Children's home run by Icare Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1164379 1

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Icare Children’s Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was conducted following concerns received by Ofsted. These concerns relate to staffing levels at the home, the safety of young people, and leadership and management arrangements at the home.

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This monitoring visit

A high number of permanent staff have left the home in recent days. This includes the interim manager. This has affected the stability of the home and its day-to-day running. The absence of a manager has left the managerial monitoring of the service compromised. Although the responsible individual has started to cover shifts at the home, there is a lack of management oversight and scrutiny.

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This monitoring visit

Almost half the staff working at the home are agency staff. They are new to the home and to the young people. They do not have established relationships with the young people. Two new staff have worked at the home for between three and five weeks, and these staff do not have established relationships with the young people. The responsible individual is attempting to cover each shift with a mixture of agency staff and the small number of permanent staff members. This results in young people being cared for by staff who do not always know them, or their routines, well.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has not adequately monitored recruitment processes. For example, one recent employee joined the company without employment checks being undertaken; another did not satisfactorily explain gaps in employment. This means that young people are potentially exposed to harm.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted continues to liaise with placing authorities and the home’s responsible Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1164379 2 individual to promote the welfare and safety of the young people living there.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/05/2017 Full Good 02/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1164379 3

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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: 1164379 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Icare Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 24 Milton Road, Smethwick B67 7HT

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Inspector

Julia Wright, social care inspector Alison Cooper, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1164379 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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