Setting in Birmingham

This monitoring visit

Ofsted undertook a recent inspection of this service. That inspection highlighted significant and widespread shortfalls. As a result of the last inspection, Ofsted served two compliance notices on the organisation. This visit was to monitor the requirements set out within the notices. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that compliance has been met. There has been a lack of swift or effective action to resolve the poor practice issues. The use of various managers to run the service has resulted in a lack of focus and direction. Many of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection remain. Leaders and managers have failed to identify and act on a serious safeguarding incident. Processes involving the local authority designated officer have fallen below expectations. This has resulted in children being left in potential situations of risk. One manager, who has been given the responsibility to manage the service in the

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This monitoring visit

absence of a registered manager, does not hold the necessary information to ensure that children receive good care. There is still no clear plan in place to address the fact that this service has not had a registered manager in post since it opened. This results in poor guidance for staff, and a lack of oversight and monitoring. Risk assessment and care planning documents do not detail identified risks or risk- reduction strategies. They are not updated in line with changing and emerging needs. There are no systems in place that ensure that staff are aware of changes to care planning and risk assessment documentation. This leaves care staff confused about what action should be taken and when to ensure that children are safe. An example of this was a lack of clarity about whether or not one young person who significantly self-injures should have razor blades in their room or not. Leaders and managers had failed to ensure that staff received specialist additional

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This monitoring visit

training in respect of the management of self-injurious behaviour. These matters had not been discussed with staff, and there are no current plans to provide this training. Some staff have been provided to work in other homes within the organisation. The impact on children has not been considered. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the home is not used inappropriately. During this inspection, a meeting that did not involve this home was taking place in the main living area. This impinges on the children’s living space, and compromises privacy and respect for them.

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to look after up to eight children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.  The home is part of a national organisation.

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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 ‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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The quality and purpose of care standard

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure 6. (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 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— (i) meet the needs of each child;

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The health and well-being standard

10.—(1) The health and well-being standard is that— (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 lead healthy lifestyles. 12 April 2016

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The protection of children standard

12. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (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 to 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; and (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; 12 April 2016

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The leadership and management standard

13: (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires 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 12 April 2016* 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

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The leadership and management standard

child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality 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 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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The leadership and management standard

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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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