Children's home run by Birmingham City Council 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:

 Children and young people make good progress. They are more confident, independent, have greater mobility, extend social skills and are better able to manage their own personal care.  Children’s and young people’s safety is robustly risk assessed and managed so that they can make the most of their visits.  Behaviour management is a key strength. Attention to detail and clear recording enable children and young people to better manage their anxieties and enjoy their stays. They develop self-esteem and broaden their social opportunities as they develop relationships with others.  Children and young people are able to express their needs and choices due to a range of communication processes provided by staff, including the cook.  Improvements in young people’s meetings, key working and communication mean that children and young people can make informed decisions about their care and the day-to-day running of the service.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people are given opportunity to express their artistic flair. Partnership working with local artists enables children and young people to achieve art awards and make a range of items. Displays in the home represent their hard work.  Management is very strong and there is excellent inclusion of staff. Everyone in the home is motivated by the drive for improvement and ensures that their work directly impacts on outcomes for children and young people.  Areas for development include improving the privacy of young people’s bedrooms, continuing developments in communication and the consistency of recording in children’s and young people’s files.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

21: Privacy and access The registered person must ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected. (Regulation 21 (a)) 01/11/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Continue to support children and their parents to understand the nature of records kept in the home and how to access them. Staff should understand their role in encouraging the child to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding. Staff should keep and encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia and help them to record significant life events. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)  Continue to record information about the child in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14)

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Information about this children's home

This local authority service is registered to care for seven children with learning disabilities on short-break placements. The home’s statement of purpose states that children, irrespective of gender, can be between five and 18 years old and with a range of learning disabilities, including autism.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/11/2015 Full Good 11/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/11/2014 Full Good

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Good

Children and young people have good experiences and make significant progress across all aspects of their lives. Social networking and making friends are positive for children and young people. They enjoy their stays as staff have insight into their individual needs, social settings and friendship groups. Compatibility assessments are effective in managing risk and maximising relationship and friendship building. Good attention to placements and admission groups means that there are no concerns about bullying. Transition is well-managed and bespoke transition plans respond to children’s and young people’s anxieties about staying away from home. Their confidence increases as they receive certificates for each stage of their transition. For example visiting for tea, staying later and then sleeping over for an increasing number of nights. Individual identity of children and young people is of paramount importance to

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Good

staff. They have a high level of respect for children’s and young people’s religious and cultural needs. Close liaison with parents ensures that dietary and religious needs are met during short-term breaks. Consultation and participation are key experiences for children and young people. They feel at ease and valued because staff understand their individual quirks and preferences. Such attention to detail enables excellent understanding of children’s and young people’s behaviour, promotes self-determination and optimises choice. For example, while some children and young people enjoy crisps as a snack, providing three small bowls of different flavours enables them to make a more informed choice. Children’s and young people’s communication processes are well documented and consistently applied in staff practice. Staff use a range of communication methods including symbols and signs. Recent staff training in sign language means that

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Good

children and young people are better understood and sign more confidently to identify their views and needs. Meaningful discussion, with the use of symbols and pictures, in young people’s meetings means that children and young people have access to information about their right to complain, bullying, stranger danger and fire safety. Consultation is a strong theme throughout the service. Rapid improvement in child-focused recording means that children and young people are more involved in their care and they can better understand their experiences. However, some records lack symbols and pictures, so not all children and young people can make full sense of their journeys. Education attendance is well-managed and children and young people are settled at, and enjoy, school. They make good progress in education and behaviour due to effective collaboration between staff, parents, education and health agencies.

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Good

Ongoing and joint assessment gives useful insight into their emotional and mental health needs. Children and young people experience improved behaviour and are more stable in school as staff work alongside other agencies. Children and young people make very good progress as a result of visiting for short breaks. While enjoyment is a key factor, each child also has ‘steps for independence’. They learn new skills and try different experiences to help them develop independence skills. Key working is linked to targets for independence and improvements in behaviour. Self-esteem and confidence develop as children and young people help the cook to make pizza for tea, do gardening and help put away clean clothing. Cooking is a favourite pastime for several children and young people. Opportunities to prepare meals for other children, young people and staff develop social skills while also improving independence skills.

