Children's Home run by Care and Management Services Ltd in Birmingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to receive a good level of care from the staff team. Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in the number of young people at the home. One complaint has been raised relating to this, but the points raised have been assessed as not having a negative effect on the well-being of the young people. Prior to the newest admission, young people were consulted about the increase in the home’s occupancy and no concerns were raised by them. Social workers of those in placement were also informed. This included sharing information relating to compatibility and risks. This is good practice and supports a positive transition for young people into the home. Young people have experienced challenges in their education, with all having disrupted periods of schooling since the last inspection. Staff continue to work hard with different educational provisions to support the young people’s academic

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

development, including spending time at placements. Although all young people do not routinely attend education on a full-time basis, staff offer a range of learning experiences to keep the young people engaged with a culture of self-improvement. The need for young people to attend education on a full-time basis was raised as a recommendation at the last inspection and has therefore not been fully met. One young person was proud of their increased confidence in talking to others, stating that staff have: ‘Kept making sure that I’m involved with things going on in the home and I get on with most of the staff.’ Some young people have increased their contact with family members over the Christmas period. Staff have worked well in supervising visits and providing a practical level of guidance to help develop positive family arrangements. Internal monitoring is completed by the staff team and manager. This helps to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inform and develop the service. The six-monthly report examines all aspects of the home and gives some basic developmental points. The manager has had a period of absence from the home but has kept up to date with all issues relating to the young people and the staff team. Monthly monitoring by the independent visitor is completed regularly. However, this does not help to develop the service. For example, there is limited information from external stakeholders such as social workers or parents. Staff work well to respond to some exceptionally complex needs displayed by young people. One safeguarding concern has been raised since the last inspection. This is being responded to fully, with good consultation with both the police and safeguarding organisations. Detailed information was shared with Ofsted through notifications relating to this issue, highlighting the consideration given to resolving concerns relating to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works well with a wide range of external services. A number of these relate to health services, due to the needs of the young people. Staff work effectively with mental health services and hospitals, supporting the well-being of the young people. Additional psychological services are sought to enhance the provision on an individualised basis. This results in a highly targeted approach to the delivery of care. Two requirements and five recommendations were made at the last inspection. The majority of these have been met, but some areas require additional responses from the management. Due to the behaviours exhibited by young people, a requirement was made relating to self-harm training. A dedicated training course has now been completed by the majority of the staff and is now part of all new staff members’ induction. Daily records have been improved, with a simplification in the use of differing

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

recording logs. This is helping to decrease confusion for the staff members so that they are aware of what needs to be recorded. Staff are now better aware of the way to record complaints. One complaint has been received since the last inspection. This was responded to swiftly, including a discussion and formal response to the young person relating to the issue. No young people have been missing since the last inspection. Staff are aware of how to respond to this issue and have a system for recording such events. This includes an awareness that the placing authority has a responsibility to be involved on young people’s return. This helps to support young people should they go missing in the future. Staff state that they are well supported by the management team, and that senior staff are always available. However, records of supervision continue to lack sufficient detail and are not completed in line with the home’s policy. This is due, in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

part, to the absence of the manager. Her return will help to improve this situation. The recommendation is therefore repeated.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of three children’s homes within a privately run organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people. The home’s statement of purpose indicates that the general age range will be between 12 and 17 years of age.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/06/2016 Full Good 15/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/12/2014 Full Good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  ensure that children are in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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Recommendations

 ensure that the registered manager details the process and timescales for supervision of practice and keeps appropriate records for staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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Recommendations

 ensure that children feel safe and are safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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 whom 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, 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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