Children's home run by Thoughts of Others Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 1 SC484716

p.1

Thoughts of Others Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people. The home specialises in working with young people who have social and/or emotional difficulties. There is no registered manager at this home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children‟s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 5 and 6 July 2017. Following the inspection, Ofsted issued 18 compliance notices. A monitoring visit took place on 17 August 2017. The registered person had taken some action to meet six of the 18 compliance notices. Ofsted then issued 12 compliance notices for the unmet regulations. A second full inspection judged the home inadequate on 11 and 12 October 2017. The home had taken some action to meet the 12 compliance notices, but not all. Ofsted judged the home to be inadequate and issued four compliance notices and four requirements for the unmet regulations. A monitoring visit was undertaken on 7 December 2017. The registered person had taken some action to meet elements of the compliance notices and unmet requirements. One of the four compliance notices and three of the four requirements were judged to be met. A monitoring visit was undertaken on 13 February 2018. Three of the four

p.1

This monitoring visit

requirements were not met and two new requirements were made. These related to:  The failure of managers to ensure that risk assessments are accurate, up to date or clear about actions to help reduce risks to young people.  The failure of managers to ensure that staff have accurate information about Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 2 young people or a copy of their statutory plan.  The failure of managers to use monitoring and review systems to improve the safeguarding of young people.  The failure of managers to address poor staff practice or ensure that staff have the opportunity of regular practice-based supervision.  The failure of managers to include the views and opinions of young people, staff or placing authorities in the review of the quality of care. In order to evaluate the progress that the managers and staff have made in addressing the concerns, a further monitoring visit was completed on 20 April 2018.

p.1

This monitoring visit

None of the five requirements were judged to be met and five new requirements have been made. These relate to the following issues:  There has been no progress in ensuring that young people‟s individual risk assessments are accurate, current, or clear about the actions needed to safeguard young people. In addition, one young person has come to live at the home since the last inspection. Managers have failed to risk assess the compatibility of the group. Consequently, the extent to which young people might impact on each other and how similar risky behaviours will be managed is not clear.  Managers confirmed that there has been no progress in developing systems to help them review and improve the safeguarding of young people. Consequently, managers do not have sufficient understanding about whether staff practice promotes young people‟s safety and welfare.  Managers confirmed that staff still do not receive supervision as set out in the

p.2

This monitoring visit

home‟s statement of purpose. This lack of progress means that staff fail to have the opportunity to review significant incidents or to reflect on and develop their practice.  Managers confirmed that no action had been taken to include the views of young people, staff, families or professionals in the manager‟s review of the quality of care. A lack of consultation with key stakeholders means that managers do not have an informed understanding of the home‟s strengths and areas for improvement. This hinders the development of the home.  Some young people‟s records do not contain all of the necessary statutory care planning documents. For example, two young people‟s records lack the placement plan from the local authority. One young person‟s record does not include the placing authority‟s care plan. This means that staff lack essential information to help them meet young people‟s needs in line with the placing

p.2

This monitoring visit

authority‟s plans. There were five new concerns identified at this visit:  Managers give insufficient attention to health and safety. For example, the manager had not identified the risk of a raised flagstone and uneven ground to a fire evacuation route at the rear of the property. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 3  The home‟s statement of purpose has been updated. However, the statement of purpose does not accurately reflect changes to the staff team. In addition, updates made to the statement of purpose have not been sent to Ofsted. This means that up-to-date information about the service is not available to those who need it.  The manager was unable to provide evidence of regular visits to the home by an independent visitor. Consequently, there is a lack of external oversight of the home‟s arrangements for ensuring young people‟s safety and welfare.  Managers make use of pool staff to cover gaps in the staff rota. However,

p.2

This monitoring visit

shortfalls in rota planning mean that there are not always enough staff on duty to meet young people‟s needs. This compromises the safety and well- being of young people as assessed staffing levels are not met. Young people told the inspector that, when pool staff are used, they are not always clear about the agreements for individual young people. This causes young people feelings of anxiety and disrupts their care.  Since the last inspection, there have been two allegations about staff conduct. Both matters were appropriately referred to the local designated safeguarding officer for advice. However, neither incident was referred to Ofsted. Furthermore, two other serious incidents were not notified to Ofsted in a timely way. This failure to report allegations of abuse to outside agencies reduces external scrutiny of the conduct of the home. This home has not had a registered manager since September 2016. A manager was

p.3

This monitoring visit

appointed and started work on 7 July 2017 but resigned on 2 January 2018. The deputy was appointed as manager on 8 February 2018. He is the fourth manager since September 2016. The manager continues to work on shift. This limits his ability to have sufficient management oversight of the home. He does not intend to submit an application to register with Ofsted as the organisation is arranging to appoint a new manager for the home. Despite significant opportunity to improve the leadership and management of the home and the arrangements for young people‟s safety and protection, the registered person has been unable to demonstrate the ability or capacity to meet regulation or to sustain the service improvement required to promote the welfare of young people and ensure their safety.

p.3

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/10/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 4 05/07/2017 Full Inadequate 09/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 26/07/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 5

p.3

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child‟s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)) 04/06/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that the registered person must ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‟s health. (Regulation 12(2)(d)) 04/06/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (2) requires the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child and ensure that the home‟s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13(2)(d)(e)) 04/06/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(h)) 04/06/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 04/06/2018 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 6 home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that each child‟s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14(1)(2)(c)) The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 04/06/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 04/06/2018

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 04/06/2018

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‟s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44(1)) 04/06/2018

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(5)) 04/06/2018

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Thoughts of Others Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Thoughts of Others, 73–75 Station Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 6UG

p.7

Inspectors

Alison Cooper, social care inspector Mrs Tracey Coglan Greig, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8