Children's home run by Action for Children Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 1 Registered provider: Action for Children Services Ltd

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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 is a short-breaks service run by a national charitable organisation. The home can care for up to six children at any one time. A total of 23 children currently access the service. The children’s needs range from moderate to severe learning disabilities, with associated physical, health and sensory impairment and/or complex multiple needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There were six children staying in the home at different times during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be 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: 23 September 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: 2786407 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/09/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff focus on establishing trusting and positive relationships with children and understanding their individual needs. For example, one child overcame initial challenges related to ethnic biases, influenced by their past trauma. The staff have worked sensitively with them, ensuring that the child is able to develop positive relationships with others.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children first arrive at the home, they are able to choose their bedroom. Staff carefully match the groups of children staying at any one time and take children’s friendships into account when planning their stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a wide range of access to social, educational and recreational activities. The use of grid communication cards at the local shop is a notable example of fostering community engagement and helping children to feel safe and included in their local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use various communication methods to obtain children’s views before an activity is arranged, and to ensure that they understand what is going to happen. For example, before a child is taken out to the local park, a social story is used to explain to the child where they are going and the route that they are going to take. This careful consideration helps the child to remain calm and to feel safe to go out with staff and enjoy the activity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop independence by accessing the kitchen area to prepare food and drinks and by participating in daily routines, such as making their beds. This support builds self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Children’s meals are planned to meet their nutritional needs and personal preferences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children with lifelong health conditions receive specialised support. Staff seek external training from nurses and occupational therapists to ensure that safe and appropriate practice is maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise the well-being of individual children’s needs, and this is confirmed by feedback from parents and professionals. Communication with parents is maintained through diaries, phone calls and emails, providing reassurance about their children’s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements are recognised and shared with parents to foster a sense of pride and accomplishment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 4

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improvement to be good

Children feel supported and protected from harm when they spend time at the home. One child said: ‘Grown-ups give us a lot of attention.’

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improvement to be good

Staff consistently promote positive behaviour. When undertaking personal care, staff are proactive in listening and responding sensitively to both verbal and non-verbal children, ensuring that their needs are understood and met and that any distress is minimised. For example, one child can be calmed and reassured by singing their favourite song to them.

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improvement to be good

Managers use a standard risk assessment for children which looks at their medical, sensory and language needs. However, these assessments lack the necessary individualisation, particularly regarding the use of restrictive practice.

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improvement to be good

Some children are using specialised beds, and closed-circuit (CCTV) cameras and listening devices are being used to monitor children during the night. Managers have not reviewed their use in line with the child’s rights and dignity and are not considering the individual impact of restrictive practice on each child. For some children, they are using restrictive practice with the intent of ensuring the child’s safety. However, managers have not developed a personalised risk assessment and care plan in collaboration with external agencies.

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

Since the new manager has been appointed, significant efforts have been made to train the staff and to change the home’s culture and dynamics. The manager has set aspirational goals and high expectations for staff to deliver high-quality care to children. Additional staff are being appointed to strengthen the management of the home and to provide support with regard to care planning and risk assessments. The requirement and recommendation from the previous inspection have been met.

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

Staff are working proactively with the children, encouraging increased communication and engagement. Newly appointed staff have benefited from comprehensive induction and training programmes designed to ensure high-quality care.

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

The manager demonstrates a clear understanding of the team’s strengths and weaknesses and has initiated plans to address key areas of concern. While some improvements in practice have been noted, the use of restrictive measures, including safe beds, CCTV and listening devices, has not been rigorously reviewed or challenged. Appropriate policies are not in place regarding the review and updating of individual risk assessments so that reliance on restrictive practices can be minimised.

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

Children are not informed or aware that restrictive practices are in place as safeguarding measures. Staff and managers have not demonstrated sufficient curiosity or proactivity Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 5 in considering whether current practices align with children’s health, social and emotional needs.

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

Children’s care plans and risk assessments are not consistently reviewed or updated with accurate, timely information following each visit. This gap compromises staff’s ability to remain fully informed and confident in meeting each child’s individual needs, while maintaining children’s safety. Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h)) 20 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. 20 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 7 (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 24 (1)(c)(d)) 20 September 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(vi)(b)) 20 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 8  The registered person should ensure that all restrictions of liberty of movement are recorded as restraint. Some children, perhaps due to impairment or disability, may not offer any resistance, but such measures should still constitute a restraint. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.42)  The registered person should ensure that staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child’s needs and developmental stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a

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Recommendations

particular course of action. Staff should discuss the decision with the child’s placing authority where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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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: 2786407 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Inspector

Shaheda Dhandia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2786407 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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