Children's Home run by Serenity Specialist Care Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 1 SC471672 Registered provider: Serenity Specialist Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. It is owned and operated by a small private company. Following the inspection, Ofsted imposed a condition of registration so that the home will provide care and accommodation for only one child for a period of 12 weeks.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2018 Full Good 30/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 30/05/2017 Full Good 08/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 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

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; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‟s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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)(b)(2)(c)(i)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(viii)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, 30/09/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 4 psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. Regulation 10(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare; that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; and 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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(c)(d)) 30/09/2019

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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— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 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; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved 30/09/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 5 by taking into account and acting on research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(f) (g)(i)(ii)(h)) 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 person to ensure— that arrangements are in place to— ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child‟s placing authority; that each child‟s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children‟s home. In particular the registered person must ensure that— medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine which— is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and may be safely self-administered by that child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(a)(b)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home— 30/09/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 6 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)) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”) setting out— the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. Before implementing, or making an amendment which the registered person considers to be substantive to, the missing child policy, the registered person must— consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person; and

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Requirement Due date

have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children. (Regulation 34(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(i)((ii)(c)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)) 30/09/2019

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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; 30/09/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 7 ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a)(b)) This relates to maintaining the children‟s register. The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‟s home at least once each month. A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. The independent person‟s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44(1)(3)(5)) 30/09/2019

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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. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1)(4)((a)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children‟s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46(1)(2)) This relates to ensuring that staff consult the police about the likelihood of children being drawn into gang crime and/or anti- social behaviour in the local area. 30/09/2019

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Inspection judgements

Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 8

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people‟s progress is inconsistent because of poor care and a lack of professional curiosity. Two young people‟s placements have ended since July 2018 because they have seriously assaulted staff and been arrested. Two young people have been at increasing risk of harm in recent months. Managers have admitted young people to the home despite staff not having the skills to meet their needs. The registered manager told the inspector that they „had been open to accepting anybody‟ after the suspension of the home‟s registration in March 2018. Managers do not ensure that they assess and rigorously match the needs of any new young people with those of the existing young people in the home. They do not take account of young people‟s history of bullying, experience of sexual abuse, sexualised behaviour, or educational need when assessing group compatibility. Staff are unsuccessful in promoting young people‟s education. Only two of the six young

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

people cared for in the last year have attended full-time education. Two young people currently living in the home have been without a full-time education since arriving at the home. Staff are not fully aware of young people‟s educational abilities and achievements. Healthcare is weak. Young people have been able to form relationships and have unprotected sex. Despite staff knowing that young people have put themselves at risk, staff have not helped young people to attend sexual health clinics. Young people who have no previous history of smoking and/or using cannabis start to smoke and try illegal drugs. Records of administration of controlled and non-controlled drugs are not accurate. It is not clear that staff have offered young people medication at the correct time and day. Medication is stored in a broken drawer in a staff desk. This is not safe or secure. Staff try to minimise the impact of bullying and have engaged with nationally recognised

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

services to try and help young people who bully and who take illegal drugs. Staff ensure that young people‟s wishes and feelings are considered. This includes ensuring that each young person has an advocate whom they can speak to for help and support. Staff have been conscientious in maintaining links with community leisure groups so that, when young people do co-operate, they can take part in sporting hobbies.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Young people‟s risk management plans fail to provide staff with enough information about the risks that young people face, the level of supervision required and whether they can have unsupervised time in the community. This leaves staff ill-informed about how to reduce risk and how to keep young people safe. Staff do not provide skilled or safe care for young people who self-harm. The registered manager said she had no specific strategy for managing self-harming behaviour. She told the inspector, „The more attention you give to it, the more he focuses on it.‟ The risks to young people who self-harm are not well managed or minimised. For example, broken glass has been left in the garden and staff are unaware of the hazard that this presents. Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 9 Staff have not been aware of, or prevented, criminal exploitation and social media threats to young people. The staff were completely unaware of the full extent of the

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

range of risks that young people were subject to when they were missing. Staff do not have the skills to deal with the impact of young people being groomed and do not recognise the signs of grooming or exploitation. Staff do not take basic or effective action to assist the police, such as recording vehicle number plates. Two young people have increased the number of times that they go missing from the home. Staff and the registered manager do not follow their own procedures. They delay reporting young people missing to the police. Records of missing episodes do not contain accurate timings of events and actions taken. The registered manager does not identify discrepancies or take effective action when staff have not implemented procedures. Inexperienced staff are unable to manage young people‟s challenging behaviour. Young people have been subject to bullying and assault. Records of when staff have held young

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

people show that staff have used unauthorised techniques. Staff do not always talk to young people after a restraint. Records are unreliable accounts of events and the manager has not always identified discrepancies. Staff have increasingly relied on the police to help them manage incidents in the community and the home. The police report seeing no ability to sustain improvement in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management of the home are weak. Previous outcomes and a good quality of care have not been sustained. Several of the regulatory failures identified are recurrent weaknesses dating from 2017. Current issues are similar to those that resulted in the suspension of the home‟s registration in March 2018.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not routinely maintain a homely, clean or safe environment. There is a high level of damage to the home. Staff do not replace young people‟s curtains when they have pulled them down. This does not show that young people are valued or respected. Standards of health and safety are poor. Young people have easy access to electrical circuit breakers and cabling. Fire safety is compromised. Staff have removed fire extinguishers and locked them away. Staff do not have guidance in a fire risk assessment about where fire extinguishers are located. The provider took action during the inspection to address this health and safety risk. The inspector identified that not enough staff have the skills and experience to work with young people who are on the autism spectrum disorder and those who self-harm. Inexperienced staff lead shifts. No staff have been trained to help young people who go missing from care, or to promote their education, or to protect young people from

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

exploitation. Insufficient numbers of staff hold the nationally recognised qualification in working with children and young people. Management is ineffective. The registered manager identified in mid-April 2019 that the home was in crisis and that staff care practice was poor but did not develop a plan to make improvements. Young people have continued to experience crisis and harm as a result. Managerial oversight of the quality of records is ineffective. Young people‟s in- Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 10 house plans are often undated or signed and contain contradictory information. The children‟s register is missing key information. The responsible individual does not make the most of independent external scrutiny to improve the service and protect young people by acting on recommendations. Visits are rarely unannounced and have not taken place on a monthly basis. The responsible individual has not sent a report of the review of the quality of care, concluded in April

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is located next to a derelict building and opposite another children‟s home. The home‟s location risk assessment does not include the police‟s view of the location or that criminal gangs now know the location of the home. This has the potential to put future young people at risk of being targeted because the home‟s location has become identifiable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual is cooperating with Birmingham City Council to resolve complaints from some neighbours about the impact of anti-social behaviour on local residents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have, on occasion, challenged other services when they have not played their part in helping young people. Managers have raised concerns with local child mental health services, the police and education services about delays in meeting young people‟s needs.

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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

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‟. Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Serenity Specialist Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, Dominion Court, 43 Station Road, Solihull, West Midlands B91 3RT

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Inspector

Christy Wannop, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC471672 12 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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