Children's Home run by Jeeves Care Group Ltd in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 1 Registered provider: Jeeves Care Group Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties and children with learning disabilities. There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection and they contributed to the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since January 2025 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 January 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home in a carefully planned way. Before the child moved to the home, staff gained as much information as they could about them to make sure that they receive the care and support that they need. The child’s care and support plans are informed by adults who know them well, such as their families and social workers. This provides consistency and has helped the child to adapt to their new home and settle very quickly .

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s preferred methods of communication and support these so that the child can participate fully in their daily lives. The staff use picture exchange communication systems to support the child to choose their meals and activities each day.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child speaks English as an additional language. The manager has employed a member of staff who shares the same language and cultural background. As well as supporting the child with communication and understanding, this has given the child a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise and value the child’s cultural needs. Staff support the child with prayer times, dietary requirements and religious celebrations. Eid al-Fitr was celebrated by the child with a meal at a restaurant with family and staff. This supports the child’s cultural identity.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of family to the child, and they support them to spend time together. Staff support this safely in line with the local authority plan and the court order that is in place. A professional praised the staff team for supporting family relationships and the positive impact this has on the child and their family.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of education. Although a formal education programme is not yet in place, managers continue to advocate for a suitable provision. Staff creatively support the child’s learning with daily activities and continuous encouragement. Staff celebrate the child’s achievements when they have learned to form letters and recognise colours.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is bright, warm and welcoming. The child’s bedroom has been personalised to reflect their interests. However, the use of sanitary waste bins and paper towel dispensers distracts from the otherwise homely feel.

p.3

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

The child is settled and feels safe at the home. There have been no safeguarding concerns since the last inspection. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 4 safeguarding and benefit from a range of training that supports them to keep children safe.

p.3

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

Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective. All staff are checked before starting work. These checks reduce the potential for unsuitable adults to be employed to work at the home.

p.4

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. There are clear risk management plans in place which are individual to the child and regularly reviewed.

p.4

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged, and the child responds well to praise and encouragement from the staff.

p.4

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

Staff are caring and attentive to the child’s needs and have a good understanding of the child’s behaviour. When the child becomes upset or distressed, staff use a variety of strategies to help them with their emotions, such as reassurance and distraction. Staff use pictorial communication aids to help the child express how they feel. As a result, incidents are managed well, and the use of holds has reduced.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

This is the manager’s first role in a residential care home. He has been in post since January 2025 and is undertaking his level 5 qualification in residential childcare. The manager oversees two homes. He has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager for both homes. The manager is supported by the responsible individual.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The management team has not taken effective action to meet all of the previous shortfalls since the last inspection. For example, the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises has not been reviewed and updated to reflect the current risks in the area.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The responsible individual has written a review of the quality of care. However, this lacks analysis and evaluation, feedback from the child, their family, staff and professionals and does not include future plans. This is a missed opportunity to develop the care for children through reflection of practice and external views.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers miss training opportunities which could improve the experience of the child. For example, the member of staff who can communicate with the child in their first language knows words and phrases that the child responds positively to in times of distress, reducing the time of upset. This information has not been shared with the staff. Another example is when team meetings are held, there is no reflection on practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a lack of meaningful management scrutiny. For example, when staff have raised concerns in supervision, they have not been followed up. This has led to some staff concerns not being explored and dealt with properly, for example concerns about staffing levels being appropriately maintained. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 5 The manager does not have a suitable monitoring system in place. This prevents the manager from identifying themes and trends which could inform practice, improve the quality of care provided as well as revealing any potential safeguarding concerns.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has positively addressed a concern raised by a neighbour. This has helped secure positive local relationships.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have ensured that induction for staff is well planned and personalised. The manager has developed a reflection tool to aid learning for new staff. This is designed to encourage staff to recognise their areas of strength and development to best meet the child’s individual needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff said that they feel supported in their roles. However, staff are working long hours without regular breaks, which has impacted on staff morale. Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 6

p.5

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.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.6

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)(b)(d)(e)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that efficient monitoring and review systems are in place;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that opportunities are taken to learn from practice; 1 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 7 ensure that information is disseminated to all staff to improve the quality of care when available;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that any concerns raised by staff are addressed promptly.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)) 1 August 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5)) 1 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 8 The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

p.7

Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 1 August 2025

p.8

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: 2794664 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Jeeves Care Group Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin SG4 0TY

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kalvinder Khelie

p.9

Inspector

Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2794664 10 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.9

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 .

p.10

Inspector

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10