Children's home 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:

 Many changes have taken place since the interim inspection in March 2016. Staffing issues have been resolved.  Staff are child-focused and committed to improving the home.  Young people receive good individualised care.  Young people and parents are clear about the progress that is being made.  Young people’s health and emotional needs are consistently prioritised.  Transitions are supported by the staff team.  Staff have a commitment to ensuring that the home is well maintained.  Young people’s views and wishes are listened too.  Staff have an in-depth knowledge of young people and build up trusting relationships.  Robust multi-agency working ensures that young people are better protected by agencies that know young people well.  Young people have access to a range of activities.  The home is maintained to a good standard.  There are a few shortfalls; these include staff not having supervision

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The children’s home provision is good because:

during their induction period as directed in company policy, that the six- monthly review does not incorporate the views of young people and placing authorities, and the door to the games room is locked at night which detracts from a homely feel.

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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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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, in relation to locking the downstairs games room doors at night, any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 12/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33(1)(a)) 12/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, in order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45(2)(b)) 12/10/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. Children should be supported to develop understanding and empathy towards each other. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. The development of safe, stable and secure relationships with staff in the home should be central to the ethos of the home and support the development of secure attachments that, where appropriate, persist over time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately operated and provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Young people receive good individualised care. This is because care planning is strong, and staff take time to build solid and trusting relationships with the young people in their care. One young person stated ‘I like it here, I feel safe, I can say what is on my mind and we sit down together and spend time’. Staff are fully aware of young people’s needs, as placement plans and risk assessments are clear and frequently reviewed. However, behaviour management plans lack detail and leave staff and young people vulnerable to inconsistences in practice. Young people’s views and wishes are listened to. Staff engage young people in discussions during key-worker sessions and young people’s meetings, and assist them in creating their own development plans. Young people are supported to make requests and to have their say. For example, young people have been consulted on the decoration of the recently redecorated lounge and on the choice

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Good

of the new stairway carpet. Advocates further underpin the opportunity for young people to have their voice heard. As a result, young people feel that their views matter and that they are listened to. Young people and parents are clear about the progress that is being made. A parent commented: ‘In the placement before she was running away, getting into trouble and smoking; she is settling well and things are calmer’. Young people have access to a range of activities that meet their social and physical needs. For example, they go bike riding, attend the local youth club, and go swimming and rock climbing. They discuss with staff their preferred choice of recreational activity. This helps staff to plan and facilitate the event. These experiences help young people to develop a sense of self-worth and to have a positive connection with their community. Staff work with social workers and the placing authorities to ensure that young

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Good

people are able to maintain relationships with their families. The young people receive practical and emotional support to attend contact visits. This means that, despite living a long distance from family, young people are not unnecessarily isolated from them. Young people’s health and emotional needs are consistently prioritised. Young people take part in their routine health checks and staff support them in this and in accessing specialised services. Staff actively discourage smoking and have recently helped one young person to stop completely. As a result, young people are healthy and are able to make informed decisions about aspects of their lives that are important to them. A parent of one young person commented: ‘staff have made a constructive effort to help her stop smoking’. Staff encourage young people to attend education and support them to overcome the barriers to engagement. Nevertheless, young people’s educational attainment

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Good

is variable, with staff reporting that some young people refuse to attend aspects of their education. The staff have worked collaboratively with the school and placing authorities to create and update tailor-made educational packages. The registered manager has also escalated concerns in relation to education, to strive for the best outcomes for all the young people in the home. When appropriate to do so, young people are supported in their transition to new placements. For example, staff share information and facilitate visits to the new placement. These transitions are then discussed with all the young people so that emotions can be explored and understood. An exceptional young people’s guide comprehensively explains core details about the home and is available to all young people. This good practice encourages smooth transitions and helps young people to feel valued and supported. Although the young people living in the home are not at a stage to be transitioning

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Good

into adult placements, staff encourage the young people to develop their own self- care skills. For example, young people are encouraged to help tidy the house and their own bedrooms, and to cook basic meals. This ensures that they are able to advance their own resilience and life skills. Staff have a commitment to ensuring that the home is well maintained. Staff encourage young people to personalise their bedrooms by choosing the colour of the walls and putting up posters of their choice. There are pictures and of the young people around the home. This gives them a sense of belonging and identity. However, the locking of the games room at night means the environment is less homely than it might be. Judgement grade

