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

Inspection report for children‟s home – monitoring visit: SC471672 1 SC471672

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Serenity Specialist Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people who have learning disabilities and an autism spectrum disorder. It is owned and operated by a small private company. The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in October 2017.

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This monitoring visit

Following a judgement of inadequate at a full inspection on 19 and 20 June 2019, at which 15 regulatory breaches were found, this home was subject to a temporary variation of conditions of registration. This limited the number of children living at the home from four to one. This condition was in place until 16 September 2019.

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This monitoring visit

In July 2019, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit and issued a compliance notice in relation to shortfalls in fire safety. At a subsequent monitoring visit on 16 September 2019, it was found that the provider had taken all steps to meet this compliance notice. However, progress in other areas was slow and 14 regulatory requirements remained unmet.

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This monitoring visit

On 16 September 2019, a restriction of accommodation replaced the temporary variation of conditions of registration. This meant that no new children could move into the home while the restriction of accommodation was in place.

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This monitoring visit

On 15 October 2019, an additional full inspection found that many improvements had been made and that 12 of the 14 requirements had been met. However, a further three regulatory shortfalls were identified. Inspectors judged the home as requires improvement to be good, and five requirements and two recommendations were made.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor compliance with the restriction of accommodation by reviewing the provider’s progress against the five unmet Inspection report for children‟s home – monitoring visit: SC471672 2 regulatory breaches.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit found that the provider has met four of the five requirements and both recommendations made following the full inspection on 15 October 2019. The grounds for the restriction of accommodation are no longer in place and, as a result, this has been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Following the judgement of inadequate at the full inspection on 19 and 20 June 2019, two children moved out. No children have moved into the home since then. The restriction of accommodation has contributed to the service having the capacity to make the necessary improvements.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has recruited more staff. Staff have returned from sickness leave. There is a better balance of experienced, skilled and qualified staff.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguards have been put in place to ensure that substances that may be harmful to health are locked away safely. Furthermore, staff have undertaken direct work with the young person to raise their understanding of why such substances can be harmful if not treated carefully and handled safely. This has given the young person, who has learning disabilities and an autism spectrum disorder, independence skills that will be useful in later life.

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This monitoring visit

The young person has not gone missing from the home since the full inspection on 15 October 2019. Managers have provided new instructions for staff on managing incidents of missing. The ‘missing’ guidelines have also been updated to reflect different police authorities’ protocols. This action has the potential to address earlier shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s register in now fully up to date, with all details included as required by regulation.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose has been updated to give an accurate account of the services and care provided by the home, and it has been submitted to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Staff reported a new sense of optimism at the home. They reported increased management monitoring of records and clearer guidance on their completion.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection on 15 October 2019, the manager was unable to provide a meaningful review of the quality of care that the home provides. Therefore, this requirement has been repeated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report for children‟s home – monitoring visit: SC471672 3 Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/06/2019 Full Inadequate 03/07/2018 Full Good 30/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children‟s home – monitoring visit: SC471672 4

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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 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.

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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–

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

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”). (Regulation 45(1), (2)(a)(b)(c), (3)) 03/04/2020 Inspection report for children‟s home – monitoring visit: SC471672 5

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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: 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

Ricky D’Arcy, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home – monitoring visit: SC471672 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 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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