Children's home run by N H Care Limited in Birmingham

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people say that they are happy and enjoy their lives at the home.  Young people have good relationships with staff and know that staff care about them, and are interested in their progress.  Staff work hard to make sure that young people attend school, or have suitable alternative education whilst school placements are found.  Staff are proactive in ensuring that young people enjoy their leisure activities, and participate in local community activities.  Staff work very well with parents and professionals to ensure that young people’s needs are met.  Where possible, staff support young people to maintain contact with their friends and families.  Staff value the support of the registered manager, who motivates staff to achieve good results for young people.  Placing authorities are positive about young people’s experience at the home.  There are a small number of shortfalls. Risk assessments are not always

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The children’s home provision is good because:

updated when incidents occur, and some areas of the home require attention. Physical intervention logs are not always thoroughly completed, and not all staff have achieved the required qualification within the specified timescale to work in a children’s home.

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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 within the given timescales.

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6. The quality and purpose of care standard

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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6. The quality and purpose of care standard

(2)(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 (with particular reference to the front wall and decoration in the living room). 26/08/2016

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12. The protection of children standard

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that—

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12. The protection of children standard

(2)(b) 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 (with particular reference to updating young people’s risk assessments and health plans). 26/08/2016

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12. The protection of children standard

The registered person must ensure that any individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; this specifically relates to staff obtaining the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England). (Regulation 32(3) (b)(4)(a)(5)(a)) 30/09/2016

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12. The protection of children standard

The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record that they have spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(c)) 26/08/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or about to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, budgeting and personal care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17 paragraph 3.27)

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a private children’s care organisation. The home is registered to accommodate up to three young people with learning disabilities, sensory impairments and emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Good

Young people develop warm, trusting relationships with staff that enhance their progress. They know that staff care about them and enjoy spending time with them. Staff focus on providing a homely, supportive environment that enhances the day-to-day quality of life for all young people.

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Good

One young person told me: ‘It is brilliant here. I have been made to feel really welcome. I am happy and staff are kind.’ Another told me: ‘I like it. Staff are nice to me and I like my bedroom. We do fun things.’

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Good

The home is a welcoming place. Staff and young people are lively and interested in day-to-day events and activities. Young people and staff discuss their plans for the day, and negotiate activities and events to suit all. Young people are involved in choosing activities and outings, and their preferred activities and hobbies are identified and encouraged, increasing young people’s enjoyment of their daily lives. Staff focus on encouraging young people’s involvement in community events and activities. Young people learn positive behaviour in the community and their sense of social responsibility increases. Young people exert positive peer influence on others who have recently joined the home, discouraging poor behaviour, and encouraging positive involvement in their home life. Young people develop self- confidence and self-esteem and learn from each other.

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Good

Young people receive a warm welcome to the home. Impact assessments ensure that staff have an understanding of young people’s needs, and strategies and plans are in place to ensure that these are met. Staff spend time getting to know young people’s likes and dislikes. Staff talk to them about how the home works, and how to ask for help and support. Young people feel welcomed and valued.

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Good

Not all young people have a full time school placement. While a school placement is found, young people receive full-time tuition. One education professional commented, ‘although he has only been at the home for a relatively short time, I have seen a massive change in him. He has been challenging, but we are seeing these issues declining every day.’

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Good

Young people are encouraged to engage in a healthy lifestyle. They eat healthily and contribute to menu planning. Staff led by example, for instance by going to the gym and exercising with young people. Improvements are seen in young people’s health; for example, healthy eating and exercise have led to weight loss and healthier lifestyles for some young people. Young people attend all routine and specialist health appointments, and their emotional and mental health needs are met through partnership working between staff and specialist agencies. Staff liaise closely with specialist services when changes are seen in young people’s emotional presentation, ensuring that they have all the support that they need to maintain good health.

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Good

Young people receive help to learn age-appropriate skills in working towards adulthood. They help with chores around the home, clean their rooms, and help to prepare and cook meals. Staff do not always track their progress as a staff group or identify the next steps to help them learn a broad range of skills, and so opportunities for progression may be missed.

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Good

Staff help young people to maintain contact with their families and friends. Relationships with families are nurtured as staff recognise their importance. Family ties are strengthened and young people’s understanding of their background and identity is reinforced.

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Requires improvement

Risk assessments relating to individual young people are not always updated following incidents at the home. For example, when one young person expressed thoughts of self-harm to staff, his risk assessment was not updated to reflect this; nor were actions and responses added for staff to follow. Staff had discussed the incidents with each other and sought appropriate support for him from therapeutic services, but the risk assessment did not include details of the incident or possible triggers. This lack of clarity means that staff are not fully apprised of all the issues relating to caring for this young person, and risks are increased.

