Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Birmingham

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1228090 1 Registered provider: Meadows Care Ltd Interim inspection 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 one of four operated under a contract with a large local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who may have experienced trauma, placement and family breakdown.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The organisation’s clinical psychologist provides a service to staff and children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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 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

Since the last inspection, there has been a change to management arrangements in the home. The previous registered manager resigned her post in December 2018. The current manager took over the day-to-day running of the home at that time. Ofsted is currently considering his application for registration.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have failed to take sufficient action to address the one requirement raised at the last inspection. As a result, children do not receive consistently good quality care and support. Ofsted has raised a further three requirements at this inspection. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1228090 2 Managers and staff do not ensure that they arrange necessary health and safety repairs within an acceptable timescale. For example, there was an eight-week gap between staff reporting exposed wires to the maintenance team and the completion of this repair. This potentially places children at risk of harm.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is not a comfortable environment. This is because damaged and broken furniture has not been replaced. Also, a lack of dining room furniture means that children cannot enjoy communal meals with each other and staff. Consequently, children do not live in a welcoming, well-furnished or well-maintained home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do not receive well-planned or integrated care. This is because managers do not make sure that staff are aware of the decisions made during children’s statutory reviews. The aims and objectives of the placing authorities are not consistently included in internal care and support plans. This has the potential to limit children’s progress and development.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are competent in identifying risks that pose a threat to children’s safety. However, risk assessments and risk management plans are generic and do not identify suitable or effective strategies to manage and reduce known risks to children’s safety. This means that children remain at potential risk of harm.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are occasions when managers address children’s concerns appropriately. However, this is not consistent. The managers’ investigation into a recent allegation did not follow internal or statutory safeguarding procedures. The scope of this investigation was insufficient to conclude whether the allegation was upheld or if children were, or are, at risk. This is detrimental to children’s safety and welfare.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current manager has taken steps to improve routine monitoring in the home to identify practice shortfalls. However, these monitoring systems remain in their infancy. This means that managers have yet to address deficits in some documents, such as how staff complete admission and discharge records. Consequently, information retained in the home is not up to date.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff now receive regular practice-related supervision. Managers also ensure that minutes of these meetings are available for staff to review and comment on. Consequently, staff are now able to reflect on their practice.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy generally positive relationships with staff. They say that they are happy in the home and feel supported by staff. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1228090 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2018 Full Good 12/12/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/11/2016 Full Requires improvement

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.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(2)(b)(ix)(c)(i)) 06/05/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

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 06/05/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1228090 4 arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(b))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to the consistent implementation of this policy. 06/05/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)(b)) 06/05/2019

p.4

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.4

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.4

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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1228090 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale OL12 9EN

p.5

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Niel Shelmerdine

p.5

Inspectors

Jo Stephenson, social care inspector Patrick McIntosh, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1228090 6 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.5

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.6

Inspectors

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

p.6

Inspectors

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

p.6