Children's Home run by Destiny House in Harrow

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 1 SC038906

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home offers care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection. Inspectors spoke with the child as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since August 2022. A manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 11 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 11 March 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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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: SC038906 2

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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. Leaders and managers have made progress on the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is becoming increasingly settled and comfortable, having lived at the home for a sustained period of time. The child is making progress, which the social worker says is ‘excellent’. Good routines, and relationships with regular staff, help the child make these progressive steps.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has good social and community involvement. They have regular, fun learning activities and are doing well in their education. The child has a tutor, with whom they interact well. Staff help the child with their reading and writing, which have both improved. After outings, staff help the child to write about what they saw and did. This helps the child to develop their spelling and use of words.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s social worker visits each week. They advocate for the child and, together with staff, listen to the child’s wishes and feelings. Staff meet daily with the child to talk about how the child feels, and to plan what they will do that day. Staff speak positively about how this has given the child confidence. At times, the language used by staff lacks care and warmth.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help the child to connect more with their family. As a result, the child has spent time with their brother.

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Findings from the inspection

The child says they feel safe living in the home. Staff manage challenging behaviours well; they understand and implement the identified support strategies to support the child as required. They talk to the child and reduce tense situations without the need for the child to be held. Over time, incidents have reduced in number as the child is more likely to talk about how they feel.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are making good progress in improving their monitoring systems and have updated the child’s care records. These documents now include support strategies for staff to use to reduce risks for the child. However, the behavioural management plan lacks guidance for staff to help them to encourage positive behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers take action to ensure that damage caused to the home does not have a long-standing effect, and repairs are carried out. Some areas of the home, however, do not provide a nurturing and welcoming space as they are in need of redecoration.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers forge effective working relationships with other professionals. They are happy with how working collaboratively with professionals has contributed positively to the child’s progress. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 3 Staff get support to develop in their roles through training, supervision and team discussions. Staff provide effective child-centred care. They enjoy looking after the child and are happy working at the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/10/2023 Full Inadequate 04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the child’s behaviour support plan includes guidance to help staff to encourage positive behaviour. 30 April 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records and staff use language that is child friendly and respectful. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that they refurbish all areas of the home’s interior so that it provides a nurturing, supportive and welcoming environment for the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 6

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Inspectors

Thobekile Bandama, Social Care Inspector Jo Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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