Children's Home run by Hertfordshire County Council in Hertfordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 1 SC379199

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Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to 7 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 4 children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 4 November 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out and 2 children have moved in. Leaders and managers have worked hard to make improvements to the quality of care provided. Several management plans have been devised. The manager understands the children well and is able to clearly articulate their needs. Leaders and managers have focused on improving the emotional tone of the home and making children feel safer. This has enhanced the feel of the home, and children were observed to communicate with each other spontaneously, in a relaxed and familiar manner. Children included staff in these interactions, and the tone was affectionate and warm. This has improved the overall atmosphere in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers ensured that a child moved out in a thoughtful way. This transition plan took place over 4 weeks and included visits to the child once they had moved. This demonstrates to children remaining in the home that staff hold children in mind even when they have moved. A sensible transition plan was created for 2 siblings who have moved in. This provided children already in the home with time to adjust to the changes taking place.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have supported children’s health well. Previously, a child had felt consistently uncomfortable about going to the dentist. They have recently attended all their appointments, and all outstanding dental work has been completed. Staff have also taken time to thoughtfully discuss a child’s sexual health, ensuring that they have the necessary knowledge and resources to keep themselves safe. These conversations have happened in a sensitive, honest and age-appropriate manner to help the child feel more comfortable to engage.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are helping children to reduce risks. One child has not engaged in offending behaviours for 6 months. Missing incidents have also decreased for children. When children do go missing, staff take appropriate action, reporting children missing to police, trying to locate children themselves and travelling to pick children up when locations are known. This helps children to be safer. Staff also support children to take part in discussions about what might be leading to missing incidents, such as helping children to think about relationships and what aspects of relationships are safe. However, when risks quickly increase, for example when staff are aware that a child’s boyfriend is missing, it is not clear what imminent action staff take to reduce the likelihood of the child going missing, and risk assessments do not coherently contain this information.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not take appropriate action when there is a suggestion of an allegation. In one record, it is stated that a parent sent a text message saying that a child had made an allegation about staff. The staff member who recorded this in the incident report did not understand the relevance of this and has not demonstrated any Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 3 professional curiosity. They have also not reported this to the manager or an on-call manager. Managers have also not identified this comment when they have evaluated the report. This means that the content of this text message and allegation has not been explored at all. Managers have recognised that this needs to be discussed with the parent to gain clarity on what has been communicated.

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Findings from the inspection

The quality of records is variable. Key-work sessions are detailed and demonstrate a caring approach. However, daily records are not therapeutic. For example, staff write negatively about a child, saying they are ‘in a mood’. There is no description of how staff are helping the child with their emotions. For another child, staff have recorded that they did not see them at all. It is not clear how staff tried to interact with the child. This does not reflect an understanding of trauma-informed practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s daily routines are mixed. All children have clear plans in place, and the majority regularly take part in educational activities. One child attends mainstream school daily. However, one child is not in education or training. From records, it is not clear how staff are encouraging the child, and they spend a lot of time in their room. This does not promote motivation.

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Findings from the inspection

Several agency staff are used in the home. Records produced by them demonstrate a lack of knowledge about the model used in the home. They do not contribute effectively to children’s routines. This also means that communication with children is inconsistent. This means that agency staff have not had training to ensure that they can provide the quality of care required.

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Findings from the inspection

Supervisions are taking place; however, these are not always regular. There is no clear plan to ensure that supervisions are rearranged in a timely way if supervisees or supervisors are sick. For one staff member, their supervision in January was cut short because of the needs of the house. The minutes are sparse and some sections are blank. They did not have a supervision in February due to illness. This staff member has not had a complete supervision since December. This means staff are not being provided with protected space to discuss their practice and learning.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager was not physically present for the inspection; however, they were available using electronic communication methods. They are due to go on a period of extended leave. A deputy manager has recently taken up the post. There is a plan in place for management support to be provided by a senior manager or a new manager who has been recruited for another home. This ensures that there is consistent management oversight for this period. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/11/2024 Full Good 04/12/2023 Full Good 07/06/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 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 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;

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand trauma-informed, therapeutic working and that they are able to write appropriate records to demonstrate this in their practice.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children’s plans include clear instructions for staff on how best to engage children to fulfil their daily plans and arrangements. 15 May 2026

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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

that staff— 15 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 6 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are skilled at identifying safeguarding matters and that they take appropriate action.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that risk assessments include clear instructions on what staff should be aware of in order to decrease risks.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff record the imminent action they take to decrease risks.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; and

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(e)(f)) 15 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 7 Ensure that managers have effective monitoring systems to identify safeguarding matters.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure staff receive high-quality supervision, including agency staff, and that individual staff practice is discussed in these to support staff to learn and improve. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hertfordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Farnham House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage SG1 2ST

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC379199 9 and inspects to 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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