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

Unique reference number SC467264 Inspector Andrew Hewston Type of inspection Full 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 / Paul Sweeney Date of last inspection 07/05/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 15/01/2015

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Previous inspection declined in effectiveness Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe adequate Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

The home has made some developments since it's last inspection, however leadership and management and safeguarding are judged as adequate. There are concerns relating to staffing. The manager is currently going through the process of registration, but there is a need for sufficiently robust recruitment systems, increased training and staff to complete their probationary periods before the staff team are working fully in line with expected regulations. Records relating to young people have developed but need to have an increased clarity regarding contact to ensure that staff work consistently in line with young people's plans.

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Overall effectiveness

The staff team work very well with the young people and subsequently relationships are positive. Young people enjoy being with staff and are positive about their key workers and life at the home. Young people are listened to and their views responded to. Staff have a high awareness of the needs of young people and work well to develop positive outcomes for them.

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Overall effectiveness

Young peoples health, education arrangements and independence skills have improved since the last inspection. Young people are also confident and able to discuss on-going issues in their lives and how the home is helping to respond to these. Placement planning is detailed and young people enjoy a range of activities that promote healthy living. 3 of 11 Behaviour management is well structured and incidents are well recorded. Safeguarding issues are responded to swiftly and records are clear. These aspects support the safety of young people. Staffs response to previous requirements further supports the safety of the young people as aspects such as the physical safety of the building has improved and the arrangements for medication. The staff have shown a commitment to moving forwards with the care provision and a development is in place to improve the home further.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are positive about working at the home, stating that they are well supported and that they are guided well by the manager. 4 of 11

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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

07/05/2014 Interim declined in effectiveness 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 that all persons receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal (Regulation 27.4) 21/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure full and satisfactory information is available in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2 (Regulation 26.3) 21/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation (Regulation 24.5) 21/02/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): 5 of 11  ensure staff members who are placed in charge of the home and other staff at particular times (e.g. as leaders of staff shifts) have substantial relevant experience of working in the home and have successfully completed their induction and probationary periods (NMS 17.5)  ensure staff understand what decisions about contact are delegated to them, in line with the child’s care and placement plans (NMS 9.7) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have made some significant developments since being at the home. Young people have made positive relationships with staff members and they are now more aware of their care circumstances and the plans that are in place for their future.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have good access to a range of health professionals to meet their emotional and physical needs. They receive support from staff to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Links are in place with a range of external health support providers and this has enabled young people to confront specific behaviours as well as increasing their self- help skills. One external support worker stated that the young person ' has developed well and is a lot more settled…he has come a long way in a short period.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have increased in their involvement with activities at the home. Staff are enthusiastic about working with the young people and this has resulted in an increase in regular activities and also trips out. Both young people are positive about a holiday away.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All young people in the home are now attending education on a regular basis following a period of poor involvement with any learning. They are able to discuss how they enjoy their provisions due to these being tailored to their interests and needs. A youth offending team worker stated that, 'the home has been fantastic with supporting his education and also helping with his reparation.' There has also been a significant decrease in young people’s involvement with the police and negative behaviours outside the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Contact arrangements have developed for young people and a recent birthday party at the home ensured that they were able to see relatives come together in a positive way. Contact has become more regular and young people are able to understand their own histories due to their involvement with their families. This will help to support their transition from the home as they become more independent. Some clarity regarding agreed contact arrangements is necessary within placement planning.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

An independence package is in place and young people work through a series of themes, increasing their awareness of life outside the home in preparation for the future.

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Quality of care good

7 of 11 Young people experience what it is like to be in relationships with adults who show them they care about their welfare by being consistently available to them. Staff work with young people to help them understand how decisions they make can affect their day to day lives. Young people are encouraged to think about their relationships with people that they may feel are safe whereas others may have concerns. This builds trust between young people and staff and encourages young people to reflect on the choices available to them. Young people are positive about their key workers, and meetings between them are regular with detailed recordings. This ensures that their voice is listened to and considered within meetings with professionals.

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Quality of care good

Complaints are responded to well, and young people are aware of how to make complaints. Complaints form part of young people's meetings and information is within the home regarding who they can talk to if they are unhappy. One incident regarding a complaint from a neighbour was responded to appropriately by the home, with young people also writing letters of apology. This was not recorded as a complaint however and did not form part of on-going monitoring of complaints. A complaints log relating to the period when the previous manager was in post is not available and therefore full assessment of previous complaints is not possible.

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Quality of care good

Placement planning for young people is completed well, with detailed information regarding how specified needs are to be met. Staff have a good awareness of the way that they are to work with young people and an additional twenty four hour management plan gives detailed information to new or agency staff relating to how to work with the young people on a day to day basis. Young people are aware of their plans and have been involved with reviews, either through attendance or discussions with independent reviewing officers prior to the meeting.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s health is good and their needs are reviewed regularly. Young people live in a healthy environment where their physical, emotional and psychological health is promoted. They are able to access services, including health agencies and specialised services, to meet their health needs. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their health and lifestyle choices. The manager ensures that medication administration is completed appropriately and regular audits are completed to make sure that young people are receiving the correct medication.

