Children's Home run by London Borough of Hounslow in Hounslow

Inspection report for children’s home: SC062128 1 SC062128 Registered provider: London Borough of Hounslow

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to six children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in November 2004. The manager registered in January 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, five children were living in 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: SC062128 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2024 Full Good 16/05/2023 Full Good 10/08/2022 Full Good 21/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC062128 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s well-being, development and relationships are at the heart of the home’s ethos. Staff build warm, meaningful relationships, fostering trust and emotional security, which enables children to make significant progress across all areas of their lives. Children speak positively about the care they receive, expressing that they feel safe and supported in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently been refurbished, providing a welcoming and spacious environment for children. Bedrooms are decorated according to each child’s personal preferences, helping them feel a sense of belonging and comfort. Children actively participate in decisions about the home, activities and meals through regular residents’ meetings, as well as through key-work sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions are tailored to each child’s individual needs, supporting them in understanding their emotions and responses to stress. However, many care plans and key-work records are written in a formal tone that does not fully reflect the warm, supportive relationships between staff and children. This makes these records less suitable for sharing directly with the children, both now and in the future when they may wish to access their files.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to understand their cultural history and ethnicity, and they are actively encouraged to practise their religion. The home celebrates a variety of religious events and occasions, including Ramadan, Eid, Christmas, Easter and Hindu festivals. This helps to ensure that children’s cultural and spiritual needs are recognised and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for the children and work diligently to help them reach their full potential. Many children arrive having missed significant periods of education, but all are now engaged in learning that is tailored to their individual needs. Tutors are routinely provided through the virtual school for those not attending school or college. Children not in full-time education also benefit from enrichment activities and alternative learning opportunities that support their engagement and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to lead healthy lives. Staff meet their health needs to a high standard, ensuring access to a range of professionals who address both physical and emotional well-being. Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure that children receive the healthcare they need in a timely manner.

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

Children feel safe in the home and can identify a trusted person to talk to if they have concerns. The warmth and confidence of the staff help children feel secure, knowing they can approach staff about anything that worries them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC062128 4 Risks to children are well understood by staff. Incidents, both inside and outside the home, have gradually decreased as staff have built relationships with children. These relationships help staff understand the children, identify trigger points and de- escalate situations before they become serious. When incidents do occur, sometimes emergency services are required. Physical intervention is always proportionate and appropriate, followed by a debrief for both the child and the staff involved.

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

There has been a decrease in children going missing from home. However, the home’s missing policy is not always followed. Children are often classified as absent without authorisation, even when their whereabouts are unknown.

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

Staff understand whistle-blowing procedures.

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

Safer recruitment practices are thorough. This ensures that only suitable people are employed to work with children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have high aspirations for the children living in the home. They know the children well and have a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Leaders and managers demonstrate an ambitious vision, set high expectations for children’s care and ensure that high standards of individualised support are maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from a strong and stable leadership team, supported by a committed staff group, many of whom have worked at the home for over 10 years. Staff report feeling supported by their managers and believe the training they receive equips them to care for children who have experienced trauma due to adverse childhood experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive regular individual supervision sessions, attend weekly team meetings and take part in a monthly reflective practice session facilitated by a clinical psychologist. However, records are too brief and lack evidence of curiosity or reflective thinking.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent visitor has known the home for many years and their monthly reports are detailed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from children, parents and professionals is positive and highlights the significant progress made by children who have experienced disruption and trauma in their earlier lives. Inspection report for children’s home: SC062128 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). In particular, that they receive practice-related supervision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission and how staff should support the child on return to the home. In particular, the registered person should ensure that children are only recorded as having unauthorised absence when their whereabouts are known and where staff and/or another professional have seen the child at the address and determined that this is safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual

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Recommendations

children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC062128 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Borough of Hounslow

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB

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Inspector

Jenny-Ellen Scotland, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC062128 7 and inspects 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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