Children's home in Birmingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A judgement of Good occurred at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The full inspection resulted in the making of one requirement. The home has addressed this effectively. There is one recommendation resulting from this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager has yet to complete an application for registration following her arrival in the home. Administrative errors have caused delay and the completed application has still not been received by Ofsted. This has not affected the quality of the care provided to the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager leads a team of committed, child centred and permanent staff. There have been no staff departures since the last inspection. One staff member comments, ‘We are a team in this home, we talk all the time and are very consistent with the young people.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff benefit from a thorough and comprehensive training programme. Recently this has supported their management of a complex health condition for one young person. Staff manage this on a daily basis successfully.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Admissions procedures to the home have improved. Impact risk assessments are now more thorough and prioritise the needs of existing young people. This helps to support good behaviour and stability in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is an excessive amount of literature on the walls of the communal area of the home. This diminishes the homely feeling of the home. Young people will consider alternative forms of display at the next resident’s meeting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Outcomes for young people are good in the home. Since the last inspection, two have returned home successfully to their parents. Feedback from young people remains positive, one comments, ‘I would not change anything only to move the home nearer my house.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Feedback from placing professionals and parents echoes this. One social worker comments ‘communication with the home was excellent and one parent said ‘thank you very much for the care and devotion shown to my daughter.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour is good in the home and there is no use of restraint. When sanctions are used, staff encourage young people to offer feedback. This supports the development of insight into behavioural causes and minimises the risk of repeat incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers offer appropriate challenge to placing authorities. They advocated for one young person in the resumption of contact with his birth family. This has maintained his ongoing progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff offer good support when young people go missing from the home. Managers ensure the offer of an independent return to care interview on each occasion they return. Staff offer advocacy to young people consistently. This offers an important source of information for staff and support for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff adopt a proactive and creative approach to safeguarding. The home recently met with police and the local authority to agree overnights contact visits to a parent for one young person. Staff conducted a home visit as part of the assessment. Police agree to conduct a welfare visit in the event that phone contact is lost. This supports overnight contact in a safe and managed fashion.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make progress in all areas. Work on developing independence skills is entrenched in the home. Clear goal setting and exercises support cooking and budgeting skills. All are engaged in school/college courses. Staff support and monitor attendance effectively. This helps support an aspirational culture, where educational progress remains prioritised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home liaises well with key partner agencies and the outside community. Young people recently distributed Christmas gifts to neighbours, this helped raise self- esteem and challenge stereotypical views regarding young people. As part of an ongoing local police initiative, staff meet with local shopkeepers to discourage the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to young people. This helps to keep young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers ensure that risk assessments are reviewed on a regular basis and meet the needs of young people. Effective key work sessions support and inform these assessments.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The participation of young people is encouraged in the home. They are able to contribute during the risk assessment process, as well as reading through, and signing all monthly reports. This supports the development of open and transparent relationships between staff and young people.

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Information about this children's home

 This home provides accommodation for four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private organisation owns and manages the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely and domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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