Children's Home run by MacIntyre Care in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 1 Registered provider: MacIntyre Care

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

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: The home was judged inadequate at the last inspection in March 2025. At this inspection, three compliance notices were served in relation to how well children are helped and protected, the leadership and management of the home and the environment. On 19 May 2025, Ofsted identified that sufficient action to address the steps outlined in all compliance notices had been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 2

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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: 2510323 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. Inspectors spent time with all children. This included individual discussions and participation in children’s group activities and daily routines.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers are overseeing improvements in relation to addressing the shortfalls identified at the full inspection in March 2025. Despite some improvements, poor individual staff practices and weaknesses identified in the leadership and management of the home mean that children are not yet receiving good help and protection. Despite these shortfalls, children benefit from structured routines and positive relationships with staff.

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improvement to be good

Most children work towards achievable targets that help them to gain independence and important life skills. However, the monitoring of these targets needs to be improved. Some of these children’s targeted work is outdated and not matched to their current abilities.

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improvement to be good

Staff regularly review children’s placement plans. Children’s daily routines, preferences and health needs are considered. However, plans that aim to be adapted for children’s use are not always compiled in a manner that meets their communication preferences.

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improvement to be good

The home is generally well decorated and furnished. Bedrooms are personalised in accordance with children’s preferences. Leaders and managers ensure that there are regular maintenance routines in place so that the home remains in an appropriate decorative condition. However, the temperature in the upstairs communal area is extremely hot. This can cause children and staff discomfort if this issue is not resolved.

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improvement to be good

Children’s relationships with their families are prioritised. Staff ensure that children maintain connections with their families through regular support and well-planned visits. Parents are unanimously positive about the effectiveness of communication levels with staff and the quality of care provided at the home.

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improvement to be good

All children are engaging well in their education and have high attendance at schools. Staff ensure that children are well prepared for their school day. Staff work collaboratively with school staff to reduce any barriers to children’s learning.

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improvement to be good

Children are helped to stay active. Staff provide a wide range of activities that reflect children’s interests. This includes yoga, drama and regular swimming sessions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 4

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improvement to be good

Staff have not followed agreed risk reduction strategies for children on three occasions. This includes failing to monitor children in accordance with their epilepsy safety plans. Leaders and managers have appropriately responded to each incident by implementing necessary safeguarding procedures. However, staff’s repeated failure to follow children’s safety plans places children at increased risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Several staff administered out-of-date medication to a child. This was for a considerable timeframe before leaders and managers identified this concern. Leaders and managers have taken suitable action including improving medication auditing systems, retraining staff and reassessing staff competency. However, new auditing measures are in their early stages and leaders and managers’ previous monitoring systems in overseeing the safe administration of medication were not effective.

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improvement to be good

Safe recruitment procedures for permanent staff are now suitable. However, leaders and managers have not ensured that recruitment records for agency staff provide assurances that all the required information is checked. This does not reduce the potential for inappropriate people to gain employment at the home.

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improvement to be good

There are processes to record bruising and marks for children. Most of these records are promptly monitored and explored by leaders and managers. However, on one occasion, leaders and managers’ recorded analysis was delayed when a scratch mark was documented for a child with an unknown cause. No harm was identified in relation to the child on this occasion. However, delays in leaders and managers’ oversight reduce safeguards for children.

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improvement to be good

Staff use proactive behaviour management strategies to reduce situations that can increase children’s anxiety. Staff have knowledge of potential triggers and combine this with consistent de-escalation approaches. Consequently, incidents where children are finding it difficult to manage their emotions are minimised. Since the last inspection, there has been no need for staff to use physical interventions.

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improvement to be good

Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities in relation to whistle-blowing procedures and have a good awareness of the children’s additional vulnerabilities. Leaders and managers have recently ensured that all staff training in safeguarding practice has been refreshed.

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

The registered manager is qualified, experienced and has appropriate knowledge of the children’s needs. The manager is supported by the responsible individual and a team of senior support workers. Overall, leaders and managers have made measurable improvements in relation to previously identified shortfalls. As a result, there are no longer serious concerns about the leadership and management of the home. Leaders Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 5 and managers are aware that some weaknesses remain and have plans in place to address these.

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

Not all permanent staff receive regular and formal supervisory support from leaders and managers. Frequently used agency staff do not have opportunities to receive reflective supervision. Furthermore, some staff have not received their annual appraisal within the required timeframe. This does not ensure that all staff receive the support they should have to reflect on their professional development and the children’s experiences.

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

Leaders and manager’s six-monthly review of the quality of care does not consider and evaluate the views of staff, parents or professionals. The lack of stakeholder consultation can limit the scope of leaders and manager’s understanding of the strengths and developmental areas for the home.

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

Regular staff meetings are well attended and support a unified approach to care. Staff receive suitably planned training that equips them with the skills they need to meet the children’s individual needs.

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

Leaders and managers recently advocated for a child to make a complaint about a recent incident. This concern was thoroughly investigated. The outcome was shared with the child using a social story to support their understanding of the action taken.

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

One social worker provided positive feedback about the success of joint working with leaders, managers and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 6

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that all staff, including agency 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.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 29 August 2025

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)) 29 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 7 The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers’ internal monitoring systems must be strong enough to identify shortfalls in staff’s medication administration practice without delay. 29 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 29 August 2025

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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—

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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.

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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 (2)(b) (5)) 29 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a nurturing and homely environment. Specifically, they should consider further actions to reduce hot temperatures in children’s upstairs communal areas. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff skills for safeguarding enable them to identify signs that children may be at risk. Specifically, they should ensure that all incidents of identified marking without probable cause for children are promptly monitored and explored. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)  The registered person should develop a culture of high aspiration for children that is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to the children. Children’s targets should be reviewed to match their current abilities, and symbols

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 8 should be selected carefully in children’s accessible plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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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: 2510323 9

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jennifer Marshall

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Inspectors

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Sally Sinclair, His Majesty’s Inspector, Social Care Inspection report for children’s home: 2510323 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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