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

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

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Thoughts of Others Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. 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 emotional difficulties. There is no registered manager at this home.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a continued failure by leaders and managers to address regulatory breaches over a considerable period. In addition, further regulatory shortfalls have been identified during this visit. The initial part of this inspection was cut short and was recommenced on 12 June. On 7 June an emergency suspension notice was issued. During the inspection, managers told inspectors that none of the 10 requirements made at the previous inspection had been met.

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This monitoring visit

 There has been no progress to improve the physical condition of the home. For example, a glass door to a shower cubicle in a young person‟s en-suite bathroom is off its hinges. One young person‟s wardrobe does not have a door. The carpet to the dining area is worn. A cupboard holding cleaning products is left unlocked. These shortfalls do not provide a comfortable environment for young people or ensure their health and safety.  The progress with ensuring that young people‟s records hold all the necessary statutory care planning documents is slow. Managers told inspectors that an audit was planned to help them to understand the gaps. For example, one young person‟s record still does not include the placing authority‟s care plan. This means that the staff lack key information to help them to plan young people‟s care.  Managers confirmed that the home‟s statement of purpose has not been Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 2

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This monitoring visit

updated to reflect changes to the staff team. This means that up-to-date information about the service is not available to those who need it.  Managers told inspectors that no action had been taken to update young people‟s risk assessments since the last inspection. Consequently, risk assessments are out of date and staff do not have current information to help them to understand and reduce the risks posed to young people. Furthermore, another young person has come to live at the home since the last inspection. A weak assessment of compatibility means that the extent to which young people might affect each other is not clear.  Managers have now confirmed a core staff team for the home. However, staff vacancies and shortfalls in staff planning mean that there is a high use of pool staff. Furthermore, on occasion there are not enough staff on duty to meet young people‟s assessed needs.  Managers confirmed that progress has been made to develop systems to help

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This monitoring visit

them to review and improve the safeguarding of young people. For example, a key performance indicator tool has been devised and shared with the home‟s manager. A quality of care document has been developed to help to capture stakeholder views. However, as the new systems are in the implementation phase, it is not possible to assess their impact.  Managers confirmed that staff still do not receive supervision as set out in the home‟s statement of purpose. This lack of progress means that staff do not have a regular opportunity to review significant incidents or to reflect on and develop their practice.  Since the last inspection, managers have made two notifications to Ofsted. On two occasions the police have attended the home when one young person‟s behaviour has been increasingly challenging. However, managers have not evaluated whether these incidents are notifiable. Two notifiable incidents found at the last inspection have still not been referred to the

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This monitoring visit

regulator. This failure to report significant incidents to outside agencies reduces the external overview of the conduct of the home.  Managers told inspectors that regular independent visits to the home had taken place. However, evidence of this was not provided during the inspection. Consequently, it is still unclear if the home has suitable arrangements in place for independent visits to the home. A weak approach to ensuring independent scrutiny of the operation of the home compromises the safety and welfare of young people.

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This monitoring visit

Three new concerns were identified:  Managers give inadequate attention to fire safety. For example, managers have not acted to remedy a raised flagstone and uneven ground on a fire evacuation route at the rear of the property. The fire evacuation plan is out of date. Managers were unable to confirm whether actions in the fire safety risk assessment had been carried out. Consequently, Ofsted made a referral to the fire authority during the visit. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 3  Managerial oversight of the safe recruitment of agency staff is weak. Agency staff begin in post without adequate managerial scrutiny of their suitability to work with young people. This means that it is unclear if the checks of agency staff are robust or if the staff have the relevant skills, experience and qualifications to meet young people‟s needs. As a result, young people may be exposed to care and support from unsuitable adults.

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This monitoring visit

 Managers give insufficient attention to the safe storage of records. For example, some young people‟s case records were seen to be stored in an unlocked staff bedroom, accessible from a young person‟s lounge.

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This monitoring visit

This home has not had a registered manager since September 2016. A manager has been appointed and started work in the home on 6 June 2018. He is the fifth manager since September 2016. He intends to apply to register with Ofsted.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/10/2017 Full Inadequate 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 4

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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 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)) 07/08/2018

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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)) 07/08/2018

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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)) 07/08/2018

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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)) 07/08/2018

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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 home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered 07/08/2018 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 5 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)) 07/08/2018

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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)) 07/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‟s safety. The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1), (3)(d)) 07/08/2018

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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. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 07/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child. Case records must be kept if the child dies before attaining the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of the child‟s death securely in the children‟s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36(2)(c)(d)) 07/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious and when there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(b)(c)) 07/08/2018

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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)) 07/08/2018

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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 07/08/2018 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 6 (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1), (2), (5)) Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC484716 7

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Thoughts of Others Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Alison Cooper, social care inspector 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 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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