Children's home in Birmingham

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken following a judgement of declined effectiveness at an interim inspection on 20 October 2015, and a monitoring visit undertaken on 11 December 2015. Two requirements were made at the monitoring visit on 11 December. In order to evaluate the progress the home has made in addressing the shortfalls identified on 11 December a monitoring visit was undertaken on 10 February 2016. This monitoring visit found the registered manager and some staff work with young people and other professionals to promote the safety of young people. A clear protocol is in place regarding the response staff will take if there is a concern about one young person’s emotional health including a risk of self-harm. Not all staff provide clear information to other professionals about young people’s welfare leading to confusion and misinterpretation of incidents. Young people’s safety and progress is impaired.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation continues to work towards ensuring the home is fully staffed. There continues to be a turnover of staff meaning that young people are not always cared for by a stable and consistent team. Some agency staff are used to cover vacancies and the registered manager tries to ensure that a small group of agency staff are used to promote some consistency for young people. There are continued shortfalls in how physical interventions are recorded with little explanation about why a physical intervention was necessary. This does not allow young people to understand why a physical intervention took place or how the incident developed. In addition, some recordings do not include managerial evaluation of the incident. Consequently, young people may not be confident that the incident has been impartially evaluated. Also, staff and managers may overlook important themes from the incidents, missing opportunities to learn from them.

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This monitoring visit

Young people are in part time education placements. Whilst they have activity planners detailing how they will spend their time when not at school, these are not always adhered to. It is unclear how young people’s educational progress is supported within the home, potentially hampering their educational progress. Notifications of serious incidents to Ofsted are not always clear in their content. This does not allow the regulator to review an incident and how the home responded with young people’s safety and welfare in mind. The registered manager remains committed to improving and developing the service for the benefit of young people. All staff participate in consultation sessions with an external facilitator to improve communication between staff and to improve team working for young people’s benefit. Young people’s safety is enhanced as staff work closely with police in relation to missing from care

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This monitoring visit

incidents. In addition, recording of complaints has improved with the introduction of a new report format. Views of young people regarding the outcome of their complaints are now included, meaning that young people are reassured that their views and opinions are taken seriously.

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Information about this children's home

The home is managed by a private organisation and provides care and accommodation for up to 4 children of either gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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, with particular reference to staff providing a consistent approach to each young person, the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking into account the child’s background. 04/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, with particular reference to out of school educational activities, the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. 04/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard, with particular reference to staff relationships with young people, the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. 04/03/2016 12: The protection of children standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to giving professionals accurate information concerning young people, the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 04/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must ensure that

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Requirement Due date

(b) staff work as a team where appropriate (c) staff have the experience, qualification and skills to meet the needs of each child. 04/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure (Regulation 35(3)(v) and within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person , or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person") has signed the record to confirm that it is accurate. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(ii). 04/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation must include details of the matter (regulation 40 (5)(a)(i) 04/03/2016

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home since their last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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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