Children's home run by Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

Interim inspection children’s home: 1273658 1 Registered provider: Birmingham Children‟s Trust Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to 16 children who have physical and learning disabilities and sensory impairment, aged between five and 17. Children may stay beyond their 18th birthday while they complete their education. The home provides 10 long-term placements and six short-break placements.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has been operated for over 20 years by a local authority. The service and the existing manager registered again under a children‟s trust limited company in March 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) register and inspect the healthcare that is carried out on the premises.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2018

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection has found recurring weaknesses from the full inspection in September 2018. Consequently, six requirements have not been met. This includes failures in keeping children safe and providing sufficient management oversight of the service. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1273658 2 Management monitoring and review of children‟s safety is once again ineffective. Managers have failed to address previous shortfalls to improve children‟s safety. As a result, children are at continued risk from hazards in the home and in the garden. Building debris and hazards in the garden pose a danger to children. The inspector found that a large, heavy paving slab had been propped against a wall in the children‟s play area. This creates a significant risk, especially if the slab was to fall on a child. The inspector also found a long, sharp rusty spike from a broken metal garden ornament that was lying next to the path and in easy reach of children. Staff had left a large industrial

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

ring binder, with sharp metal teeth, on a table in the children‟s lounge. Cleaning chemicals and spray polish were left in easy reach of children in an unlocked room off the residential corridor.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection, there had been a concern raised when a child had been able to get entangled in their curtains in their bedroom. This entanglement caused the child to receive a friction burn. Despite, this being a known risk, the inspector found that staff had put new curtains back up in the child‟s bedroom. This action disregarded the child‟s risk assessment and placed the child at significant risk of harm.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager removed all hazards during the inspection. The registered manager told the inspector that she was unaware of the hazards identified.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have once again failed to implement children‟s risk assessments. This failure has resulted in one vulnerable child being able to wander away from staff in a busy shopping centre. Staff still do not assess children‟s risks and/or take prompt action to reduce the risk of harm. There has been no learning or improvement in practice since a similar incident with the same child happened last year.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are still not regularly supervised. This means that they still lack the formal support, guidance and skills for their work with children. It also means that the registered manager does not keep sufficient oversight of staff performance.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager still does not know if families or carers receive a copy of their child‟s short- break or in-house placement plan to ensure that parents or carers are able to participate in these important plans about their child.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children‟s privacy and dignity are compromised. Viewing panels in children‟s bedroom doors are not always adequately screened. This is because detachable curtain screens are not always used or available. The inspector found that a curtain screen in one child‟s bedroom was being used to tie the wardrobe door handles shut. As a result, children‟s privacy and dignity are not safeguarded, especially when they are sleeping or receiving personal care.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children‟s information is not stored confidentially. Confidential records such as body maps and medical records are kept in cardboard boxes and unlocked cabinets in public areas of the home. Historical records show that staff have been disrespectful by drawing facial hair and enlarged nostrils on a child‟s photograph attached to a medication chart. This poor practice demonstrates a lack of care and respect for children‟s dignity. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1273658 3 The registered manager does not ensure that improvements are made as result of internal and external monitoring and complaints. For example, although the registered manager directs staff to act on identified shortfalls, she fails to ensure that the appropriate action has been taken.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has not completed a six-monthly review of the quality of care since June 2018. This creates a missed opportunity to secure stakeholders‟ views about the quality of care. There has been no review of the home‟s development plan. This lack of assessment means that the registered manager and the staff do not have sufficient monitoring systems that help them to improve the service.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Institutional practice continues. For example, staff routinely lock doors to the children‟s safe play areas. Also, staff put up personal information sheets in children‟s bedrooms to help unfamiliar staff who are required to provide personalised care. This practice continues without any thought about how this might impact on a child‟s rights.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident was under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the ongoing shortfalls, there are some improvements. For example, the registered manager has brought in symbol cards that help children to indicate if they wish to go outside to play in the garden. Staff are now safely recruited, and fire safety has been improved.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Interim inspection report children’s home: 1273658 4

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.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the home‟s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii) (b))* 07/04/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‟s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2) (d))* 07/04/2019

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 07/04/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1273658 5 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received, and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates to a rigorous approach to tracking and reviewing children‟s progress against their plans, ensuring effective training systems, and implementing timely improvements as identified by internal and external monitoring and complaints. The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, conduct timely reviews and provide families or carers with a copy of their child‟s short-break or in-house placement plan to ensure full participation and agreement. 07/04/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

p.5

Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children‟s home‟s premises; and any limitation placed on a child‟s privacy or access to any area of the home‟s premises—is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is 07/04/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1273658 6 possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv)) The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) * 07/04/2019

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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)(a)(b)(c)(5)) 07/04/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that case records are kept securely in the children‟s home. (Regulation 36(2)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates to confidential storage of children‟s information and that staff attitudes to children‟s records demonstrate respect for children‟s dignity and privacy. 07/04/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children‟s homes must comply with relevant health and safety Interim inspection report children’s home: 1273658 7 legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek

p.6

Recommendations

as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than „institutional‟ impression. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.7

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.

p.7

Information about this inspection

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.

p.7

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‟.

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Birmingham Children‟s Trust Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Third Floor Zone 16, 1 Lancaster Circus, Birmingham B4 7DJ

p.7

Inspector

Christy Wannop, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1273658 8 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

Inspector

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

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8