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Requires improvement

Staff work very well together to support young people’s behaviour. The registered manager has introduced an incentive scheme for young people that relates to behavioural targets. This is working very well, and young people enjoy receiving their treats and rewards weekly. Staff report a decrease in incidents, which results in a calm and harmonious atmosphere for all.

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Requires improvement

Young people have very positive relationships with staff. These trusting relationships mean that young people are keen to work with staff and enjoy their lives at the home. Staff adopt a positive approach to each young person, promoting good behaviour. Staff encourage young people to enjoy community activities and young people understand how to behave appropriately in public, increasing their sense of citizenship and behavioural self-regulation. Where young people become challenging, staff support the young person and each other to de- escalate situations without incident, and events are quickly resolved for the benefit of all. Occasionally, damage is done to the home because of a young person’s outburst. The damage is quickly repaired, causing as little disruption for young people as possible. Young people are positive influences on each other. For example, when one young person damaged some doors, others told him that it

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Requires improvement

was their home, and that they should all look after it. Young people learn good behaviour from peers who act as role models and help them develop a sense of security and belonging to the home.

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Requires improvement

Physical interventions are rarely used. However, on occasions where physical intervention has been necessary for staff and young people’s safety, managers have not always gained the young person’s view about the use of the measure, allowing them time to reflect on the incident and express their view.

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Requires improvement

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of young people going missing from care or having unauthorised absences. Young people are safe because staff understand their needs in relation to supervision within the home and in the community, including risks of potential exploitation.

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Requires improvement

Staff complete regular health and safety checks, ensuring that the home environment remains safe and secure and does not pose risks to young people.

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Good

The manager has been in post since February 2015, and became the registered manager in September 2015. The manager holds a level 3 diploma in caring for children and young people. He is working towards his level 5 diploma in leadership and management in caring for children and young people. He is appropriately skilled and experienced and has the support and respect of the staff team.

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Good

The registered manager is committed to the welfare and progress of each young person in his care. He promotes an enabling, positive and proactive culture that helps young people to make progress and enjoy their lives. The registered manager and staff have established networks and relationships with a range of agencies that are involved in meeting the needs of young people. All are positive about the quality of communication and the commitment of staff. A social worker commented: ‘Staff contact me regularly and I feel that I have a good understanding of how things are going for him.’ The registered manager works closely with the independent visitor to improve any areas of practice identified as needing development. He welcomes external scrutiny and oversight. This ensures that young people continue to benefit from a good- quality service.

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Good

Staff supervision and appraisals are carried out regularly in line with the organisation’s policy. This enables staff to reflect on their daily work and relationships with young people and each other to improve practice further in the home. Staff complete a comprehensive package of training that reflects the needs of young people in the home, and more general areas of knowledge they need, such as first aid and food hygiene. However, not all staff have the required qualification to work in a children’s home. Where they have not gained the qualification, all staff are enrolled on courses, but not all of them have completed the course within the required timescale. Young people are cared for in line with the home’s statement of purpose, and this is reviewed and updated as necessary. This allows young people, their family and professionals to have a good understanding of the care young people receive. An

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Good

associated young people’s guide is accessible and provides young people with essential information about the home.

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Good

The manager makes appropriate notifications and sends these to the relevant professionals, meaning that important information is shared appropriately about young people’s safety and welfare, and the subsequent actions of the home. Young people’s case files are kept up to date and where information is missing. For example, when a new young person has just joined the home, managers and staff are proactive in ensuring that they receive all essential reports from the placing authority. Consequently, staff have all the information they need to care for young people effectively.

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Good

The registered manager knows the strengths and areas of development of the home. Areas of development include implementing a new training schedule for all staff, developing senior support worker roles, and improving and enhancing the environment in the home. This ensures that the service continues to develop and evolve for the benefit of all young people.

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Good

Young people live in a comfortable environment, but some shortfalls, such as damage to a wall in the front garden and minor damage to decoration in the lounge, detract from an overall well-kept home. These require attention.

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Good

The registered manager ensures that appropriate recruitment practices are in place. Staff recruitment files include all the necessary checks to assess the suitability of staff to work with young people.

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Good

Not all the requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Not all staff have the level 3 diploma in working with young people and this is raised as a requirement again. Other staff training has improved, and training for staff in understanding child sexual exploitation, young people’s mental health and the radicalisation of young people has either been completed by staff or has been arranged.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. 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

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and ‘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, 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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