Children's home run by Birmingham City Council in Birmingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the 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

Children and young people who lived at the home at the time of the last inspection in October 2016 continue to do well. They develop mobility skills, improve their health and some look forward to reunification with their families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children more recently admitted to the home settle well. Early in-house risk assessment focuses on key areas and enable staff to keep children and young people safe, reduce their distress and continue on-going assessment of needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management and staff team continue to work with the nursing team to address one of the statutory requirements from the last inspection. Improvements are on-going. Care planning arrangements for the permanent children and young people are in good order.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, improvement to the recording strategies to safeguard children’s and young people’s complex medical needs in the short breaks service are still on- going. The registered manager and care staff make good progress and sustain effectiveness, but this statutory requirement is repeated to drive the on-going partnership working with the nursing management in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff embrace feedback and they continue to make progress on the manager’s long-term plans to improve, streamline and develop more child centred records and provide meaningful memorabilia for children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For example, a selection of key working records have pictures and symbols so children and young people can return to and understand the support they receive, and their achievements. Some records are more advanced than others. The manager’s action plan is on-going and there are still some children’s and young people’s records yet to be addressed. As a result, the recommendations relating to children’s and young people’s records, from the last inspection, are repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team are practical and measured in their efforts to address the second statutory requirement from the last inspection. Communication systems in the home now include a far greater range of symbol and picture information. However, consistent use of sign language is still developing. The registered manager states that the near completion of a member of staff’s sign language qualification to train other staff will address this development. While the staff team show measured improvement, this statutory requirement is also repeated to drive improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to improve the physical environment so to meet the needs of children and young people. For example improvements in the garden include a new gazebo, large garden chimes and the imminent delivery of a suitably adapted garden swing. These improvements mean children and young people using wheelchairs can sit and eat in the garden and remain in their wheelchairs while enjoying the garden swing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements in communication systems ensures children and young people now have regular and more meaningful consultation. Both in terms of children and young people’s meetings about the home and in one-to-one key working sessions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffing arrangements meet the needs of the young people. While there are some staff vacancies and new staff recruited to the home; the core staff team, effective induction and consistent use of agency staff give children and young people a firm sense of security and stability. The registered manager drives recruitment and training, maintains good quality care and adheres to the home’s statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recent training in autism, Down’s syndrome, Prada-Willi syndrome and cerebral palsy give staff greater insight into the needs and presenting behaviours of children and young people using this service. Developing insight in to forms of child abuse, not least neglect, also brings improvement to outcomes for children and young people. This insight lends to more individualised care planning, greater understanding of health care needs and children’s and young people’s communication needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For example, clear care planning ensures children with a history of mal- nourishment receive their favourite foods alongside new and healthier foods. Staff have growing knowledge of autism. They respond well to the sensory challenges of trying new tastes and textures of foods. Staff are patient and creative and ensure children young people eat and gradually enjoy a more balanced diet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Compatibility assessments and partnership working with social workers, parents and education enables effective admission to the home. The registered manager and staff show good levels of sensitivity to how children experience arriving at the home, as sometimes this can be under emergency and challenging circumstances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Awareness of all children’s and young people’s complex communication needs means staff are committed to finding out the best ways to understand how children express themselves. Nurture from staff and their ability to liaise with school and parents gives them good access to communication strategies. As a result children experience a good sense of security and understanding when they arrive at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Collaborative work with social workers and parents also enable staff to safely manage children and young people’s family contact arrangements. For example, children and young people receive information in symbol and sign language to help them understand their family backgrounds and on-going contact arrangements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working with parents both within the home and during family visits positively contributes to improving parent and child relationships and the potential for children and young people to be reunited with families. A parent spoken with on this inspection fully appreciates staff support and are confident children and young people are well-cared for at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education outcomes remain stable for all children and young people. Staff liaison with schools ensures effective information sharing for the children and young people who live permanently at the home. Organisation of transport and communication systems between staff, families and education staff promote stable education arrangements for the children and young people who use the short break service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Health outcomes significantly improve for children and young people. Staff facilitate regular health checks with children’s and young people’s GP, dentist and optician. They also provide high levels of support for children and young people who require extensive medical procedures in hospital and periods of convalescence back at the home. This effective quality of care means children and young now can enjoy better posture, eat a more varied diet and have more stable emotional and mental health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager embraces feedback and responds well to independent monitoring visits and ensures the home remains compliant with the children’s homes’ regulations and quality standards.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to 16 children and young people with physical and/or learning disabilities. The home provides ten long-term placements and six short-break placements. The home is operated by a local authority. The home is also registered with the Commission for Quality Care.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Full Good 29/02/2016 Full Requires improvement 05/01/2016 Full Inadequate 27/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard to ensure that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. This is with particular regard to further improvement of robust recording strategies to safeguard children and young people’s complex medical needs. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

22: Contact and access to communications

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a disabled child accommodated in the home is provided with access to such aids and equipment as the child may require as a result of the child’s disability in order to facilitate the child’s communication with other persons. This is with particular regard to continuing the ongoing developments in the home. (Regulation 22 (4)) 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Record information about the child in a way that will be helpful to the child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14)

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Recommendations

 Keep all children's case records up to date. This is with particular regard to streamlining and prioritising information in young people's care, risk and behaviour management plans. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

 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 record significant life events. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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 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

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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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