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 make good progress in all aspects of their development.  Young people are safe in the home because risk assessments promote their welfare. These detail action to be taken by staff to protect young people and reduce any risk-taking behaviour.  Young people have nurturing relationships with staff and these underpin the progress that they make.  Young people speak positively, and warmly, about the quality of their lives at the home.  Young people all attend school full time.  Managers and staff work effectively with other agencies to promote the safety and welfare of young people.  Young people develop age-appropriate skills which help them progress towards semi-independence.  Not all staff have completed refresher training within the timescale specified by the organisation. Not all staff have had an annual appraisal.  Essential documentation is missing from some young people’s files.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Areas of the home need attention to maintain good standards.  Some key-work sessions with young people are not well recorded.

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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, the 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to the decoration and maintenance of the home, the registered provider must – 2(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(2)(c)(i)) 27/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees – 4(a) undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 27/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees – 4(c) have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(c)) 27/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (case records) for each child which – (1)(a) include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 27/01/2017

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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 are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, particularly in relation to recording of key-work sessions. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities. It is part of a private children’s care organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Outstanding 04/02/2015 Full Good 11/09/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Young people benefit from good quality care from committed and nurturing staff. They form positive relationships with those they live with and the staff caring for them. There is a calm and peaceful atmosphere in the home. Young people all interact well with staff and receive a warm welcome home from school. They are happy to talk about their daily experiences and to plan their activities for the evening. A social worker commented, ‘Staff are friendly and have a genuine bond with him.’ One young person said, ‘Staff are great and the manager is the best. I have learned so much. I used to want to sit on my own in my room; now I like company. We do loads of really good things here.’

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Good

Young people all attend school full time and their attendance and punctuality are good. Teachers and home staff liaise regularly about each young person and their progress or any areas of difficulty. This makes sure that a prompt and effective response is made promoting young people’s welfare. A teacher commented, ‘Communication is excellent, and information is always shared between home and school. Staff keep us up to date.’

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Good

Young people make progress with their health and emotional needs. For example, one young person is able to discuss his emotions more easily and appears more contented than when he first joined the home. Another socialises, takes more interest in her friends and joins in activities, whereas she was reluctant to do so previously. Young people remain in good health and all attend routine health appointments. One young person was recently praised by a dentist for improving his oral hygiene. Where more specialised care is needed, staff make sure that this is accessed. Young people are involved in devising healthy eating menus, promoting their understanding of what a healthy meal looks like. They enjoy regular exercise and activities that promote their health and general enjoyment of life. One young person said, ‘I am happy here and I really enjoy going to club.’

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Good

Staff work with young people to understand their preferred methods of communication. One young person is able to occasionally talk to people he does not know well, something he was unable to do previously. Another has increased her use of sign language, helping her to express her wishes and needs. Posters and information around the home are presented in different communication forms dependent upon young people’s needs. Young people are involved in all aspects of the home’s running as far as they are able. Their views and opinions are canvassed in regular young people’s meetings, key-work sessions and daily dialogue. The registered manager seeks their views via feedback forms and responds to any suggestions made. Young people feel involved and valued, and they know that adults are interested in their opinions.

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Good

Young people benefit from a range of activities that enhance their social experiences and offer them new opportunities. These include activities in the home, such as cooking, baking, arts and crafts, and going out into the community to the cinema, sports, walks, day trips. A young person said, ‘There is always something to do here. And I can also spend time on my own if I want to.’

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Good

Young people are prepared for semi-independent living, or moving to adult care. They are helped to take more responsibility for their rooms, laundry and personal care. One young person is now able to express his own views and opinions, rather than agreeing with what staff and others say. This has promoted his self- confidence and self-esteem. Another said, ‘I have learned so much since I have lived here – cooking, looking after myself and about safety. They listen to me and help me. I will miss them when I leave.’

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Good

The registered manager and staff promote the safety and well-being of young people at all times. The registered manager provides clear direction and support to staff about safe and appropriate day-to-day practice.

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Good

Staff consistently focus on promoting positive behaviour with young people. The use of incentives and rewards underpins this approach. Where young people’s behaviour falls below the expected standard, staff engage with them patiently. They communicate with each young person in ways that match their understanding and ability. Physical interventions are rarely used, and records are thoroughly completed in line with the organisation’s policy and procedure. Young people live in a home where staff have clear boundaries and expectations. This helps young people manage their emotions and behaviour appropriately.

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Good

Safeguarding and meeting the needs of young people takes precedence in the home. To achieve this, the registered manager and staff work closely with health and education services, the local authority and the police. A local police officer visits staff and young people from time to time, and this helps young people develop an understanding of their role in the community. In addition, the police officer has spoken to young people about various safeguarding matters, helping them understand how they should behave towards others. A teacher commented, ‘We are in frequent communication with staff… and if we have any concerns, staff are prompt to reply to these.’ Since the last inspection, the home has not had any incidents of young people going missing from care or having absences without permission. Staff are confident about what to do should an event occur.

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Good

Staff have access to assessments that identify risks and how to manage them. This information is reviewed regularly, and any changes are communicated to staff. Young people live in a physically safe environment and, if they want to be, are involved in the regular health and safety checks within the home. Safe recruitment and vetting arrangements are in place, reinforcing young people’s safety and protecting them from adults who may wish to harm them.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager has been in post since November 2016, and was the interim manager for a few months prior to this. She is suitably qualified to undertake this role, and is undertaking a level 5 diploma in leadership and management in residential childcare. She is supported by a team leader and a staff team, most of whom are qualified with a level 3 diploma in residential childcare. If they do not have this qualification, they will undertake the course once they have completed their probationary period.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager prioritises the safety, welfare and progress of each young person in her care. She takes account of the needs of all young people, even if they live a long way from their family. The service provided reflects that described in the organisation’s statement of purpose. Each young person is treated with dignity and respect, and offered varied opportunities to overcome developmental barriers associated with their individual needs.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager reviews young people’s files, but recordings of key-work sessions are not always thorough and do not always reflect young people’s views and opinions. If young people read their records, they may lack confidence that those records accurately represent what was discussed. In addition, not all essential information is contained in each young person’s files as required by the children’s homes regulations. The registered manager has not actively challenged other agencies when this essential information has not been made available. Consequently, staff may not have all the necessary information they need to meet each young person’s needs effectively.

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Requires improvement

Staff are provided with help, advice and support through regular supervision, when they have the opportunity to reflect on young people’s progress, and their development goals. However, not all staff receive annual appraisals in line with organisational expectations, thus they do not have the opportunity to gain feedback about their overall performance and to devise a personal development plan. Not all staff have completed their initial or refresher training in key areas including fire safety and caring for young people with an autism spectrum disorder. Consequently, young people are cared for by some staff who may lack essential skills and knowledge about their needs.

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Requires improvement

New staff complete a thorough package of induction training and are helped to develop supportive relationships with each young person, alongside established staff. Staff spoke warmly and positively about their work with young people, and the support they receive from managers and colleagues.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager is aware of the strengths and areas for development for the home. She has a thorough and realistic development plan in place. This includes refreshing areas of the home that need improvement, for example, the living room and stair areas. These shortfalls detract from the overall positive environment. In addition, the registered manager is developing independence work with young people, and plans to extend this, reflecting the ages of the young people living at the home. She proposes to involve young people in trying new activities to increase new opportunities and experiences they can enjoy while living at the home.

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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 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, 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 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 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 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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