Children's home run by Thoughts of Others 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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leadership and management have not delivered sufficiently effective improvement since the last full inspection. This inspection identified ongoing and some new shortfalls.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has taken action to meet two of the previous five requirements and a third is still within the required timescale. Plans are being progressed to replace stained furniture. These plans include ordering a new dining table and chairs. Prompt managerial monitoring of restraint practice now means that restraints are proportionate and necessary. The manager now speaks to staff after a restraint and this takes place within two days of the event. This practice helps the manager and staff to reflect on incidents. There has been one occasion when staff have restricted a child’s liberty to prevent her from leaving the home and this was appropriately recorded as a restraint. Previously, there was a delay in Ofsted receiving the six-monthly quality of care review. At the time of the inspection, the next report was due by the end of April.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independent external scrutiny of the safeguarding and well-being of children has been completely absent since January 2017. The registered manager reports that a new independent visitor has been appointed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose and category of registration still do not describe the service provided accurately. The registered person has not reviewed the statement of purpose, or requested a variation to remove the existing registration category to care for children with learning disabilities. The statement of purpose does not clearly refer to the organisation’s approach that it will seek agreement from the placing authority to apply for a deprivation of liberty order at the point of referral, nor does it make clear that staff will restrict children’s liberty and movement until the local authority obtains an order. At the time of this inspection, no children were subject to a deprivation of liberty order. However, this was the registered person’s prerequisite for one recent placement agreement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The workforce plan, and the updated training matrix, make no provision for staff training in key areas of the service’s current offer to placing authorities in the placement agreement. Although some staff have individual experience and training in some areas, not all members of staff have training in caring for children who are at risk of self-harm, child sexual exploitation, or have mental health needs. Additionally, staff are not trained in the care of children with learning disabilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do not have sufficient stability of care. For example, 35 different members of staff have worked at the home in a recent one-month period, in addition to the core staff team of 14. Less than half of the current core staff team, six people, have achieved the government’s recognised qualification at level 3 diploma in working with children. A further eight are enrolled on this course.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has consulted with the police about local risks relating to the suitability of the home’s location. However, the registered manager has not formally reviewed the location assessment to include other social issues in the area, such as other children’s homes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are fresh weaknesses that reflect on the quality of leadership and management. For example, children’s documentation is not always unique to the child or signed and dated by the author of each entry. One risk assessment names a different child. Some records of conversations and meetings with children were found not to be dated. The home’s care plan omits important information about medication. These weaknesses compromise the accuracy of children’s records.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A lack of clear guidance about prescribed medication administered under ‘as and when required’ instruction, to manage children’s behaviour, means that some staff may not know that the medication exists, or in what circumstances they should administer the medication. The registered manager does not have important safeguarding information about staff recently deployed to work at the home. This restricts the registered manager’s ability to fulfil his child protection responsibilities which help to keep children safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Reviews of restraints have improved since the last inspection. However, further improvement is required. Records of restraint, including separately filed records of staff and child interviews, are dispersed across several records. This means that a complete picture is not always available to the manager or independent visitor when they are conducting their reviews. When inspectors asked the manager to locate some missing information, this revealed missing information, for example, how a floor or bed restraint occurred. Additional records written by the staff involved were not signed or dated, nor did they cross-reference to the original log entry. They were not attached to the relevant record and are at risk of being lost.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite some of these shortcomings, children have experienced positive care. One child has had a planned move to greater independence at another service run by the company. New children have moved in after careful planning and introductions, including using video links to introduce staff and show the house. These children are settling in well. This includes learning to trust and feel safe. Others have done well and are now on only one-to-one staffing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager encourages staff to emphasise the positives to children and ‘catch them being good’. One child has created fabulous handmade decorated booklets in which the core staff write their messages to her. This has been a great encouragement as she settles into the home. Good support for education means that children keep up their school attendance and achievements. Even those children on the organisation’s school role, but not attending yet, maintain a good daily routine and staff support formal learning in this time. Others are doing well in their GCSE courses at the organisation’s school. Children say that they are involved in their educational plans and can talk to the manager. Children told the inspectors, ‘I just ask him,’ and, ‘I’m involved.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

High staffing levels of up to three staff to one child help to keep children safe. When children go out in the community, they always have staff with them. Even in the home, staff are always around. None of the children have gone missing since their admission to the home. Previous risks from child sexual exploitation have reduced because children are never alone. Simple mobile phone use is allowed after risks have reduced. There have been no allegations or referrals to the local safeguarding authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Creative strategies by enthusiastic staff help to reduce children’s anxious behaviour, sadness and mental health crises. Self-harm and low mood are live issues for children at this home. Mental health professionals say that they are confident that staff are aware of triggers and implement distraction and coping techniques. The garden provides a valuable resource for children who need fresh air and space to calm. One child told the inspectors, ‘Staff listen to you; they take your feelings into consideration.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has the confidence of staff and children alike. A skilled practitioner, he also has a clear grasp of children’s needs and strategies to assist them, and conveys this to the staff. He is a ‘hands-on’ manager and has developed a consistent approach to members of the large staff team. This approach has been productive with a child who has recently moved in. The registered manager reports positive feedback after visits from placing authority commissioners. He has established constructive links with local specialist police and now attends the local children’s home forum. Placing authority social workers say that they choose this provider because of their satisfaction with their experience of other homes in the group. Parents say that their children are well cared for and they get regular updates from staff.

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Information about this children’s home

This private children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities. They may stay over the age of 18 where this is part of a plan to move on. The organisation operates this setting as a home for girls.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/12/2016 Full Good 17/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 27/07/2015 Full Good 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to fulfilling safeguarding responsibilities, quality of children’s records and delivering improvement against regulation and guidance, the registered provider must: (1) enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. Specifically, be clear about the range of needs of the children for whom the service is registered. Also make clear the organisation’s approach to deprivation of liberty and restriction of liberty and movement. Keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. Notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)(b) and Schedule 1(1)(2)) 30/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording and safe administration of medication. Specifically, medication prescribed as ‘PRN’. (Regulation 23(1)) 30/06/2017 The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month and produces a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectivelysafeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. This is with regard to recording these conclusions clearly. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)) 30/06/2017

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Detail in the workforce plan the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose. The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 Review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process: ‘Children’s homes regulation amendments 2014: Advice for children’s homes providers on new duties under regulations that came in to effect in January and April 2014’. This is with regard to identifying social issues in the area, such as other children’s homes, and coming to a clear conclusion about the ongoing suitability of the home’s location. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1).

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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

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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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