Children's home run by Raise House Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2592361 1 Registered provider: Raise House Limited

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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 privately owned home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has appointed a responsible individual who has been in post for a number of months. Ofsted is checking whether this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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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: 28 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: 2592361 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/10/2024 Full Good 11/03/2024 Full Good 24/05/2022 Full Good 05/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2592361 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

From the moment a child moves into the home, they begin to make progress across various areas of their lives. For example, they make improvements in their self-esteem, having increased confidence in speaking with staff and participating in shared mealtimes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individualised care plans that are detailed and are aligned with their local authority care plans. This demonstrates a joined-up approach to supporting children’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from parents and professionals is positive and highlights good practice in information-sharing, with clear communication playing a key role in supporting children and their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to have fun and participate in a range of activities. These include cooking meals together, having their hair done and engaging in community- based outings, such as visiting theme parks and go-karting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children report that they trust the staff, feel cared for and are confident in raising any concerns or worries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some areas of the home require attention to create a more comfortable and cosier environment that encourages children to spend time in communal spaces.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported in spending time with their families, including help with arranging family visits, activities and transport.

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

Risk assessments are up to date and reflect the children’s care plans. When serious incidents occur, the risk assessments are updated to help staff understand how to support the children and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents by mitigating the risks.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff follow clear procedures. Records accurately document the details, including the length of time the child is missing. Staff work with a range of agencies to ensure that a multi-agency approach is used to reduce the risk of children going missing from the home. Staff spend time talking with children to help them understand the risks and to recognise their own vulnerabilities when they are in the community.

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

Staff attend a variety of safeguarding training courses, including those focused on the awareness of self-harm and radicalisation. They also receive specialist training to support children’s specific needs. Staff use an empathetic and therapeutic approach when supporting children. Inspection report for children's home: 2592361 4 There is a stable staff team at the home and a consistent approach to managing behaviour. When children struggle to manage their emotions, staff take a proportionate approach, including the use of restorative-related consequences.

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

Staff advocate and escalate concerns when there are delays in children accessing other services. This child-centred approach ensures that children can access additional support services.

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

Managers have not always fulfilled the statutory duty to report notifications accurately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are ambitious for the children. They show a real sense of care, and this was observed throughout the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection in October 2024, leaders and managers have continued to provide consistent and effective care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the children’s needs. They can explain plans for the children in detail, demonstrating reflective insight into each child’s individual circumstances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals. However, these sessions do not provide sufficient critical analysis regarding staff’s learning and development. This results in missed opportunities for staff to grow and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are in place. The manager has oversight of the standards of care in the home and makes sure that these align with the children’s individualised care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have completed work to grow and develop the service and have a good insight into the strengths and weaknesses of themselves and the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The workforce development plan provides an evaluation of the staffing and how leaders and managers will oversee the service. However, some information is missing from the plan. For example, the plan does not have sufficient details regarding the experience and qualifications of staff and any training they have received.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When children’s plans are not progressing, the manager challenges other agencies and holds them accountable. This ensures that children are at the centre of decisions. Inspection report for children's home: 2592361 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. 2 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2592361 6 (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they inform Ofsted of the full details of all serious incidents that have occurred in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive high-quality supervision that helps them understand their practice and how it supports them in caring for children. 2 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(ii)(iii)(c)(i)(ii)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children are supported to live in an environment that is suitable and meets their needs. 2 December 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2592361 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that can fulfil the workforce- related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1. The plan should include details of the staffing structure and the experience and qualifications of any training completed by staff to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose. There should be agreed timescales for staff to achieve their induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page, paragraph10.8)

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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: 2592361 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Raise House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Riverdale House, 21A High Street, Wheathampstead, St. Albans AL4 8BB

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Inspector

Helen Daniel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2592361 9 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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