Children's home run by Birmingham City Council 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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The members of the staff team are motivated in their drive to provide good quality care and improve the operation of this short-break service. Children and young people make good progress and have positive experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is more strategic and reflective in her approach, and this is now evident in the morale, motivation and consistency of the staff team. Her use of adult-education training theories enables the manager to make greater connection with staff about the vision for the service. For example, staff are keen to contribute their skills and qualities to impact on the ever-improving communication systems and recording formats.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have worked hard to meet the statutory requirement to support children and young people to use their short-break experience to develop independence skills. New ‘My Stay’ booklets identify at least one independence target for each child. Use of photos and written notes for parents show how children and young people learn new skills such as showering, laying the table, tidying bedrooms and getting dressed independently.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff make steady and meaningful improvement in communication processes. These developments also show the staff team’s ability to work in partnership with others to develop the service. For example, additional use of symbols in the home is as a direct result of staff working with children and young people’s schools. This consistent working together brings stability across children and young people’s social and educational experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Extending the role of the member of staff who is qualified in sign language further drives improvement, with the introduction of in-house staff training. 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. While the staff team shows measured improvement, this statutory requirement is repeated to drive improvement, and to ensure that children and young people are better able to understand what is expected of them and know more about the running of the home. Improvements to the physical environment provide a vibrant and child-friendly service. For example, themed and personalised bedrooms give children and young people a firm sense of belonging when they visit for short breaks. Bathrooms are also less institutionalised, with murals and decoration. The activity room is transformed, with a large screen to watch movies, a stage for performances and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff also continue to make progress in improving child-centred records. For example, a selection of key working records have pictures and symbols so that children and young people can return to and understand the support that they receive. The My Stay booklets provide meaningful information for children, young people and their families. Some booklets are more advanced than others, and the staff team acknowledges that work is ongoing. As a result, the recommendations relating to children 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

Risk management is much improved. The home is well maintained. Children and young people’s safety is improved as staff carry out daily checks to ensure all areas, including the sensory garden, are safe and free from hazards.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Compatibility is high on the agenda when selecting groups for short stays at the service and there are no concerns about bullying at the home. Transition is extremely effective because staff are sensitive to the individual needs of children, young people and their families. For example, one child has a different pattern of scheduled stays to help with her anxiety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Effective partnership working skills with schools are mirrored in the staff’s ability to work with families and health agencies to promote good health. For example, effective liaison with children and young people’s doctors, consultants and parents contributes to safe medication procedures and protects children and young people’s medical needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team currently faces an uncertain future due to wider organisational changes, including the merger of this service with another local authority children’s home. However, the staff embrace and positively use the feedback that they receive from parents to ensure good quality care throughout the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager maintains effective monitoring systems and is quick to respond to independent monitoring visits. Internal monitoring ensures that the home continues to improve and moves towards compliance with the children’s homes regulations and quality standards.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority short-breaks service registers up to seven short-break placements for children with learning disabilities at any one time. The service usually provides and offers short-break stays over seven nights during a seven-week period. There is usually a combination of four Monday to Friday night stays and a three-night weekend stay. The service also provides more individually arranged and often shorter stays in order to meet the needs of children, young people and their families. The home’s statement of purpose states that children can be of either gender, between the ages of five and 18 years and with a range of learning disabilities, including autism, and often with associated physical, sensory and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/09/2015 Full Requires improvement 04/03/2015 Interim Sustained 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

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)) 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 recommendations:  Keep all children’s case records up to date. This is with particular regard to prioritising information in children and young people’s behaviour and risk management plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

 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 14.4)

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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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including 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 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 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

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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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