Children's home 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 . The management and staff team work hard to make improvements to this service. Their achievements are commendable as the staff team faces an uncertain future due to wider organisational changes, including the merger of this service with another local authority children’s home. In addition, a new interim manager has joined the management team, in the absence of a registered manager. Leadership is improving as the management team works together and connects well to maintain a positive vision for the service. Staffing arrangements meet the needs of the young people and recent training in autistic spectrum disorder and attachment theory have galvanised the staff as they strive to provide good-quality care and adhere to the home’s statement of purpose. Young people continue to enjoy living at the home. They experience security and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

safety as staff maintain the good safeguarding outcomes as identified at the last inspection. Young people become more independent as staff provide clear plans and targets for young people to develop their skills and support their own daily routines. While there are still some statutory requirements and recommendations not met, other progress is made. For example, young people now enjoy a wider range of toys and sensory play equipment. Arts and crafts are a popular activity, as the activity cupboard is now replenished with a good range of materials. The introduction of iPads, to include individualised communication systems, is a great success, with young people playing and learning at the same time. Opportunities for young people to express their views steadily progress as staff introduce more symbols and photographs in the home. For example, each young person has their own communication file, where they can retrieve symbols and let

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff know about their needs. The staff are also about to introduce symbol-based morning and bedtime routine charts to be placed outside young people’s bedrooms. These developments arise from staff visiting other services and working alongside the young people’s school. Effective partnership working brings consistency to children’s and young people’s social and educational experiences. Young people’s records are under continuous review. The new manager is currently introducing new behaviour plans that are proven to work well in another service. Staff are embracing these changes and are keen to continue to attempt to streamline records and present more child-centred recording formats. Developments in recording can be best seen in the new symbol-based review forms. The use of symbols and photos now means that young people can express their wishes, views and feelings and contribute to the running of the home and the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

quality of their placements. Key working records are improving with pictures and symbols so young people can return to and understand the support they receive. However, some sessions are complex, covering a range of issues which may be confusing for some young people. The staff team acknowledges that work to improve recording is ongoing. As a result, the recommendations relating to children’s and young people’s records, from the last inspection, are repeated. While communication processes improve, staff’s consistent use of sign language in the home remains poor and the statutory requirement about communication is also repeated. Early attempts to decorate and personalise the young people’s bedrooms and communal areas have started, but there is still some way to go to soften the institutionalised appearance of the home. This statutory requirement from the last inspection is also repeated. The management team has stronger internal monitoring and responds well to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

independent monitoring visits. The team is working steadily to drive improvement and to ensure that the home is compliant with the children’s homes regulations and quality standards.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered to care for five children who have learning disabilities. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home currently cares for males only; however, it would provide care to females should a vacancy arise. Children up to the age 18 years can stay at the home. Some young people may go beyond their 18 th birthdays while they await adult placement.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 Interim Improved 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must: (2)(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. 31/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

22. Contact and access to communications (4) The registered person must ensure that a child with disabilities who is 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. 31/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  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)  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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62,

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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 0300 123 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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