Children's Home run by N H Care Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC467264 Inspector Andrew Hewston Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person N H Care Limited Registered person address 3 Shetland Close BIRMINGHAM B16 0RF

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Responsible individual Rikesh Asthana Registered manager POST VACANT / Carol Harper Date of last inspection 19/02/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 07/05/2014

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

The judgement at the last full inspection in February 2014 was adequate. Since this time the home has failed to respond to the majority of the requirements and recommendations made at the full inspection and additional areas of concern have been highlighted at this inspection. This means that the quality of care has not been maintained, and outcomes for young people have declined.

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This inspection

There have been delays in completing notifications to Ofsted and other bodies about incidents which have occurred within the home. Some information relating to a serious event took three weeks to be received by Ofsted, and additional information received at the inspection required immediate notification action to be taken. The lack of timely responses to incidents could affect the level of support made available for young people and decrease positive outcomes for them. One of the incident reports highlighted that security of the home was compromised by the lack of a sufficiently lockable front door, which continued to be the case six weeks after the report. This lack of security from unauthorised access to the home puts the safety of young people at risk.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection the home continues to experiences changes within the staff team. Although with the support of agency staff there are sufficient staff within the home, full time staff have not received the full range of necessary training as recommended at the last inspection. Young people are therefore not being cared for by staff fully able to respond to their needs. As recommended at the last inspection, recruitment information shows that basic checks are completed although these are not sufficiently robust to assess the recruitment system as being 'good'. The lack of full and comprehensive recruitment practices could put the safety and welfare of young people at risk.

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This inspection

The staff team has raised the importance of education within the home for young 3 of 6 people, as recommended at the last inspection. This has led to the majority of young people regularly attending education. The manager is working with educational providers and young people's social workers to ensure that all young people are receiving an acceptable level of education. Information relating to education is fully recorded and supports young people's development.

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This inspection

Records relating to young people's medication are poor, with a number of gaps where staff have not recorded if medication has been administered. There is a lack of clarity within young people's files relating to their medication. Weekly records are not consistently correct with regard to the administration of medication and consequently do not support young people's health or wellbeing. The lack of placement plans for the majority of young people further decreases the ability of staff to offer appropriate level of care to young people. Staff are aware of the differing needs of the young people, although this requires more formalised planning to ensure the care provided is consistent throughout the staff team. This was a recommendation at the last inspection and has not been met.

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This inspection

Young people state that they are well supported by the staff and that they have developed while being there. One young person has developed in his confidence and ability to discuss his placement and future plans. However, the home has failed to move forwards with the delivery of independence skills training and this does not sufficiently help young people to prepare for life after being at the home. This recommendation from the last inspection has therefore not been met. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home can accommodate up to four young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/02/2014 Full adequate 20/12/2013 Full inadequate

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30(1)) 13/06/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the children's home used by children are secure from unauthorised access (Regulation 31(2)(b)) 18/07/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate training (Regulation 27(4)(a)) 18/07/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to make proper provision for the care, education, supervision and, where appropriate, treatment, of children accommodated there, relating to independence skills training (Regulation 11(1)(b)) 18/07/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

12A (2001) ensure the registered person co-operates with the child's placing authority in agreeing and signing the plan for the child's placement (Regulation 12A(1)) 18/07/2014 5 of 6 (2001) ensure the registered person shall make suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children's home. (Regulation 21(1)) 18/07/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the registered person can demonstrate, including from written and electronic records, that it consistently follows good recruitment practice. (NMS 16.2) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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