Children's Home run by MacIntyre Care in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2510323 1 Registered provider: MacIntyre Care

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home, which is run by a private organisation, provides care for up to five children aged 11 to 18 years with learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There were four children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2022.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the last inspection in March 2025. At this visit, two compliance notices were served in relation to how well children are helped and protected, the leadership and management of the home and the environment. This monitoring visit was undertaken to establish whether the provider has met the steps set out in these compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has taken appropriate action to improve fire safety arrangements to ensure that children are safeguarded in the event of a fire. There is a programme of improvement to address the previous concerns regarding the quality of the environment. Children’s bedrooms have been redecorated and improved with further personalisation. The house has been deep cleaned. There are new systems in place to prevent the quality of environment falling below safe and appropriate standards.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has taken action to reduce the risk of a closed culture developing. They have risk assessed any family and personal staff relationships and ensured that there is clearer policy guidance around these. Any staff who are related or in a personal relationship no longer work on shift together or line manage one another. The staff have had refresher safeguarding training, and they discuss safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures at team meetings. Information about how to raise concerns is displayed and known to staff. Staff describe the Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2510323 2 training and discussions about safeguarding and whistle-blowing as helpful. Staff have an improved understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding vulnerable children. They feel more confident to raise concerns without fear of retribution.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have used physical interventions to support children and keep themselves safe. Records of these incidents are clear and appropriately monitored. Senior leaders ensure that an independent person who is unconnected to the incident reviews this. The organisation’s behaviour support lead monitors incidents when physical intervention has been used. These new reviews and better oversight provide safeguards for children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has made some progress to improve the recruitment systems. However, there is not enough professional curiosity shown in respect of the checks for prospective staff. Managers have not always ensured that previous employment is discussed with past employees or explored the reasons why people have left. There is not always a full, clear employment history recorded for new staff. Consequently, gaps in employment history are not always identified and explored.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has taken action to review the leadership arrangements. There is improved management monitoring of the day-to-day care of children. Senior leaders are more alert to shortfalls and have taken effective action to address the concerns raised at the last inspection. Senior leaders have plans to better support the manager moving forward.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The steps in the compliance notices have been deemed as met. The recommendation made was outside the scope of this visit and is restated.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2025 Full Inadequate 25/07/2023 Full Good 27/04/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2510323 3

p.2

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 with the given timescales.

p.3

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.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all staff have been subject to appropriate recruitment and vetting checks in line with The Children's Home (England) Regulations 2015 and the provider's own recruitment policy before they commence work at the home.

p.3

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 15 May 2025

p.3

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person they appoint has the skills and understanding necessary to relate to children in a home's care. They should ensure that the independent person seeks to spend time with children and have the skills to gain feedback from children with complex communication needs. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 65, paragraph 15.8) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2510323 4

p.3

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under The Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2510323 5

p.4

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Seebeck House, 1 Seebeck Place, Milton Keynes MK5 8FR

p.5

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Jennifer Marshall

p.5

Inspector

Joanna Heller, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2510323 6 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.5

Inspector

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6