Children's home run by Sequel Support Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2634911 1 Registered provider: Sequel Support Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home can provide care for up to three children with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, there were three children living in the home. The inspector spent time with all the children during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2021. She is also the registered manager for another home operated by the provider.

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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: 21 October 2024

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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: 2634911 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/10/2024 Full Good 23/05/2023 Full Good 22/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2634911 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children enjoy living in the home. Their wishes and views are considered in a variety of ways. They are offered daily choices about who is supporting them and what activities they would like to do. The children have access to a wide variety of activities, including trips to the beach and swimming pools and going to the park. They also enjoy activities in the home, such as arts and crafts and baking, and spending time with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are being supported to develop their communication skills. Staff have strong links with the children’s schools. They ensure that they have regular conversations with education staff so that they can mirror and replicate the communication strategies used at school. Staff have undertaken training in using specialist communication equipment and methods to help them communicate with the children. Children’s plans incorporate information from a variety of sources, including their education, health and care plans and speech and language assessments, so that the staff have a thorough understanding of how the children communicate and how to help them make progress. This cohesive approach means that the children have made good progress with their communication. One child has started to use sentences when previously they were nonverbal. Another has been able to make choices using her communication buttons, which the home purchased for her.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a bright and welcoming environment for the children. The decor reflects their personalities and tastes. The home has been furnished and laid out to consider the needs of the children. This includes a calming sensory room that the children choose to spend time in. The bathrooms need updating and the manager has plans in place to address this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children all attend school regularly. Achievements are celebrated with the children and staff tell the children that they are proud of them. Staff help the children to spend time with the people who are important to them. One parent says the staff understand the nuances of his child’s communication and he has seen her make significant progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the children’s complex health needs. Children are supported to attend all appointments. Staff have conversations with the children about healthy choices and encourage them to try new things. This has helped one child to expand the range of foods they are comfortable eating. However, it Is not always clear that recommendations from health professionals are acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Routines are reviewed regularly to ensure they meet the children’s needs. If there is a change, children are prepared well beforehand. Having clear routines means the children know what is expected of them and this helps them to feel safe. The children have trusting relationships with the staff, who are attuned to their needs.

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

Inspection report for children's home: 2634911 4 There has only been one incident of a child going missing from the home. Staff acted quickly to find the child and help them to return safely. The manager completed a review into this incident and used the learning to reduce the likelihood of a similar incident happening again.

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

The children’s needs are well understood and staff are aware of the children’s vulnerabilities. The use of door alarms is regularly reviewed in partnership with children’s families and their professional network. The home actively considers how to allow the children freedom of movement and offer them meaningful choices while maintaining their safety.

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

The home uses behaviour support strategies which ensure children have time to think about what is happening for them. Staff understand what is in the children’s plans, which are regularly reviewed and updated to help guide the staff to provide care in line with the children’s need. The staff have the skills and understanding to support the children when they are upset. Staff use the child’s preferred communication methods to successfully support children avoiding the need to use any physical interventions since the previous inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and confident. She has a clear vision for the home and is committed about the children feeling they are in a home environment. She is achieving this through ensuring the children have a voice and can communicate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures the staff feel supported and empowered. This is achieved through twice-monthly team meetings where staff feel confident to offer suggestions, which are then acted on to improve children’s experiences. Regular team meetings ensure consistency of care for the children, and safeguarding is discussed openly and regularly. Staff say that they enjoy working in the home. They feel that the management team is supportive and cares about both the staff team and the children. The staff say that the manager is an effective role model.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is provided in line with the statement of purpose. Supplementary in-house training is offered regularly to ensure staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Specialist training is also given to support the unique needs of individual children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good working relationships with partner agencies, who appreciate the regular communication and timely responses to queries.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home provides a warm, nurturing and child-focused environment where children with complex needs are making meaningful progress. The staff are dedicated and well trained, and leadership is proactive and reflective. Inspection report for children's home: 2634911 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that recommendations from health professionals are acted on as directed. 15 August 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2634911 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of their children, and that it is a homely environment. In particular, ensure that the bathrooms are updated and any mould is removed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2634911 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 264 High Road, Harrow HA3 7BB

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Inspector

Sally Shakespeare, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2634911 8 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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