Children's Home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Birmingham

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1253711 1 Registered provider: Beacon Child Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for three children up to the age of 18. The home offers care for children who have social and/or emotional difficulties. The home is privately owned.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2017.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection took place after anonymous concerns were raised with Ofsted about the safety of children, the sufficiency of staffing and the physical condition of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Significant shortfalls were found as a result of this interim inspection:

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Managers told the inspector that they were unable to keep one child safe. However, they have not sufficiently escalated their concerns to the placing authority. Managers have failed to take further action when there has been no response from the placing authority about increasing staffing to help to reduce the risks posed to one child. In addition, managers have failed to adequately Interim inspection report children’s home: 1253711 2 challenge the placing authority when return home interviews have not been carried out when a child has returned from being missing from care. This has left one child at significant risk of harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Managers have failed to update children’s risk assessments and to provide staff with enough guidance on how to manage and reduce risks effectively. For example, one child’s risk assessment has not been updated to reflect that the child managed to steal a car.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Managers have not made sure that they have adequate staffing to meet the children’s needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 No action has been taken to address the environmental shortfalls found at the last inspection. A slow response from managers to improving the physical condition of the home has resulted in a further decline in standards. For example, the lounge has an unpleasant smell because there has been a water leak from a bathroom which has soaked into the lounge ceiling. Staff told the inspector that the leak had caused the electricity to go off and that water had managed to get into a smoke detector. Managers have been too slow in getting a competent person in to check that the electrical system is safe. In addition, managers have not investigated the cause of leak; they were not sure if it had come from the toilet or the bath. This failure to investigate has put children at risk of harm. It has taken these concerns to be raised by Ofsted before any action has been taken to make the environment safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

On the day of this interim inspection, some of the requirements from the last full inspection remained within the timescale for completion. Consequently, this visit has considered the progress that staff and managers have made towards meeting these requirements, rather than whether requirements are met:

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Staffing rotas are now clear about the specific times that staff are on duty. However, when changes to the staffing occur this is not always recorded on the rota. This means that rotas are not clear about who has been in contact with children should this information be needed in the future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Staff have still not ensured that they have a copy of a child’s annual health assessment. This means that staff do not have access to all the available information needed to inform them about children’s health needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Records of physical intervention continue to not meet regulation. For example, one record did not specify the methods used to hold one child on a bed. Records are not clear about how de-escalation techniques are used or when children are spoken to after being involved in a physical restraint. There remains a lack of managerial oversight of physical intervention records. This means that managers do not have a clear understanding of whether staff practice is promoting the safety and welfare of children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Progress in ensuring that staff have regular reflective supervision is slow. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1253711 3 Difficulties with access have meant that staff have been delayed in making use of a new online training suite. However, the manager has implemented a revised induction programme to help to improve the knowledge and development of new staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The manager has increased his oversight of the administration of medication and has introduced a new recording system.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One new concern was found at this visit:

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 The registered manager has not ensured that fire safety arrangements in the home are reviewed and that practice promotes children’s safety. For example, the manager has not ensured that a timely review of the home’s fire safety risk assessment has been completed. Furthermore, staff did not have access to a master key to be able to access one child’s bedroom during the inspection. Ofsted made a referral to the fire authority during the inspection. The inspector was also shown a window in a child’s bedroom that had been screwed shut.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the shortfalls found at this inspection, one child continues to do well at college and is enjoying sports coaching. Another child has better arrangements about spending time with their friends. This has helped to significantly reduce the number of times she goes missing from home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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

In meeting the quality standards, if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant 27/07/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1253711 4 person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 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. (Regulation 12(1) and (2)(a)(i)) 25/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that the registered person must ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(v)) 25/06/2018

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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)) 27/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(2)(c)) 25/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard requires the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(2)(d)) 27/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines into the home. (Regulation 23(1)) 25/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 27/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32(1) (3)) 02/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)) 25/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. This is in relation to training to raise awareness of the Prevent duty, online safety and first aid. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 02/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once a year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 02/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the 27/07/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1253711 5 use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes a description of the measure and its duration and details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv)(v)) The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(C) 27/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child that include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3. (Regulation 36 (a)) This is with particular reference to obtaining copies of young people’s health assessments. 27/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4. (Regulation 37(2)(a)) This includes a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. 27/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a quality of care review by establishing and maintaining a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. In particular 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 (2)(b)(5)) 02/07/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that there is a workforce plan in place, which can fulfil the requirements of Regulation 16 Schedule 1. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and Interim inspection report children’s home: 1253711 6 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: Beacon Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hazlewoods, Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham GL50 3AT

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Inspector

Alison Cooper, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1253711 7 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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