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Quality of care good

Young people are involved with a range of activities including those that promote a healthy lifestyle including recruitment at a local cadet unit. Young people state that 'we get to go out and do things when we want to, like the cinema and go karting.' Staff encourage young people with leisure activities. This means young people know there are opportunities for hobbies and other interests. The support offered to young people can improve their willingness to try new experiences.

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Quality of care good

All young people attend educational placements. They are enthusiastic about what they are learning there and the future possibilities of jobs. Records regarding education include personal education plans and information regarding their progression and successes. The home displays a range of certificates that young 8 of 11 people have achieved. This further supports a promotion of achievement through education.

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Quality of care good

The home is well cared for and necessary repairs are responded to swiftly. Young people are proud of their rooms and able to discuss changes that they would like to make in the future with décor. Communal areas are comfortable although the plastic screen in front of the television reminds the young people of a more troubled period in the homes history.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Recruitment information is available within the home and a range of checks prior to staff starting at the home. Insufficient checks have been completed on staff's previous employment histories however and this could put young people's safety at risk.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff have access to clear information, support, guidance and advice about child protection and safeguarding requirements. Staff understand their responsibility to protect young people and are able to discuss what actions they would take to keep young people safe. Safeguarding incidents that have occurred are fully recorded, with a detailed chronology of the response of the home and the involvement of external professionals including social workers and the Looked After Designated Officer. Records show that the manager has responded appropriately to concerns and supported the safety of the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff work with young people to improve their safety, they talk to young people formally and informally about keeping themselves safe and the risks around alcohol, drugs, sex and e-safety. As a consequence, young people are increasing their knowledge and maturity in reducing these risks.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people have been reported missing from the home. This has decreased over the previous 6 months. The home has established good protocols and reporting systems with the local police and with the local safeguarding board. Young people confirmed that they are actively discouraged from having unauthorised absences. Good individualised risk assessments show the vulnerability of young people and they are reviewed frequently. When absences occur they are fully recorded and young people are talked to about the reasons for their absence in an attempt to decrease further future instances and support their safety.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Behaviour management systems are appropriate and incidents of restraint are low. Staff use a range of de-escalation techniques to decrease the need to hold young people. All staff receive training in the use of restraint prior to starting at the home to support both their own and the young people's safety. The staff use sanctions and rewards well in response to differing behaviours. Recordings of all behaviour management strategies are fully completed and monitored by the manager to ensure 9 of 11 that they are fair and respond to the needs of the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff carry out regular health and safety checks of the premises and obtain certifications for gas, electrical and fire safety checks. Regular fire drills ensure young people and staff know how to evacuate the building safely. This supports the safety of both young people and staff.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home has been without a registered manager for approximately 9 months. During this time the home has had an experienced manager in post at all times. Issues with the registration of the manager has been hampered by a range of difficulties including sickness, failure to provide necessary documentation and poor responses to references. The current manager is in the final processes of registration.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff are positive about the management of the home, stating that they are fully supported and receive regular supervision to develop their role. Staff are enthusiastic about working at the home and developing a quality service for the young people. The majority of the staff team have been recruited since the last inspection and therefore are developing their awareness of the home's policies and procedures. This lack of experience means that on some shifts there have been no staff that have completed their probationary period at the home, this could affect their ability to offer appropriate care to young people. In response to this there is an on-call system for staff to be advised by other managers within the organisation. Staff meetings take place regularly and used to discuss both the development of the young people but also issues regarding the running of the home and improving the knowledge of

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff speak highly regarding the induction process and the level of training that they have received. New staff undertake the relevant training which meets the standards set by the Children's Workforce Development Council. Not all staff have completed training in safeguarding and food hygiene although this is planned for shortly after the inspection. This could affect the safety of young people if not completed.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose and young person's guide are shared with young people, their families and placing authorities. These are well written and provide a clear picture of the home's aims and objectives. This means placing authorities, young people and their families are well aware of the care and support young people can expect to receive

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager and staff are aware of the diverse and cultural needs of young people. This includes opportunities to prepare culturally diverse foods. Staff are also sensitive to the subtle ways in which young people choose to identify themselves and their peers. They understand the developmental need for young people to express and explore issues of identity and belonging. This means young people develop a better 10 of 11 understanding of who they are and what is important to them about their cultural identity. One young person is proud of his new dreadlocks, despite being negative about the time that it took for them to be done.

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Leadership and management adequate

Monitoring of the home is completed on a monthly basis by both the manager and an external visitor. Reports are appropriate and the manager has responded to areas highlighted as needing development. At the previous inspection 6 requirements to develop improved practice were made. In response to these medication arrangements have improved, the home is more secure, placement planning has improved and independence training is completed. The need for on-going training for the staff continues.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager has a development plan in place. This shows that the manager is aware of the shortfalls around the home. These shortfalls are not currently impacting on the good outcomes for young people but have the potential to do so.

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Leadership and management adequate

Notifications regarding the incidents within the home have been received by necessary organisations. A social worker stated that they are kept in touch with the situation in the home and their young person's development. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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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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