Children's home run by Action for Children Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 1 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a charitable organisation on behalf of a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short breaks for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The home provides care for up to 6 children at any one time. Some children may live in the home for short periods until a suitable home is found.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2020. The manager registered in October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 24 children were being supported by the service. The inspector interacted with one child who was staying overnight and spoke with their parent. The inspector also spoke with the parents of 2 other children.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Good 27/02/2024 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 07/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy their planned short breaks in a welcoming and supportive environment. Staff know the children well and understand their individual needs, preferences and communication styles. The children respond positively to the consistent routines and nurturing care provided by staff. The child seen at the inspection appeared comfortable and settled during their stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with a range of enjoyable activities that reflect their interests and abilities. These include activities within the home, as well as outings in the local community. Staff encourage children to participate in activities that promote social interaction, enjoyment and independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents speak positively about the home and the support that this provides to their families. They report that improvements have been made to ensure that the booking system is effective. Staff communicate well to ensure that parents are informed about their child’s experiences during their stay. Managers are committed to adapting the level of communication to meet different parents’ preferences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood and supported by staff who follow detailed care plans. However, for one child with physical limitations, the moving and handling care plan has not been reviewed by a qualified health professional to ensure that guidance remains appropriate and that staff are supported to assist the child safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is comfortable and suitable for the children who stay at the home. However, some maintenance issues have not always been addressed promptly. For example, an electrically operated gate has not been repaired effectively over a prolonged period. While staff action reduces the risk of this having a direct impact on children’s safety, timely repairs would further reduce the risk of children running off to a busy road nearby.

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

Children are cared for by staff who understand their vulnerabilities and are committed to keeping them safe. Staff receive safeguarding training and demonstrate a clear understanding of their responsibilities to recognise and report concerns.

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

Risk assessments identify potential risks and outline strategies for staff to reduce these risks. These are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain relevant to children’s needs.

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

Staff manage behaviour in a calm and supportive manner. They use strategies that are consistent with children’s individual behaviour and support plans. This helps the children to feel safe and supported. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 4 Leaders and managers review incidents and take action when required to ensure that children are protected. Leaders and managers ensure that learning is shared with staff through reflective discussions during team meetings. This helps to improve staff practice and, as a consequence, children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a committed registered manager who is passionate about providing positive experiences for children and their families. Some staff have worked in the home for a long time, providing stability and consistent care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers promote a positive culture where children’s needs are a priority. Staff demonstrate strong teamwork and a shared commitment to delivering good quality care. The registered manager and staff express pride in children’s progress, as well as a sense of loss when children get older and move on to adult services.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are monitoring systems to review the quality of care provided. This includes managers regularly reviewing records, and they seek feedback from children, staff, parents and external professionals. However, the reports of the six-monthly quality of care reviews have not always been sent to the regulator within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they feel well supported by managers and benefit from regular supervision, training and team meetings. These activities provide them with effective support relevant to their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well with children’s parents and other professionals. This helps them to plan individual and nurturing care for the children. One parent described communication with the staff as ‘fantastic’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the report of the quality of care review set out in regulation 45 is sent to the regulator within 28 days of the review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.3)  The registered person should ensure that, in order for the home to be a nurturing, safe and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children, repairs should be carried out quickly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that each child’s day to day health and well- being needs are met. In particular, managers should seek guidance of relevant health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are safely and effectively met. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)

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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: 2590824 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Thobekile Bandama, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2590824 7 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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