Children's Home run by DMR Services Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: 1278421 1 Registered provider: DMR Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. The home provides care for up to four children aged between 11 and 17 who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex needs. Currently, the home accommodates three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since August 2019 and has submitted an application to be the home’s next registered manager. The manager is appropriately qualified and experienced.

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Inspection date: 11 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1278421 2

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children 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.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three children have moved in and one child has moved out. Staff supported the child to return to live with his family. This was well planned and a positive experience for the child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although some improvements have been made since the last inspection, repeated regulatory shortfalls remain.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff continue to lock external doors without good reason. This places unnecessary restrictions on children, preventing them from moving freely in their home, and does not create a homely environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the manager and staff review and update children’s risk assessments, these documents do not always reflect the current risks related to some of the children. For example, one child’s risk assessment does not reflect the current risks of him displaying sexualised behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is generally clean and tidy in most areas. However, two children’s bedrooms, although nicely decorated and personalised, are not maintained to an acceptable standard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children’s bedrooms do not have window restrictors. This does not promote children’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all new staff receive regular supervision. This represents a missed opportunity for new staff to have their performance and practice regularly reviewed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not use key-work sessions with children effectively. For example, when one child required help to keep himself safe when using the internet, the staff were far too slow in carrying out a key-worker session.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

More positively, children enjoy living in the home and staff show warmth and appropriate affection, including hugs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that children attend routine medical appointments. This means that children’s health and well-being are promoted, and children receive prompt healthcare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children make good progress in education. When children struggle to attend school, staff ensure that a tailored learning programme is in place to sustain children’s learning. Inspection report children’s home: 1278421 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1278421 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(2)(vii)(c)(i)) 20/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; 20/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1278421 5 understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(2)(a)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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 arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)) 20/03/2020

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

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; 20/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1278421 6 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(e)(f)(h)) The registered person must ensure that children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 20/03/2020

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Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)b. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1278421 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: DMR Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 102 Queslett Road East, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B74 2EZ

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Inspector

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1278421 8 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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