Children's home in Birmingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Declined effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been significant changes at this home. The registered manager resigned and left in early October 2015. A new manager started work in mid- October and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. The entire previous staff team had left by November, as did the last young person. The home was empty during November and December. The registered person recruited five new staff and admitted two young people, one in January and one in mid-March.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While there has been progress in some areas, there are continuing shortfalls in areas previously identified at the last inspection. The registered person has not met four of the eight previous requirements or one of the two previous recommendations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Admission decisions have still not been child focused. The registered person still does not consistently risk assess new admissions to take into account the sufficiency or competence of the staff team, and the impact upon other young people. For example: an admission risk assessment for January clearly states that all staff are trained in intervention, de-escalation and positive outcomes; this was not so. Neither are staff trained in children who go missing from care, when this is clearly a need for young people currently. The registered person has not adhered to prior placing authority agreements about a safe age difference between young people, to avoid greater risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE). There is some indication that young people’s recently stabilised sleep patterns are shifting for the worse again since admission of a new young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are still insufficient permanent, experienced or skilled staff working in the home. There is still a reliance on recruited ‘bank’ staff to fill gaps, as the staff team is still too small to ensure permanent staff on each shift. The new staff team has less than five months experience. The staff team is so new that are occasions when no member of staff on duty, including the shift leader, has completed their probationary period. While agency staff are now rarely used, a lone agency staff, on her first day, was in sole charge of the home and a young person on the day of inspection. Other staff, in the home next door, did not know her name or experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

These continuing shortfalls in ensuring only skilled, knowledgeable staff care for young people, compromise young people’s safety and confidentiality. Not all staff understand or protect young people from known risks. Insufficient staffing and lack of adherence to the home’s risk assessment, led to a young person at risk of CSE and with clear internet and phone restrictions, having unsupervised access to the home’s computer, telephone and highly confidential records about other young people in the unlocked staff office.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inexperienced, untrained or agency staff have still, on occasion, taken responsibility for behaviour management and been unable to safely manage young people’s behaviour. On other occasions, staff had intervened to restrain young people to keep them safe, but have not been trained in the home’s scheme of physical intervention. Young people have specific behavioural challenges and not all staff are skilled in this aspect of care. Young people said that one experience of restraint in the home, reminded them of a previous abusive experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person has still not submitted reports of either of the required bi- annual reviews of the quality of care. They have not fully evaluated the experience of young people at the home over the past year, nor consulted with all stakeholders, such as placing and host authorities, to learn the lessons of placement success and breakdown. The new manager has begun new recording and monitoring systems that relate to his tenure, but this does not take account of the responsibility of the registered person for previous young people’s journeys.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person has taken action to meet four of the previous eight requirements. Activities are now sufficiently varied and offer much better opportunity to stretch and develop young people’s interests and to promote self- esteem. Young people benefit from more active leisure, baking and craft, socialising within the local community and focused help to get back into education and a learning attitude.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager is building a staff team with the aim of consistency. There is now a workforce plan. Staff cite the good skill, gender, age and experience mix in the current small staff team as having a positive impact. They have experience in education, outward bound, youth work and supported living; they hold managerial qualifications as well as degree-level, related qualifications. Records of restraint and incidents are now improved, showing what happened before, during and after. The registered person now has better information about young people, including placing authority care and placement plans and statutory review records. The registered person now informs Ofsted of significant events in young people’s lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person has made other improvements. Staff now have a proper sleep-in room and a fold-out bed in the staff office. The integral garage has been converted into an attractive games room, providing good space for young people’s activities. One young person has a pet hamster. Police intervention and call outs about behaviour have been minimal.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are positives for young people who are focused on continuing progress. There are active plans for a young person to start a local school placement to deliver their statutory entitlement to education. A newly arrived young person is planning her next move to semi-independent accommodation near her home town.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Direct work about young people’s issues is good. Staff have constructive, planned and spontaneous sessions and conversations about: ‘slut shaming’; smoking; night time routines; risky behaviour, hamster; breakages and consequences; disclosures; healthy eating; racism, flirting, and personal safety. One young person described how she had changed: ‘I calmed down. Was aggressive. Helping me with lifestyle choices.’ Young people are learning about their vulnerabilities alongside staff, joining staff for parts of their training in child sexual exploitation. Staff commented on young people’s reaction to this: ‘Almost like realisation.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people do run away, or go missing, despite no formal training, staff immediately go looking and work with the police and social care to locate and bring them home safely. They stay with young people when they leave the house in crisis, keeping them safe along the busy main road outside. Staff talk to young people about their vulnerabilities, including about how they can keep themselves safe from self-harming. The local authority designated officer has no concerns about the current safeguarding arrangements. The new manager is enthusiastic and experienced. The service has the capacity to improve, but the registered person must prioritise building a team of enough staff who are sufficiently experienced and skilled to meet the identified needs of existing young people.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a small private provider. It offers care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is next door to another home of the same size and shares a manager with that home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

07/10/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

27/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

28/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory progress

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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

11. In order to meet the positive relationship standard the registered person should ensure that staff: 2(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone. 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to staff’s knowledge about risks and implementing risk assessments, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2) (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

13. In order to meet the Leadership and Management standard the registered person must ensure that staff: 2(b) 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 (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided is having on the progress and experiences of each 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 31/05/2016 (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

14 Care planning standard In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must: 2(a) ensure that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose, with particular reference to ensuring they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on existing children living there. 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months (Regulation 45 (1)) 30/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure any external agency staff meet the requirements in regulation 32(4) regarding mandatory qualifications and the registered person should consider their skills, qualifications and any induction necessary before they commence work in the home. The use of agency staff should be carefully monitored and reviewed to ensure children receive continuity of care. (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 54, paragraph 10.16)

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Recommendations

 Ensure any registered manager placed in charge of a children’s home or staff member in a deputy or supervisory role such as ‘shift leader’ has substantial relevant experience of working in a children’s home and have successfully completed their induction for the home in which they are employed. (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 54, paragraph 10.21)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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