Children's Home run by Care and Management Services Ltd in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC419229 Inspector Elaine Cray Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Care And Management Services Limited Registered person address Park Business Centre Hastingwood Industrial Park Wood Lane Birmingham B24 9QR Responsible individual Roslyn Ann Clift Registered manager Karen Josephine O'Grady Date of last inspection 23/12/2014 2 of 8 Inspection date 13/03/2015

p.1

Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection There is no enforcement action since the last inspection.

p.2

This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

p.2

This inspection

This service sustains effectiveness by meeting the series of recommendations and a requirement from the previous inspection and with on-going monitoring. Updates about local amenities and public transport in the safe location assessment reinforce young people’s safety. Improvement in the availability of vetting information about agency staff promotes young people’s safety. While agency staff are seldom used, the manager identifies consistent agency staff to work alongside the established staff members. There is also a system in place to supervise them.

p.2

This inspection

Staff training records now show additional training in autism, attachment disorder, and self-injurious behaviour. This now demonstrates that the home has a wide range of training and is effective in meeting the needs of young people living at the home.

p.2

This inspection

Managers are excellent advocates for young people. This home makes a difference because managers challenge social workers, services and seek out resources to promote young people’s rights. These qualities have a positive impact on young people’s right to education, safeguarding outcomes and specialist support for transition to adult placement. However, some young people’s needs, in relation to specialist education and adult transition, are not met, due to shortfalls in placing authority care planning support and decision making.

p.2

This inspection

Some young people do not routinely attend education due to exceptional needs, but are well-supported by the manager and staff. The manager provides robust challenge to placing authorities and agencies. Shortfalls identified on this inspection relate to poor responses from placing authorities. Delayed actions exacerbate young people’s ability to access education; reach their potential and move on to adulthood. One statutory requirement and one recommendation are set. 3 of 8 Young people have very positive experiences at the home. They judge the home very favourably; saying it is the ‘best’ place they have lived. They rate the staff as one of the best things about the home and they are extremely pleased about their improving behaviour. Young people fully appreciate how staff keep them safe and as a result they no longer run away.

p.2

This inspection

Transition planning is effective because staff fully embrace and understand the importance of partnership working when young people first move into the home. They patiently work with, and share information with, young people, families, placing authorities, agencies and other placements in order to facilitate transition planning.

p.3

This inspection

Assessment and compatibility matching is key to the outcomes for all young people and how well they settle and make significant progress. They get on well because staff give full consideration to the impact a new arrival may have on the needs and progress of those already established in the home. Effective staffing arrangements respond to the potential risks of new young people, while ensuring existing young people continue in their day-to-day routines and stability. Young people say they settled well in the home because staff are kind and this helped them feel safe and reassured when they arrived.

p.3

This inspection

Early and effective retrieval of information ensures the care planning framework assesses need, risk and immediately sets out strategies to care for young people. The manger and staff are proactive in maintaining professional relationships, particularly with education and health agencies.

p.3

This inspection

Staff work exceptionally hard to ensure young people have a range of resources to support their learning and re-engagement with education. Some young people enjoy attending college, while others receive home tutoring. Young people do well and staff implementing a structured timetable to support alternative education arrangements. They grow in confidence and are more able to meet the challenges of education. Their confidence develops because they have staff support with college homework. They can talk about their worries and renew their efforts for when they return to school and college the next day.

p.3

This inspection

Supporting young people’s emotional and mental health is central to this home sustaining effectiveness and the progress made by young people. Some young people who would not engage with any learning and who elected to be mute now enjoy a range of hobbies that develop their independence including: reading; writing; art; crafts; cooking and baking. They value trusting relationships, talk about their challenges, and have a better quality of life since living at the home.

p.3

This inspection

Young people make improvements in their health, such as, managing eating disorders, reduction in smoking and no longer using alcohol and drugs. They have 4 of 8 more stable behaviour because they now take appropriate medication. They are able to face these challenges because they have greater emotional and behavioural stability. These improvements are key to building young people’s self-esteem and confidence. Joint working between staff, child mental health services, and psychological consultancy is key to this effectiveness and improvement.

