Children's Home run by N H Care Limited 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 judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection in June, Ofsted judged this service to require improvement in order to be good. This overall standard of care has not changed. In the intervening period, shortfalls in leadership and staffing have contributed to various difficulties, including incorrect admissions and negative incidents. However, since the latter part of 2016, young people have benefited from effective management and a stable team of staff. A qualified and experienced manager is in charge.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A registered manager has not been in post since April 2016. Despite the efforts of the company to fill the position, and other personnel providing cover, no registration has been possible. Uncertainty regarding this post is key to the instability. The home has two residents and the company has taken the important step of preventing further admissions. The intention is for no admissions to occur until the service is sufficiently stable. This decision reflects the lack of a registered manager, and the staffing situation. It is also in response to an incorrect decision by a temporary manager to admit a young person whose needs did not match those of the other residents. The service could not meet the needs of the young person or prevent the disruption of the care of the other young people. This led to the new young person being discharged.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The last inspection identified seven breaches of regulations and made five recommendations. Staff have addressed these satisfactorily and the service has improved in several ways. Better organisation of each shift means that young people feel secure and can predict what is going to happen. Much closer attention to staff qualifications means that competent adults care for the young people. Staff have received training about essential skills and topical issues, such as radicalisation. Of particular importance is that staff attend regular supervision meetings, which provide the professional support they need.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, staff had insufficient understanding of the education system. This situation has been remedied and staff now give young people‟s education a high priority. This has led to one young person making a successful move to a new school, which meets his needs better. The fact that he no longer needs an additional adult to help at school demonstrates the positive impact of this move and contributes to his self-confidence. There remains some uncertainty about the fire safety precautions required in the boiler room and, therefore, the monitoring and maintenance that is necessary. This creates a minor potential hazard to staff and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Through the monitoring processes, the company has identified the need to stabilise the staff team. Since the last inspection, there has been an almost complete change in the membership of the team. The recent stability of staff is starting to give young people more consistency. This vital element means that young people attend school regularly and engage in very few dangerous incidents. Monitoring by the independent visitor has contributed substantially to tracking the development of the service. However, the reports do not clearly state the visitor‟s opinion on the well-being and safeguarding of young people. This means that his conclusions are less clear than they could be.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monitoring exercises show several minor shortfalls in the records, including an incomplete summary of staff training and insecure pages in some records. The acting manager is addressing these shortfalls. Social workers have not sent some important documents. This jeopardises the ability of staff to meet young people‟s needs as effectively as possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The property is satisfactory in most respects. Staff are considering ways to make it feel more homely. However, litter at the front of the house and cat faeces at the side compromise the standard of cleanliness and hygiene.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, instability in the home has resulted in negative incidents. Staff involved Ofsted and other agencies appropriately. The operations manager has investigated and concluded issues such as allegations and complaints. In some cases, staff were required to take additional steps in order to learn from such incidents. The situation has been stable for over two months, with no need to restrain young people and no incidents of self-harm. Meetings of staff and young people serve to focus attention on young people‟s needs and staff have improved their engagement with young people‟s parents. These improvements have allowed young people to focus on positive things, which staff are encouraging by using an effective system of rewards.

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Information about this children's home

A small private company operates this home. Ofsted has registered the home for up to four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/08/2015 Full Good 15/01/2015 Full Adequate

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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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority‟s or a relevant person‟s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child‟s needs are met in accordance with the child‟s relevant plans. This is with regard to obtaining relevant documents in a timely way. 27/02/2017

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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 ensure that children receive care from staff who:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(b) use their understanding of the children‟s home‟s overall aims to deliver care that meets children‟s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. This is with regard to keeping the outside of the house sufficiently hygienic and tidy. 20/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

Consult the fire and rescue authority and take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children‟s home. This is with regard to obtaining documents that specify the requirements. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)) 20/02/2017 The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children‟s home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27(1)(a)) 20/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the independent person produces a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. This is with regard to these conclusions being clearly recorded. (Regulation 44(4)) 27/03/2017

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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 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 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

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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