Children's Home run by Aston Children’s Care Ltd 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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who present with concerning behaviours and are at risk of harm do not benefit from structured and regular key-work sessions to address these concerns. Key-work sessions do take place. However, staff do not focus on young people’s behaviours and actions. For example, during one session a young person stated that seeing his friends ‘smoke weed’ is what he had enjoyed that month. Staff did not update his risk assessments and no further work was undertaken with the young person regarding substance misuse. Some young people have been involved in setting fires when out in the community. Staff have not engaged the young people in any follow-up work to educate them regarding the dangers of fire.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not meet young people’s health needs. Some young people who are on long-term prescribed medication refuse to continue taking it. For example, there are no records on or after 1 August 2016 showing the administration of medicine to one young person. This indicates that the young person has refused the medication. Although staff sought medical advice initially, the advice was not followed. The manager had intended to discuss this issue during an appointment with the child, adolescent and mental health services (CAMHS) practitioner, but the young person refused to attend the appointment and further medical advice was not sought. Consequently, the young person has not been taking long-term prescribed medication for more than seven months.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The standard of the property is satisfactory in most areas. However, there are some trip hazards created by poorly fitted carpets. Framed documents, activity planners and menu planners hanging on walls in the hallway do not create a homely feel. For example, one framed document details the fines that young people will incur should they go into the office without permission. Another document details a long list of the house rules. Furthermore, young people’s bedrooms are poorly presented and are not personalised. A young person who has lived in the home for approximately 12 months said that they are still waiting for their bedroom to be decorated. The deputy manager acknowledged that the home would benefit from some ‘softening’. As a result, the home has an institutionalised feel. The requirement from the last inspection has been met. As a result, young people now express their views about the home they live in. However, these views are not

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

yet embedded in the day-to-day running of the home. There is no feedback given to the young people in respect of their views. Consequently, young people do not have confidence that their views are taken seriously. Moreover, the manager does not use their feedback to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is privately operated and provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/08/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good 12/02/2015 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

In order to meet the health and well-being standard, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met

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Requirement Due date

(b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. 02/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(ii) that staff help each child to understand how to keep safe

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Requirement Due date

(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 02/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. 02/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular, the registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and a record is kept of the 02/05/2017 administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(b)(c))

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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 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

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

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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