Children's Home run by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 1 SC039897

p.1

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is one of four local authority homes. It is registered for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 16 January 2020. This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor the actions the provider has taken in respect of the requirements made at the full inspection. There were no children living in the placement at the time of the monitoring visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager is currently absent from work and there is an acting manager in post.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has taken some steps to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. For example, staff, including the acting manager, now have regular supervision. The acting manager has started to complete actions identified in the home’s action plan to make improvements to the quality of care provided to children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider also recognises that it is not ready to admit children to the home at this time. The organisation has agreed to a refurbishment of the home, with the expected timescale for completion being two to three months.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There is not a full staff team and existing staff have still not completed all of the required training, for example self-harm training. As a result, the provider does not plan to admit any young people for a period of three months and has requested that there is a variation to the home’s conditions of registration to reflect this.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted will not inspect the home while the condition is in place but will visit the provider when it indicates that it wants to reopen the home to ensure that the provider and premises remain fit for registration. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2020 Full Inadequate 17/07/2018 Full Outstanding 29/08/2017 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(a)) 03/06/2020

p.3

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 maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement; 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)(a)(vi)(viii)) 03/06/2020

p.3

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. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(b)(c)) 03/06/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

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; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)) 03/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 4 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

p.3

Requirement Due date

skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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; 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)(d)(f)(h)) 03/06/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)) 03/06/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must— have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26(7)(b)) 03/06/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

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— full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(2)(a)(b)(3)(d)) 03/06/2020

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)) 03/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 5 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)) 03/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Council House, Priory Road, Dudley DY1 1HF

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Melanie Hollman-Dryden

p.7

Inspector

Sarah Billett, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC039897 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8