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 good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . The home is led by a registered manager who has been in post since November 2016. She is currently undertaking a level 5 diploma in leadership and management in residential childcare. She regularly monitors staff practice and has a good awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. This helps to ensure that the home and the staff team continue to develop. There has been one complaint about the home since the last inspection. This was investigated and resolved swiftly. Young people are settled in the home and are continuing to make good progress in all areas of their development. Staff communicate with young people well using their chosen methods of communication. Staff support young people to remain healthy by encouraging them to participate in activities, such as swimming and going to the gym. One young person

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

particularly enjoys doing yoga with a member of staff in the home. Young people engage well in education and all have 100% attendance at school. This is supported well by staff, who communicate regularly and work in partnership with teachers to support young people’s education targets. Young people enjoy attending activities and clubs, both in school and in the local community. This is wide ranging and includes attending youth clubs and going out for meals. As a result, young people are able to develop life skills while interacting with others and making friends. Staff support young people to develop their independence skills on an individual basis. However, young people’s targets are not clearly specified in their placement plans. Any work conducted with young people is not recorded in any depth to reflect the progress young people are achieving. This was a recommendation made at the last inspection and will be remade.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support young people’s transitional moves into adult placements well. They work alongside young people, parents and social workers to ensure that the young people are able to make informed choices about where they wish to live. Staff support planned transitions and visit new placements with young people to help them settle them into their new homes. Consequently, young people feel less anxious when moving into a new environment. Young people are safe in the home and do not go missing. They have visited fire and police stations with staff to learn about fire safety and to help them develop an understanding of how to keep them themselves safe while out in the community. Staff promote positive behaviour well using rewards and financial incentives. Consequently, the use of sanctions and physical interventions of young people to manage challenging behaviour are rare. The requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Young

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people’s case records contain all essential information and the annual appraisals of staff have been completed. The home has been redecorated throughout and now presents as warm and comfortable. There is a wide- ranging training programme for staff and staff are now completing mandatory training.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities. It is part of a private children’s care organisation.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

22/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.5

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This refers to the setting of young people’s targets and recording key work sessions. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.5

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’.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7