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Good

Children and young people enjoy a range of activities at the setting with mostly one-to-one staff support. Going out is also an important event for children and young people. They enjoy a wide range of activities because staffing is significantly increased to ensure that they can consistently enjoy a range of trips out. Children and young people enjoy good health and staff place the emotional and mental health of children and young people in high priority. They are keen to work alongside families and child and adolescent mental health agencies to explore changes in behaviour. Working collaboratively supports young people and can help with more complex issues such as bereavement and choices about medication. Working together also results in some children’s and young people’s behaviour being better managed, without the use of medication. Shift organisation and focused hand over of information ensure that children’s and

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Good

young people’s health, medical and medication needs are consistently met. Health outcomes also improve as children and young people take more exercise. Robust medication procedures protect children’s and young people’s medical and health needs. Short breaks are fun and children and young people feel at ease because the physical environment is welcoming and child-focused. They have an instant sense of belonging when they arrive with their photos displayed in the lounge. Children and young people stay in a comfortable and stimulating environment. Communal areas are comfortable and well-maintained. Bedrooms are decorated with themes such as the city of London and primary colours provide good visual referencing and ownership of bedrooms. Children and young people enjoy spending time in their rooms listening to music and having quiet time. Children and young people are not able to promote their privacy due to a lack of a thumb screw

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Good

locking device on the inside of the bedroom. While they have no complaints, they are currently unable to prevent others from entering their room when they are enjoying their own private time. The outdoor play and gardening areas provide further play and recreational opportunities. The new sensory room provides additional and improved facilities to meet the needs of children and young people using this service.

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Good

Safeguarding and quality of care are good because care planning is bespoke and child-centred. Good information sharing with parents leads to collaborative care planning. Staff are proactive and include children and young people in managing their own risky behaviours. For example, some young people help to put on safety harnesses when in the minibus in order to stay safe and be able to go out on an activity. Inclusion promotes children’s and young people’s safety. For example, ongoing discussion in young people’s meetings and key working sessions develops their understanding about the risk of fire and how to keep safe. Individual personal emergency evacuation plans promote safety. They reflect the child’s and young person’s awareness and give clarity to what is required of staff. Children and young people are safe due to robust risk assessment and well- implemented risk management. There is an effective balance between managing

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Good

risk and promoting young people’s independence. For example, older young people can choose where to sit on the minibus and this is facilitated by staff. Staff are keen to visit areas, such as large parks, where young people can safely make their own choices about where they walk independently. Linking arms with staff when near traffic helps their sense of independence and promotes safety. Staff have a good understanding of self-injurious behaviours. Children and young people are kept safe as staff are adept in identifying triggers and anxiety. They can divert behaviour and ensure that children and young people wear protective clothing to keep themselves safe. Good risk management between the service and school ensures that protective equipment is available in both settings and eases transition. There are no concerns about children and young people going missing due to security within the home and appropriate levels of supervision when out in the

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Good

community. While no children and young people are at immediate risk from child sexual exploitation, staff talk to them about stranger danger and risks of going into the community alone. Improvements in behaviour enhance the experiences of children and young people. Staff work collaboratively with parents and other services to manage challenging behaviours. Children, young people and staff are safe due an open and transparent assessment of children and young people. While staff are extremely committed, they are also effective in acknowledging when children’s and young people’s needs cannot be met at this short-break service. This transparency promotes the safety and welfare of everyone at the service. Children and young people enjoy a stable environment with calm and measured management of behaviour. Staff understand triggers and the importance of keeping children and young people safe while they are expressing their

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Good

frustrations. Diversionary and early intervention tactics are extremely effective. Children and young people enjoy a good level of independence, enjoyment and safety due to the skill set of staff. Children and young people are supported to make reparation. For example, helping to put furniture back in its place helps them to make amends, talk through and resolve more challenging times. Children and young people are able to move on positively and this helps their self-esteem and quality of relationships with staff.

