of face-to-face and online training. The staff either hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards the qualification within the agreed timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager holds staff well-being in high regard. Staff benefit from employee assistance services and benefits, including shopping vouchers, well-being sessions and gym membership. The staff have attended an awards ceremony to recognise their Inspection report for children’s home: SC019441 5 achievements. Staff feel valued, well equipped and resilient to help children with complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s reports are of good quality and include feedback from children, parents and professionals. The independent person makes appropriate recommendations that help the manager to make improvements to the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When staff have not delivered the standard of care expected, the manager has taken effective and appropriate action.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s review of care is of good quality and detailed. The report includes feedback from professionals, children and parents. However, on one occasion, there was a delay in submitting the report to Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked hard to recruit new staff and to reduce the need to use agency staff. Agency staff are appropriately trained and inducted. They are always supported by core staff, which ensures consistency for children. However, agency staff do not receive supervision at the home or by people who know the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC019441 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, 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff, including agency staff, receive regular supervision. 16 March 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment that meets children’s needs. In particular, ensure that the lounge and hallway walls are decorated to a good standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the manager’s review of the quality of the care is submitted to Ofsted within the required time frame. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, 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: SC019441 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Jubilee House Care Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Jubilee House Care Trust, 6 Silver Court, Watchmead, Welwyn Garden City AL7 1LT

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC019441 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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