Children's Home run by Adecyn Children’s Homes Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC423617 1 SC423617

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Adecyn Children’s Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was appointed on 1 May 2019. He has made an application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring inspection was carried out on 18 July 2019 to investigate information received by Ofsted which suggested that there may have been a breach of regulations as a result of managers and staff failing to address specific concerns and allegations. That inspection resulted in three compliance notices being issued.

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This monitoring visit

On 2 September 2019, a further monitoring visit was carried out to review the progress being made by the provider in meeting the three compliance notices. At that time, not enough progress had been made and all notices were reissued.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring inspection, inspectors found that progress has been made. This has resulted in two compliance notices being deemed as met. However, one compliance notice remains unmet and one new compliance notice has been issued.

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This monitoring visit

Recording of incidents is much improved and includes evaluation by the manager and debriefing with staff. Children now benefit from regular key-work sessions and support from partner agencies.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has put in place new systems that help to ensure that all staff know and understand the contents of children’s risk assessments. As a result, staff are becoming increasingly skilled in identifying children’s triggers to help to keep children Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC423617 2 safe.

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This monitoring visit

The garden is now free from weeds and a pile of bricks has been removed. A drain cover has now been fitted to the shower in the bathroom.

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This monitoring visit

Despite this positive progress, inspectors found that a child’s bedroom door lock is damaged, and the door does not fully close. Staff could not be sure when this damage occurred. This damage reduces the effectiveness of fire safety precautions and compromises the child’s privacy.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have repaired a chest of drawers by nailing on plywood panels. The report by the home’s independent visitor, dated 3 September 2019, had already identified concerns and had recommended that the chest of drawers was replaced. Inspectors also found a damaged cupboard. This had also had plywood panels placed across the damaged area. These shortfalls mean that children are not being provided with a safe and nurturing environment to live in. Ofsted has issued a new compliance notice in respect of this failure.

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This monitoring visit

Managers continue to fail to demonstrate that staff who work at the home are safely recruited. For example, managers have allowed one new member of staff to start working in the home before obtaining all of the required references and receiving an up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service check. Managers have failed to notice discrepancies in this staff member’s previous employment history. This demonstrates a failure by managers to maintain good employment practice that helps to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

When allegations against members of staff occur, these are not always reported to Ofsted. This leaves the regulator without essential information between inspections.

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This monitoring visit

Managers continue to fail to maintain an accurate record of the staff who are working in the home. This failure to maintain an accurate staffing rota means that staff and children are at risk should an allegation or safeguarding concern be raised in the future.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 09/04/2018 Full Good 02/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC423617 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; In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to treat each child with dignity and respect ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.* (Regulation 6(1)(2)(iii)(c)(i)(ii)) 15/11/2019

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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 registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home, or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.*

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 15/11/2019

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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; ensure that the records are kept up to date; and retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 15/11/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC423617 4 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 15/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC423617 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Adecyn Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 13a Pitsford Street, Birmingham B18 6LJ

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Inspectors

Karen Gillingwater, social care inspector Miss Sarah Billett, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC423617 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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