Children's Home run by Destiny House in Harrow

Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 1 SC038906

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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 run children’s home provides care for up to 3 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in 2007. Although there is a named registered manager, they left the home several months ago and have not completed a voluntary cancellation form as required. There has been a lack of a permanent registered manager since August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 inadequate

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good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 3

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improvement to be good

The child is not living in a home environment that is adequately maintained. There are several areas that require repair; some bathroom doors are broken, there is damage to some walls and wardrobes, the living room floor needs replacing and paintwork in communal areas is poor in places. Despite some work being completed, this has not been done to an acceptable standard. The conditions of the home are an ongoing concern and have been raised at previous inspections.

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improvement to be good

The child has limited opportunities to socialise with others. As the child does not attend school, they do not see other children regularly. The child does not have an advocate. This means that there is a lack of independent people to ensure that their voice is heard and that they can share any concerns they might have or views on the quality of care they receive.

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improvement to be good

Staff have supported the child to begin to develop their life skills in line with their age and ability. As a result, the child has improved their self-care skills. They have also developed a better understanding of healthier eating options, with encouragement from staff.

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improvement to be good

The child regularly engages with a tutor in the home. This has led to the child’s reading and writing skills improving and some progress being made with educational attainment. They have also offered the child a wider scope of activities to support their learning and development.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys engaging in community activities and activities of interest, including weekly visits to a local centre to participate in football, basketball, gym sessions and cooking. This does provide some opportunities for the child to interact with other children of varying age groups and helps to improve the child’s communication skills and understanding of peer relationships.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to attend medical appointments. They advocate to ensure that the child’s medical needs are appropriately met, which has led to their prescribed medication being steadily reduced.

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improvement to be good

Staff offer praise for the child’s achievements. The child receives rewards such as small personal items and certificates.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not have clear information to guide them in managing the child’s needs or behaviour. For example, behaviour support plans and risk assessments do not include Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 4 explicit guidance to enable staff to manage and encourage positive behaviour. Leaders took this feedback on board and began to amend this guidance during the inspection. This shows their willingness to be clearer in their support for staff. However, this has been raised as an issue in previous inspections.

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improvement to be good

The child is subject to restrictions of their liberty. Measures include the use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) inside the house, which may be used if necessary but is not compulsory. Leaders have failed to regularly review this use with an aim of reducing the intrusive monitoring of the child in the home. In addition, part of the authorised use of the CCTV is to aid staff learning in practice about what might be done differently to avoid future incidents. This does not happen. As a result of the lack of regular reviews, the child’s privacy and dignity are not promoted.

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improvement to be good

Staff and leaders are not always able to manage incidents in the home. As a result, they contact the police for support or inappropriately use the police as a threat to manage behaviour. The contact with the police is not always necessary or proportionate. Incident records do not include all necessary details, including how incidents are managed or managers’ oversight. In addition, leaders were unable to show how they discuss and reflect with staff after incidents to understand how staff could develop their practice. Records of discussions with the child after incidents are inconsistent and do not show reflection or empathy for the child.

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improvement to be good

Leaders do not adhere to legal orders designed to reduce risks to children and staff. Following a police matter, conditions were put in place to protect the child and members of staff. Leaders have not ensured that these conditions are met, which puts the child at legal risk through no fault of their own. Although there has been no detrimental impact to the child so far, leaders had not considered this, or the potential impact, until it was raised during this inspection. Even then, leaders seemed to consider their actions justified despite the potential consequences for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff have the relevant training to safeguard children in relation to child protection concerns. This training is regular and is discussed among the team at points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management of the home are undermined by the lack of a permanent registered manager. Since the last inspection, a manager was appointed and registered with Ofsted, but they left the home shortly after their suitability interview. They did not work in the home once they were registered. This manager failed to inform Ofsted that they had left the home or resign their registration as required. Since then, efforts to recruit a new manager have been limited. The absence of a registered manager has resulted in the management of the home being inconsistent. The responsible individual has many tasks to maintain as they are effectively acting as the manager and the responsible individual. The newly appointed deputy manager has not been in this role for long, and it is too soon to determine their effectiveness. Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 5 Leaders’ monitoring, review and oversight of the home are inadequate. Leaders’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

oversight is not clear or effective relating to the quality of records, the child’s risk assessments and plans, the use of CCTV and surveillance, oversight of and learning from incidents and oversight of the physical environment. Leaders were not aware that some of these areas were a shortfall until this was raised during this inspection. In addition, leaders do not appear to use up-to-date research to develop and inform the care practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not always use respectful language in the child’s records. Some of the records represent staff’s conversations with the child. Leaders and managers have not challenged this sufficiently. Furthermore, some of the child’s records include verbatim accounts of conversations that leaders and managers have had with the child where they also use the same negative language. This issue has been raised at previous inspections.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not always use their given names in practice. This can cause confusion about who has updated documents, who is involved in incidents and who is accountable for practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not make good use of independent monitoring reports. They do not consistently act on the findings and recommendations from the independent person. This has resulted in shortfalls in practice and in the home not being addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have regular supervision. Discussions are mostly child centred and well documented. Some staff told inspectors that leaders and managers provide supportive advice and help them to reflect. While staff report feeling supported by leaders and managers, some staff who have recently left the home have raised some concerns about management practice. In addition, one external professional gave variable feedback about the leadership of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 17 February

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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

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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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. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must continually review the use of CCTV to minimise the impact on children’s privacy and dignity. 17 February Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 7 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

treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff and leaders use language and an approach that is child friendly and respectful, in conversation and in children’s records. 17 February

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children have access to people who are independent of the home to 17 February Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 8 ensure that their voice is independently heard, taken account of and advocated for as needed. The registered person should positively help the child to understand the value of this support and access it fully once put in place.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they provide a home that creates a warm, welcoming and child- friendly environment. Any damage or necessary repairs or refurbishment to the home must be addressed without delay. 17 February

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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. 17 February Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 9 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should have a system to ensure that they have a clear, consistent and evidential oversight of the home. This is to ensure that staff practice develops and children make at least good progress. The registered person should also make use of up-to-date research into how children’s needs can be best met and use learning from formal or informal complaints about practice in the home to develop management and practice approaches.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make good use of independent monitoring reports from the independent person and act on their findings and recommendations, and if not working in line with recommendations and findings, have a clearly recorded rationale for this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments give clear guidance to the reader about how risks will be managed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that the police are called to the home only when this is proportionate and necessary and that the potential consequences are thought through as well as any immediate concern. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40)

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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: SC038906 10

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Inspectors

Natalie Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 11 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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