Children's Home run by Individual Specialist Care Limited in Sandwell

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481235 1 SC481235

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Individual Specialist Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since December 2018.

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This monitoring visit

Since the interim inspection on 11 February 2019, the responsible individual and staff team have made tentative but steady progress. Three compliance notices raised at the last inspection are deemed to have been met. These notices related to safeguarding, care planning, and leadership and management. Nine of the 10 requirements raised were also found to have been met.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one young person has lived at the home and has been settled. As such, staff have not had to manage any serious incidents or respond to challenging behaviours. However, the responsible individual has reflected on past incidents with staff to learn lessons and seek to improve future practice. He has fully involved staff in the development and implementation of young people’s risk assessments. As a result, staff understand their role and responsibility to implement safeguarding measures to keep young people safe.

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This monitoring visit

No young people have moved into the home. As a result, the responsible individual has complied with the restriction of accommodation in place. The responsible individual has developed new documentation to improve matching processes for young people transitioning into the home. He has also reviewed processes for staff to follow to support young people who will move on. This has not been tested; however, it is evident that new procedures have been considered to support future care planning.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has devised a training plan for staff to improve and Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481235 2 develop their skills and knowledge. Staff have attended safeguarding training, and they have undertaken training in how to compile good risk assessments and support effective care planning. Ongoing training is planned to continue to ensure that staff have all the relevant skills to meet the needs of the young people they care for.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, the staff team is new. The responsible individual has implemented regular supervision and development plans for staff. Staff feel supported and enabled to undertake their role effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The home does not have a registered manager. An interim manager was appointed but has left since the last inspection. The responsible individual has been in day-to- day charge of the home while more permanent management arrangements are identified.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and staff have worked hard to improve the home environment. It is now clean and well maintained, creating a homely environment for young people to live in.

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This monitoring visit

Improved monitoring systems are in place. These new systems have helped the responsible individual and staff to improve the quality of risk assessments, training, training records and the home’s statement of purpose, which has now been sent to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the progress that has been made, Ofsted has lifted the restriction notice. Ofsted will continue to monitor the home for sustained and continued progress to ensure that young people are safeguarded, and their needs are met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 10/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/05/2018 Full Inadequate 22/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481235 3

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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 particular, the standard in paragraph (1) 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)) In particular, ensure that ongoing planned training is implemented to promote the continued development of staff skills, knowledge and practice. 03/06/2019

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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: Individual Specialist Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 65 Lodge Road, Walsall, Staffordshire WS5 3LA

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Inspector

Lisa O’Donovan, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481235 4 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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