Setting in Birmingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Leaders and mangers have failed to ensure that all of the requirements made at the full inspection have been met. As a result, young people do not receive consistently good care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

The home has been registered for a little over a year and during this time there has been no registered manager in post. The manager in post at the last inspection has since rendered his resignation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Leaders and managers have failed to make the required improvements. There have been two previous monitoring visits carried out by Ofsted due to the high level of concern in respect of this home. Some improvements were identified at the full inspection in January. However, there has been a significant decline in the service since this time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Leaders and managers have failed to undertake thorough compatibility assessments in respect of potential placements. While discussions have taken place they have not been underpinned by evidence base assessments. Young people’s conflicting needs have been overlooked. As a result, one young person’s anxieties have significantly increased.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Managers and staff have failed to identify that the emotional needs of one young person had deteriorated significantly. Self-harmful behaviours have not been identified. As a result, no additional safeguarding strategies have been put in place to reduce the risk of harm. Despite a very clear risk management plan being in place staff failed to implement this. As a consequence one young person was not afforded medical or effective emotional support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Leaders and managers failed to identify poor practice following an allegation made by a young person. Three managers within the organisation had oversight of this incident. None progressed it appropriately. As a result, an alleged physical assault that took place outside of the home went unreported. No steps were considered or taken to reduce future risk of harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

One young person’s room was dirty and neglected. Personal belongings together with food items, dirty dishes and rubbish were scattered around the bedroom floor and surfaces. The bedroom smelt and was in a poor condition. Of more serious concern was the fact that there was medication that had not been taken appropriately and a number of razors in the room. The room was not acceptable for a young person to be living in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Leaders and managers fail to ensure that staff are provided with documentation that reflects all of the current care needs and risks for young people. Information held in documentation is not consistent. Staff are confused about what is expected from them. As a result, children’s risk assessments and plans are not followed and not all of their needs are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Despite a number of previous discussions with various managers’ many of the rooms in the home are locked. This detracts from a homely environment. This is further compounded by an office space on every floor of the building. One member of staff advised the inspector that the office on the top floor is used to hold meetings with personnel from other services in the organisation. It is also used for job interviews for members of public seeking employment. This infringes on the children’s home and impacts on young people’s privacy and home life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection;

Not all the staff who recently joined this team have received a suitable induction to the home. The manager and another member of staff on duty during the inspection were unable to open a fire door as they did not know the code. This created a significant risk in the event of a fire.

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Information about this children's home

This section should outline:  the home is currently registered to look after up to six children and young people.  the home is part of a large national company.  the home is registered to care for children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

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Requirement Due date

(1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (b) ensure that staff— (ii) protect and promote each child’s welfare; (iv) provide personalised care that meets each of the child’s needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (v) help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; (c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of children 12/04/2016*

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(1) (a) The health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) Children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) Children are helped to led healthy lifestyles 12/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard 12/04/2016 In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) that staff; (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child understand how to keep safe (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm

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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

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Requirement Due date

(1) that managers enable, inspire and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality

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Requirement Due date

of care provided in the home; (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the 12/04/2016* needs of children are best met; and (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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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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