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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make progress across all areas of their development.  Good relationships exist between young people and staff.  Staff prioritise young people’s safety whilst ensuring day to day life is of good quality.  Individualised care planning ensures young people’s needs are understood and met.  An ethos of positive behaviour management means good behaviour is promoted and sanctions are infrequently used.  Young people are involved in the decision making in the home, and participate in their care planning.  Young people’s education is prioritised.  A wide range of activities give young people enhanced experiences.  The home is welcoming and inclusive.  There are few shortfalls in practice. These include the environment, training and recruitment.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to –

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Requirement Due date

(i) meet the needs of each child. 01/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2, in particular a full employment history together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. (Regulation 32(3)(d). 01/10/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure that staff receive appropriate training so that they are able to meet the needs of young people. Specifically, in understanding the needs of young people with mental health problems, sexually harmful behaviour and CSE. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Information about this children's home

This home is part of a private children’s care organisation. The home is registered to accommodate up to three young people with learning disabilities, sensory impairments and emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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good

Young people develop good relationships with staff and they are treated with dignity and respect. One young person said, ‘The things I like are the staff and my room. We do lots of nice things too’. A parent said,’ One of the best things about the home is how caring the staff are and how they have made my child feel settled and part of things’.

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good

Young people make progress in all areas of their development. They learn to trust adults caring for them, and listen to advice and accept staff support. Young people are reassured that staff listen to their views and opinions. For example, their views matter on things like planning activities, going on holiday or decorating the home. Some young people have greater difficulties making their views known. The staff will use enhanced communication such as widget to help increase meaningful engagement. This helps to give every young person a voice.

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good

Young people have diverse needs including those relating to their emotional and mental health, and cultural needs. Staff work with young people and families to make sure that they are meeting individual needs in relation to faith, food choices, and personal care. Young people learn tolerance and respect towards each other and learn to respect difference.

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good

All young people are in full time education and their attendance and punctuality are good. Young people are supported with their homework and where appropriate, staff attend parents evenings.

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good

Staff prioritise young people’s health. Where they struggle to attend health appointments, staff continue to offer support and encouragement. Staff work closely with specialist services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. They pursue appointments and information for young people’s benefit.

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good

Young people enjoy a good standard of living. Staff promote a good quality of life including a range of activities, such as local community activities, cinema and bowling. Some young people enjoyed a holiday with staff. This gave them the opportunity to try new experiences such as visiting the beach, dancing and sports.

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good

Given their ages and stage of development, young people learn appropriate self- care and independence tasks. This includes looking after their rooms, laundry and cooking skills. One young person helped staff decorate the dining room, and others have contributed ideas about future enhancements to the home. They develop confidence and self-esteem as their skills grow. As a consequence, young people are better prepared for semi-independent living in the future.

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good

Contact arrangements between young people and their family are promoted wherever possible. Families are welcomed to the home and treated courteously. Young people retain connections with important people in their lives enhancing their understanding of their identities.

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good

Some parts of the home need attention. This includes one young person’s bedroom. The sofas are very worn and the garden area is empty with few facilities for young people to enjoy the outside space.

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good

Young people say that they feel safe at the home and are able to talk to staff about any problem or difficulty they have. One said,’ the staff are helpful and I can always find someone to talk to if I want to’.

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good

Placement plans and individual risk assessments identify risks associated with young people. Young people are protected as staff are familiar with and understand these and they have consistent strategies in place to manage risks including challenging behaviour. There have been no incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection. Young people respond well to positive reinforcement of their behaviour and to incentive charts enabling them to gain small rewards. For example, maintaining good behaviour and completing tasks in the home. Young people learn what is expected of them and they begin to self- regulate their behaviour. Discussions between young people and staff in young people’s meetings and in key work sessions help them understand expected boundaries and they feel that these are fair.

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good

Warm relationships between young people and staff promote a positive and harmonious atmosphere in the home. Staff are trained in safeguarding and knowledgeable about the protocols in place to protect young people in their care. Where appropriate, incidents are appropriately reported to other professionals such as social workers and the designated officer. This helps to ensure transparency and safe practice.

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good

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from care since the last inspection. Where a young person may have an occasional unauthorised absence for a short period, staff work with young people to raise their awareness of safety risks associated with this action, thereby reducing further incidents, and increasing their safety.

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good

Staff liaise with other professionals to maximise a safe environment. For example, young people are familiar with the local police community support officer who visits occasionally. This has helped them understand their role in the community to increasing their understanding of citizenship and responsibility. Where young people have a history in fire setting, young people’s awareness of the risks are increased through work completed with the local fire service.

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good

Arrangements for the storage and safe administration of medication are well maintained. Young people receive the correct medication in line with professional’s instructions. Young people’s health is promoted as staff follow well-rehearsed guidelines and protocols for handling medication including clear and accountable steps for auditing and reviewing records.

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good

Recruitment and selection procedures are mainly rigorous and mean that only suitable staff are employed to work with young people. However, the organisation is not always ensuring that they have a complete work history of staff including an explanation for any gaps. Consequently, not all elements of safeguarding young people are robustly maintained.

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good

Young people benefit from living in a home that has a safe and secure environment. Regular health and safety checks ensure that the equipment works well and poses no risks to young people. Fire drills are regularly completed and fire equipment serviced to ensure that it functions properly. All staff and young people understand the fire drills and the need for evacuations from time to time to maintain vigilance and safety for all. Judgement grade

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good

The registered manager post has been vacant since February 2015. A new manager has been appointed and has made an application to Ofsted to become the registered manager.

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good

The manager is an effective leader in the home and is supported by a motivated and knowledgeable staff team. The manager sets high standards for staff and his priority is the well-being of young people in his care. Families and professionals say that the manager plays a significant role in maintaining a positive and welcoming atmosphere in the home. Social workers say, the staff are excellent and communication between myself, the manager and staff is very good’.

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good

Young people’s records are very well organised and maintained. The manager ensures that systems and records are updated and any gaps in information are swiftly addressed. Young people’s needs are met as staff have all the information they need to understand and meet them. Young people’s risk assessments and placement plans are regularly reviewed and audited by the manager ensuring changing patterns of behaviour, for example, are reflected in behavioural strategies.

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good

Staff are well supported. They have regular monthly supervision enabling them to understand and reflect upon young people’s needs. Annual appraisals are undertaken with all staff and young people receive good coordinated care as staff are supported and challenged. The basic training is good, meaning that staff have access to courses enhancing their knowledge and understanding of childcare practice. However, staff are not as well trained in young people’s more complex needs, including mental health problems. This hinders their knowledge and practice to be further enhanced.

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good

Independent monitoring visits take place monthly and the manager welcomes external scrutiny and oversight. The manager self-scrutinises the quality of care offered to young people, and has an ambitious development plan identifying areas for development for the year ahead.

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good

The statement of purpose reflects the work undertaken in the home. For example, the core staff team ensure that young people are provided with life enhancing opportunities enabling them to overcome barriers associated with their learning and other disabilities.

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good

Liaison with professionals and family is strong. Professionals say that they are kept informed and know the progress and difficulties young people face. A parent said, ’Staff have been fantastic. They have done everything they can for my son, and help me wherever possible. I cannot rate them highly enough’. Requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Placement plans are improved and give staff clear guidance about care to be provided to young people, written records of sanctions or incidents are clearly recorded giving young people and others clarity about the event. Although there are two vacancies at the home, there is a small, consistent core staff team supplemented by bank workers. This means that there are sufficient and consistent staff employed to meet the needs of young people.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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