Children's Home run by Serenity Specialist Care Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471672 1 SC471672

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Serenity Specialist Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning disabilities. It is owned and operated by a small private company.

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This monitoring visit

This home was last inspected in May 2017 and judged to be good. A number of requirements were made. These related to the condition of the home, how relationships are managed and the sufficiency of staffing. This monitoring inspection took place following Ofsted receiving concerns about behaviour management in the home. This also coincided with an increase in notifiable events occurring at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Progress has been good since the last inspection. All previous requirements have been positively actioned. For example, the home has been redecorated and young people’s rooms are now better maintained. There has also been improvement in how relationships are being managed. Young people’s views and wishes are now more keenly sought and acted upon. This has also led to young people being generally more settled in the home.

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This monitoring visit

There have been some recent incidents between young people. These have been appropriately managed with effective actions taken and, when required, input sought from external agencies. This means that prompt actions have been taken to address concerns about the safety and welfare of young people. Where concerns have arisen from external sources, the organisation has responded appropriately. The managers are working closely with placing authorities to review the placements of young people.

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This monitoring visit

There have been some marked improvements for young people’s educational outcomes. For example, a young person has successfully completed exams and is now pursuing further advanced educational studies. Another young person is Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471672 2 working well to reintegrate back into school and is making clear progress in this regard. However, not all young people are positively engaged in education. Although managers have taken some actions to try and provide options for schooling, there is insufficient progress being made in securing a positive outcome. Current educational arrangements are subject to short timescales and lack certainty and permanency. This means that young people lack the security of a school place and clarity about their education. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

The views of young people are now better embedded into the running of the home. This is an improvement since the last inspection. Behaviour management is, on the whole, appropriately used and young people have clear boundaries. There is some good work being delivered in helping young people to display socially acceptable behaviour. However, when young people express dissatisfaction with a sanction, there is a lack of follow up or discussion. This means that young people who may wish to complain are not afforded the opportunity to do so. This has not had any demonstrable impact. However, a recommendation has been made to improve this area of practice.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this inspection visit, one requirement and one recommendation have been made.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/05/2017 Full Good 08/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/05/2016 Full Good 25/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471672 3

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) and (2) (a) (viii)) 30/11/2017

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Recommendation

 Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without any fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Regulation 39 sets out the requirements on the registered person to have a complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.13)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471672 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Serenity Specialist Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, Dutch Barn, Shadowbrook Court, Shadowbrook Lane, Solihull, West Midlands B92 0DL

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Inspector

Pete Hylton, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471672 5 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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