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Good

The registered manager has managed this home since March 2014. She has good experience and is suitably qualified with a level 4 diploma in management. With the exception of one member of staff, all other staff are qualified at level 3 diploma in caring for children in a residential setting. Staffing arrangements meet the needs of the children and young people. The safety of children and young people is paramount and staffing levels ensure effective supervision according to their individual risk assessments. Training is exceptionally well organised and valued by staff. Children and young people are cared for by very competent, well-trained and knowledgeable staff. With the exception of the recent school holiday period, and in line with the home’s development plan, staff supervision targets are met and well-managed. The service continues to develop because staff and managers value training. The forward-thinking management team has enjoyed recent management training.

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Good

Development in topics such as managing capability, recruitment and selection and challenging conversations gives managers core skills for robust management. Staff are keen to use their own training experiences to develop their staff colleagues. Makaton training is now being cascaded down to all staff, including a training session in a recent in-house development day. The registered manager’s attendance on a course for training the trainer in safeguarding will contribute to robust safeguarding practice throughout the service. The staff team is outward looking and uses visits to other providers to develop its own service. For example, better use of photos and symbols at mealtimes is a direct result of a recent visit to another service. Children and young people have more control of choice and preferences with these improved communication processes. Complaints are well-managed. The management and staff team work closely with

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Good

parents to resolve concerns. Managers and staff are good advocates for children and young people. While a representative from the local authority rights and participation team visits the home, these visits include little independent and direct work with children and young people about their rights. Staff acknowledge this service as an area for development and future partnership working with the local authority children’s rights team. Good care planning guidance gives staff a consistent process to maintaining files and writing in the child’s voice. Recording is robust, accountable and child-centred. For example, safeguarding is contemporary as risk management records are effectively updated after meetings and discussion about changing needs and circumstances. Children, young people and their parents can celebrate achievements as they are catalogued, along with photos, in children’s and young people’s files. Individual

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Good

scrapbooks show a range of experiences, including cooking, using cutlery, becoming more mobile, making friends with others, gardening, arts and crafts, visiting soft play and making their own packed lunch for school. Some key working sessions and subsequent records are too complex. This does not facilitate understanding for children and young people with a short concentration span and communication challenges. Managers and staff also acknowledge that they do not fully capture their proactive and child-centred work in children’s and young people’s records. For example, staff observations highlight how some children and young people, who are usually very sound sensitive, actually enjoyed visiting an indoor play scheme and fairground. As a result of these observations, these and similar activities have been offered and repeated. Better recording of the service’s concept of ‘We saw – we did’ can show children and young people how their own experiences and non-verbal feedback can

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Good

mould developments in the service. Managers have clear insight into the strengths and needs of the service. The team is motivational and drives improvement. Development is steady and embraced by staff, children, young people and parents. This inclusion is a result of the management team’s consistent implementation of strong, child-centred focus, practical and achievable goals. Managers and staff work collaboratively to meet the aims in the home’s statement of purpose and development plan. For example, progress includes the ‘My Visit’ booklets, which now give easy access and understanding to children and young people about their experiences and progress. Managers and staff are keen to seek feedback and drive improvement. Quarterly coffee mornings with parents give excellent opportunity for pooling of ideas and sharing knowledge. The concept of ‘You said… We did’ is embedding throughout the service and parents are now keen to develop a parents’ forum. Recording of

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Good

parents’ discussion and ideas sharing will help to capture the collaborative work with parents. Reports for independent monitoring visits are extremely positive and highlight very few shortfalls, showing leadership and management to be robust. Monitoring processes drive improvement as minor shortfalls are immediately addressed.

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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 looked after children 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 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, 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

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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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