Children's home run by Area Camden Limited in Haringey

Inspection report for children’s home: SC473639 1 SC473639 Registered provider: Area Camden Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2014 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to 5 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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Overall experiences and progress of

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC473639 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Good 06/12/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Good 13/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC473639 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are enabled to build positive relationships with staff. They make and sustain meaningful relationships with a consistent staff team. These relationships are warm and nurturing. As a result, children feel safe and well cared for and make good progress from their starting points. Some children who have lived in the home for a long time have plans to move into semi-independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. Children who had difficulties attending their routine health appointments are now able to attend. This is due to the individual conversations with staff about the importance of regular check-ups and looking after themselves. Staff work closely with health professionals to ensure that children receive the appropriate support and specialist help when necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s identity needs are well understood. Staff ensure that children can eat food and meals that reflect their cultures. Staff recognise the value of children maintaining family relationships. Children are sensitively encouraged to spend time with their families and others who are important to them. The registered manager and staff support children and their families to overcome any difficulties in their relationships. They advocate for parents to ensure that placing authorities provide appropriate support where there are plans for children to return home. One child is due to return to their family home following positive progress made at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are highly committed to promoting children’s education. As a result, several children have re-engaged in learning after a long period of absence. When children face setbacks or are not making expected progress, staff put in significant effort to help them overcome these challenges. Staff maintain strong communication with education providers and virtual schools to advocate for children to ensure that they have access to the resources they need. Staff support children to travel to school often in taxis to encourage school attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to have their say. They are encouraged to give their views via key-work sessions, house meetings, or directly to staff, who take time to listen and act on their wishes where possible. All children say they feel listened to, and managers respond to their concerns promptly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s physical environment is safe for children. It is homely, clean, tidy, well maintained and well decorated. Children’s bedrooms and communal spaces are well furnished, personalised and comfortable. There are no health and safety concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473639 4

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

All children said they feel safe in the home. They can identify a trusted person to talk to if they have concerns. Children have good relationships with their key workers and are comfortable in the home.

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

Staff spoken to showed good understanding of whistleblowing policies and procedures. They have completed relevant training on safeguarding. Allegations or suspicions of harm are dealt with immediately and reported to the relevant agencies. This enhances children’s safety in the home.

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

Staff understand and manage children’s risks well. They have a clear and detailed understanding of children’s individual vulnerabilities and how trauma affects their behaviour. Managers and staff work closely with other agencies to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to keep children safe. Incidents in the home have significantly reduced since the last inspection.

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

The registered manager and staff work well with other professionals when children are missing from the home. The number of missing-from-home incidents has significantly reduced. Staff maintain contact with children and the relevant professionals. Children are helped to understand the risks on their return through individual sessions. Feedback from the police and placing authorities is positive about how staff manage these situations and incidents.

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

Children are helped to understand risks through individual key-work sessions. They engage well with staff and talk about what is happening in their lives. Key-work sessions take place regularly and focus on children’s individual needs and are in line with their care plans. All children said that these sessions are beneficial to them.

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

Children receive child-centred care. They are helped and supported to build positive relationships with each other. Incidents of bullying in the home are managed effectively. The home has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, and managers take prompt actions when concerns are raised and speak to all children through individual sessions and children’s meetings. All children spoken to at this inspection reported positive relationships with their peers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed by highly competent, experienced managers who are committed and passionate about providing the very best quality of care for children. They know the children exceptionally well and are strong advocates for them to ensure that their individual plans meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are inspirational and ambitious in promoting positive experiences for all children and helping them overcome any barriers to their progress. There is a strong emphasis on helping children to develop their independence skills through smart targets that are regularly reviewed. Staff celebrate children’s achievements and speak of their genuine Inspection report for children’s home: SC473639 5 desire to improve and enhance children’s life chances. They have developed creative ways of supporting children with very complex needs, and all children are settled and have made very good relationships with the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have created an open atmosphere that fosters curiosity, critical thinking and evidence-based practices. For example, leaders and managers have embedded a trauma-based theory as a model of working with children. Research- informed practice is explored and discussed at team meetings to ensure that there is a strong and confident practice base in the staff team and to help understand children’s additional needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals is very positive. They say that the staff go above and beyond to help children make good progress. Professionals say that communication with staff is very good and that this results in a shared approach to providing children with good-quality care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff morale is very high. They speak highly of the management team. They feel well supported, valued and equipped to fulfil their roles. The staff team is very stable, and staff receive regular, child-focused supervision. Supervision guides staff with a strong focus on their development. Staff have received relevant training and work well with professionals. Staff say that training is effective and helps them understand children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care provided to children and identify key themes. They respond well to feedback both internally and externally and reflect on this in regular team meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473639 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspector has 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: SC473639 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Polaris, Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC473639 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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