Children's Home run by Destiny House in Harrow

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 1 SC038906

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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 privately run and provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager has been vacant since August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Inspection date: 20 March 2024

Date of last inspection: 21 November 2023

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Inspection date: 20 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

At the last inspection, a compliance notice was served under Regulation 28 (fitness of manager) of The Children’s Homes Regulations (England) 2015. This was due to the manager failing to submit a complete application to register with Ofsted. The manager has now submitted a full application. Therefore, the compliance notice has been met.

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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: SC038906 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

Leaders and managers have responded to the outcome of the last inspection and taken actions to address the concerns raised. They have prioritised creating a safe environment with staff who have the skills and experience needed to provide good care to the child who is living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The compliance notice served at the last inspection has been met. The manager has applied to register with Ofsted and is awaiting an appointment for the interview. The manager is working towards a relevant management qualification. Leaders and managers are committed to providing good-quality care to children. However, the manager was not present during this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have decided to offer a solo placement to the child living at the home to meet their needs. They have created a stable home environment for the child and built on the progress made since the last inspection. This means that the child is protected and the environment is calm with bespoke, individualised care being provided. Managers and staff know the child very well and have high aspirations for them. They show appropriate understanding of the child’s background, which includes a significant number of moves, and are determined to provide stability so that the child can flourish.

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Findings from the inspection

The calm home environment has enabled the child to settle and make good progress with their education with support from an individual tutor. The child has access to leisure activities and opportunities to see and socialise with other children. This is a strength. Staff have carried out sensitive and thoughtful direct work that has helped the child to understand complex information about court processes as well as their identity through social stories. Staff have ensured that the child has opportunities to have their voice heard. Feedback from the social worker, virtual school and the police is overwhelmingly positive about the care provided.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have completed refurbishment of the home. All the bedrooms are now fully decorated and furnished to a good standard. The home’s physical environment is now well maintained and safe for the child. The kitchen has been painted and redecorated. However, the kitchen door is due to be replaced following recent damage. Managers recognise that there is still more to do in evidencing consistent progress in maintaining an appropriate standard of the home and to ensure that all repairs are made promptly.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a more rigorous response to incidents since the last inspection. Leaders and managers have notified relevant professionals and taken timely and appropriate action to safeguard the child. Leaders and managers have identified learning to inform staff training and practice and updated the child’s risk assessment Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 3 and care plan. Managers attend weekly meetings with the child’s placing authority and professional network to review the child’s progress. Staff demonstrate understanding of the child’s complex needs. This has significantly reduced the number of incidents occurring at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have benefited from attending a wide range of training courses, online and face to face, to meet the child’s specific needs. The training provided covers important aspects of staff practice, such as trauma- informed care, understanding autism spectrum disorder, and behaviour management. The training gives staff the knowledge and skills to help them to provide tailored support and care to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff spoke of the changes since the last inspection and the creation of a learning environment so that there are opportunities to develop their skills and confidence. As a result, staff are better able to meet the child’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work hard to manage and support the child’s behaviour. However, managers have not completed a detailed behaviour support plan to help staff focus their work on addressing the child’s presenting behaviours. Some of this information is added to the child’s risk assessment. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/05/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 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 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

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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

the child has a detailed behaviour support plan in line with their care plan and risk assessment; and

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Requirement Due date

staff understand and encourage positive behaviour. 30 April 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they provide a homely, domestic environment and continue to clean all areas of the home and carry out repairs, including repairs to the kitchen door. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 6

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Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038906 7 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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