p.3

This inspection

This home also makes a difference because young people are safer and at less risk of child sexual exploitation. Proactive and robust partnership working keeps young people safe. Working with police, youth offending service, community agencies and social workers result in a significant reduction in going missing and activities related to the exploitation of young people. Young people develop positive coping strategies when they are feeling emotionally vulnerable and may harm themselves.

p.4

This inspection

Young people develop awareness about their previous risk taking activities. They engage with staff, social workers, police, and other safeguarding agencies to promote their personal safety. They have a better sense of well-being. A combination of strong boundaries, high staff supervision, focused talk-time and taking part in positive activities give young people a strong sense of safety.

p.4

This inspection

Developing positive identities and age appropriate interests enable young people to disassociate from risk taking activities. Accomplishing skate boarding and scooter skills at the local park is a stark contrast to the drug use and exposure to exploitation previously experienced by young people before they came to this home.

p.4

This inspection

Care planning in the home is effective as risk management, health care, behaviour management and education strategies dovetail throughout young people’s placement planning. Risk and behaviour management is effective because young people work with staff to agree and draw up plans. This initial involvement drives a sense of self-determination and is key to young people building trusting relationships with staff. Accurate, child-centred recording shows how physical intervention is only used as a last resort to promote the safety of young people.

p.4

This inspection

Staff are sensitive to, and care plans reflect, the diverse needs and backgrounds of young people and their families. Young people grow in self-esteem and enjoy more stable relationships because staff liaise well with their parents and social workers to facilitate safe and appropriate contact arrangements.

p.4

This inspection

Regular review and discussion with young people ensures their views are part of placement planning. Staff greatly value young people’s views and lively and regular house meetings promote participation in the running of the home. One-to-one consultation ensures young people have involvement and a say about their placements and plans. However, while advocacy in the home is strong; information for young people does not include the role of the Children's Commissioner.

p.4

This inspection

Young people’s views are soon to be included in the next staff appraisal process. This demonstrates the home’s ability to respond to recommendations from the 5 of 8 previous inspection and the value given to the voice of young people.

p.4

This inspection

Young people live in a safe, homely and nurturing environment. The house is well maintained and decorated. They take great pride in personalising and expressing their individuality in their bedrooms. Health and safety checks are an integral part of the daily running of the home. Young people know what to do in the event of a fire and good practice includes sharing fire safety information with visitors to the home.

p.5

This inspection

Leadership is strong; the experienced and qualified manager leads an experienced and cohesive team. Staff are aware of and preparing for the changing landscape of social care. Managers and staff keep abreast of the legal and regulatory framework. Regular monitoring and working with agencies promotes the best interests of young people and develops staff practice.

p.5

This inspection

Staffing arrangements are effective and provide consistent supervision and quality time for young people to enjoy a range of activities and one-to-one talking time. Smooth operation of the home results from staff’s skilful use of systems such as handover meetings to ratify and implement essential issues such as staffing ratios, medication, and young people’s care plan objectives. Recording informs staff practice and gives an accurate journey of young people's experiences in the home. 6 of 8

p.5

Information about this children’s home

This children's home is operated by a small, private company. It provides care for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.6

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/12/2014 Full good 18/03/2014 Interim good progress 03/04/2013 Full good 05/11/2012 Interim good progress

p.6

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.

p.6

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure children make use of educational facilities appropriate to their age, aptitude, needs, interests and potential. (Regulation 18.-(1) (a)) 15/05/2015

p.6

Recommendations

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

p.6

Recommendations

 update young people’s information to reflect the change in role from the Children’s Rights Director to Children’s Commissioner (NMS 1.5)  ensure staff work collaboratively with the young person’s social worker or personal adviser in implementing the pathway plan for “eligible” care leavers. (NMS 12.2) 7 of 8 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.6

Recommendations

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.8