Children's home run by Hebron House Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2794752 1 Registered provider: Hebron House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or special educational needs. The home is privately owned and managed.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2794752 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home they are welcomed sensitively. Children are supported throughout this transition period and have opportunities to visit the home before moving in. Consideration is given to the children already living in the home, and staff will explain to them if a new child is moving in. This enables children to be less anxious about any changes to whom they live with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and support children to take part in their education and learning. One child has made lots of progress in their education, and their attendance is also excellent. When there are barriers to education, staff do all they can to support children to overcome them. Staff have worked closely with one child’s college to help the child overcome their anxieties, and have encouraged them to access learning. This has developed the child’s confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work creatively to provide children with a variety of activities, from attending football matches to spa days and beauty-related pursuits. Engagement in these activities is improving children’s confidence, self-esteem and happiness. For one child, this has enabled them to develop their social interactions and gain new friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are warm, nurturing and caring towards children. Staff spend time with the children and know them well; there are lots of positive interactions and fun. Children can identify a trusted adult they can go to if they are worried. One child said, ‘Staff worry about me, if I am missing. I feel safe with them, and I know they care for me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children having relationships with their families. Children are supported to see their families in line with their plans and, where possible, family members are welcomed to the home. One social worker said, ‘They have been excellent in facilitating family time and actively promoting these relationships.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is promoted, and children are registered with all primary health services. Staff carry out regular direct work sessions with children to explore areas that may impact on the child’s health and well-being. Staff proactively encourage children with their emotional health and ensure that referrals to specialist support services are prioritised.

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

Children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities are well understood by staff. Risk management plans are personal and regularly reviewed. Staff use this information to inform comprehensive risk management plans focusing on areas that are central to the safety of the children. There is an individualised approach to keeping children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794752 3 The care given to children is reinforced by a therapeutic framework that has a strong emphasis on nurture and care. The consistency of this approach enables children to work through their feelings with support from the adults caring for them.

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

Staff’s use of positive behaviour management has been effective in developing the children’s sense of self and ability to safely express their emotions. There have been no physical interventions.

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

Staff take appropriate action when children go missing from the home. They follow the children, search known areas, and contact parents and all relevant agencies. Children are given a nurturing welcome on their return. Children also get the opportunity to speak to someone independent of the home about the missing-from-home incident. Staff carry out individual work with children to help them make safer choices.

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

Managers have had to make the difficult decision to end a child’s placement sooner than previously predicted. This decision was based on clear evidence about the safety of the child and also considered the other children’s immediate safety. The staff team members were concerned about this move. However, they were able to acknowledge that they could no longer keep the child safe.

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

There have been some occasions when children have displayed behaviours of concern. Staff respond appropriately. Direct work is carried out with children to understand the risks associated with their behaviours, and also supports the children to understand and recognise risk-taking behaviours. However, on occasion, children have not had the opportunity to talk to someone independent of the incident. This is a missed opportunity to enable children to reflect and to express their views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a manager who is ambitious for children and leads by example. Her calm, nurturing and patient approach is shared by the staff team. She demonstrates love towards the children, and they say they feel loved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they are supported and valued by the management team. Staff say that the manager creates a culture where it is pivotal to reflect on and develop their practice to ensure that children’s individual needs remain central.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings take place. These meetings provide staff with an open forum to discuss care practices and are used as an opportunity for constructive reflection of practice. The manager has been influential in strengthening and developing practice and approaches. Staff are equipped to meet the diverse and emerging needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong focus on staff’s learning and understands the benefits of a highly skilled and qualified team. Research in practice sessions form part of team Inspection report for children’s home: 2794752 4 meetings. This is further enhanced through bespoke training in line with children’s individual needs. This ensures that children receive a good quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and family members hold the manager in high esteem. The manager understands the importance of effective partnership working and how this contributes towards children’s positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team uses internal and external monitoring systems to promote service development. However, the quality of external monitoring systems is varied and lacks critical information to determine if children are effectively safeguarded. These reports have also not been sent to the regulator within the required timescale. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794752 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a) (7)(a)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must challenge the quality of reports received, ensuring they are not duplicated from previous months, and that the author stipulates in their opinion whether the children are effectively safeguarded.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all reports completed by the independent person are shared with the regulator in a timely manner. 6 March 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when children have displayed behaviours of concern, there is sufficient staffing to respond flexibly to unexpected events and that the child is given opportunity to speak to an independent member of the staff team and have a change in staff to reduce the potential recurrence of behaviour. (‘Guide to Inspection report for children’s home: 2794752 6 the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15)

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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: 2794752 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hebron House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Brewers Hill Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 1AA

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Inspector

Angeline Clarke, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2794752 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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