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Good

The young people at the home have complex needs and have in the recent past displayed challenging behaviours. Staff have an in-depth knowledge of young people and build up trusting relationships. This supports staff to provide support effectively to young people in all areas of their lives. Episodes of self-harming and of young people going missing reduce significantly. Young people who were previously at high risk of going missing have chosen, through discussions and positive relationships with staff, to change this behaviour. Staff work in effective partnership with police and local authorities to protect young people from harm in these circumstances. Staff understand the risks to young people of sexual exploitation. They know the signs and symptoms, and proactively monitor all young people at the home. Staff have engaged with specialist training to raise their individual knowledge base. Young people’s safety is promoted through detailed ‘missing from home’ plans.

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Good

These specify the actions to be taken by staff and others. ‘Return from care’ interviews are consistently available to young people. This integrated approach to protecting young people means that they become increasingly safe. Staff promote positive behaviour. The use of incentive charts, which are updated, aid young people to make positive decisions about their behaviour. For example, one young person was able to earn a pet rabbit after choosing not to go missing. Robust multi-agency working ensures that young people are better protected by agencies that know young people well. Professionals share information and communicate effectively. Risk management plans are current and individualised. A social worker commented: ‘I received regular updates. Staff made every effort to keep [the young person] safe.’ There have been no complaints from the young people at the home. Staff ensure that on their admission to the home young people receive information about how

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Good

to make a complaint. Young people spoken to said that they would be happy to talk to a staff member if they had any problems. Young people and parents are also confident that staff would take their complaints seriously. The home is maintained to a good standard. Health and safety and fire risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. The young people reside in a safe and secure home. Vigorous recruitment and vetting processes are in place. Applicants undergo appropriate checks, including criminal history and employment history checks. This helps to keep young people safe.

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Good

Many changes have taken place since the interim inspection in March 2016. Staffing issues have been resolved, and there is now a nurturing, stable staff team providing young people with good experiences. The staff are experienced, trained and qualified. All staff have completed their level 3 qualification in residential childcare within the required timeline. Staff work overtime to cover holidays or additional shifts. This has ensured that there is now continuity of care for the young people living in the home. Staff are child-focused and committed to improving the home. The team have worked hard to make positive changes to the home. Despite the period of instability, young people have made progress in all areas of their development over the last five months. A parent commented: ‘They have a really caring team. They have mixed workers, there is a good balance and good role models.’ Staff feel valued and supported by the registered manager. They feel listened to,

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Good

and that their views are valued. This helps the staff to remain highly motivated in their care of young people. A staff member said: ‘The deputy manager is always on hand 24/7 if you need her, you can’t fault her. We have supervision and team meetings. It’s a bit of a shock to have support. The registered manager is very approachable and is always there.’ The registered manager has been in post since March 2016. He has considerable experience and is qualified with a level 5 diploma in leadership and management. He is supported by an experienced and qualified deputy manager. An independent visitor undertakes monthly visits and produces a report. The registered manager finds these useful. These visits, together with other systems, enable the manager to monitor the quality of care. The registered manager has taken time to ensure that there is a good development plan in place for the home. As a result, young people benefit from consistency of care that achieves better

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Good

outcomes than previously. The care is delivered in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Partnership working with other agencies remains vital in helping young people to make good levels of progress educationally, socially and emotionally. Staff have access to a psychologist and to up-to-date training, which both play a role in helping staff to gain the correct skills and understanding to help young people make good progress across all aspects of their development. Partnership working with parents is good. One parent commented that she felt consulted about her daughter’s care and that the home was ‘really inviting’. The registered manager receives regular supervision from the independent person. This is reflective, with an emphasis on practice and professional development. Staff receive good-quality supervision. However, the registered manager has not ensured that the home’s policy has been implemented in relation to supervision

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Good

during the induction period. This hinders staff members’ opportunities to develop their practice. The registered manager has not ensured that the six-monthly review focuses sufficiently on the voices of young people and placing authorities. The registered manager is, however, aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service, taking account of young people’s progress and the feedback from the independent visitor. He is receptive to development opportunities and is committed to service improvement in the best interests of young people.

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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 ‘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 that 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 that 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 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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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