Children's Home run by Individual Specialist Care Limited in Sandwell

Inspection report children’s home: SC481235 1 SC481235 Registered provider: Individual Specialist Care Ltd

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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 three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

The home was last inspected in April 2017. The three requirements and three recommendations made at the last inspection have all been met. The manager has completed her review of the quality of care and provided a report to Ofsted. All work tools are now safely stored away and staff have received refresher health and safety training. Curtains have been put up in bedrooms to protect young people’s privacy and dignity. Staff have not used reparation as a sanction, room search records are now in place. This shows that the manager learns from inspection and takes the appropriate steps to improve the quality of care provided to young people.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

Three young people are new to the home since the last inspection. Staff help young Inspection report children’s home: SC481235 2 people to move into the home in a planned and sensitive manner. This reassures young people and enables them to settle in quickly. Staff help young people to feel part of the home by giving them the opportunity to choose how they want their bedroom to be decorated. A young person said, ‘I have not been here for long. I like it here.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

The inspector found that one impact risk assessment, used to assess the suitability of young people moving into the home, was incomplete. The last page of the document that provides the suitability assessment was missing. This makes it hard to fully assess how managers judged that the young person was compatible with the young people already living in the home. This has not had any direct impact on young people and a recommendation is raised to ensure that all children’s records are fully completed.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

Young people enjoy living at the home. Their health, behaviour and education experiences have improved. A staff member said, ‘[Name of the young person] was not in education at the time of placement, but now he goes to college every day. His attendance and achievement have improved. His missing from care episodes have reduced significantly.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

Some young people require medication. The records of administration are not always completed to show that medication has been given to a young person. This shows that arrangements for recording the administration of medicines are not robust. Overall, young people’s health improves because staff ensure that young people have access to appropriate health services. Staff also receive training to manage specific health conditions safely.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

Young people feel safe and protected in the home. A young person said, ‘The staff are good. I get on well with them. There is no bullying here. I know the complaints procedure. I had a good introduction to the home. I feel safe living here. I know the area.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

The home is maintained to a high standard. Routine health and safety checks ensure that any hazards are identified and responded to. This keeps everyone living in, working in and visiting the home safe.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

The manager continues to work in partnership with external professionals. She challenges shortfalls in practice that affect the outcomes of young people. As a result, young people have improved their education attendance and attainment. Young people have also made progress with some aspects of their behaviour and this has reduced the need for staff to use physical intervention. The manager said, ‘We have a psychologist that we work with. We have good relationships with the social workers. We engage well with parents. This has improved consistency of care and communication.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children

The manager continues to make positive changes by addressing shortfalls identified by the internal and external monitoring of the home. Staff reflect on lessons learned to help them to improve their practice. A staff member said, ‘We have learned from previous incidents of children going missing from home. We try to put trust in the children and this gives them the ability to do the right thing. This means that they don’t go missing as Inspection report children’s home: SC481235 3 much now.’ As a result, young people are safe and their progress and experiences improve.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/01/2017 Full Inadequate 21/09/2016 Full Inadequate 24/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Ensure that records are kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Specifically, that all impact assessments contain an evaluative summary which outlines the reasons why the home is suitable to meet a young person’s needs.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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. Inspection report children’s home: SC481235 4 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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Individual Specialist Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 65 Lodge Road, Walsall, Staffordshire WS5 3LA

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC481235 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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