Children's home run by Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

Inspection report children’s home: 1273658 1 Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to 16 children who have physical and learning disabilities and sensory impairment, aged between five and 17. Children may stay beyond their 18th birthday while they complete their education. The home provides places for 10 children who need long-term care and six short-break places.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been operated for over 20 years by a local authority. The service and the existing manager registered again under a children’s trust limited company in March 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers and inspects the healthcare that is carried out on the premises.

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1273658 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Responsive management has ensured improvements in areas of previous regulatory shortfall. These changes in the quality of the environment, safeguarding practice, safer recruitment and care planning make a difference to children’s safety and well- being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The care planning and practice for children who live at the home permanently is increasingly consistent. Staff meet children’s therapeutic need for touch through carefully planned massage. Behavioural and risk management plans now address key areas and managerial monitoring ensures that staff deliver them consistently.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff now really understand the importance of communication in children’s lives. They make sure to use children’s preferred communication styles and methods in their daily lives. This has had a dramatic impact on some children’s well-being. For one child, this has meant a 90% reduction in angry or frustrated incidents and has transformed the quality of their life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The areas of the home which children use are now consistently personalised and comfortably furnished. All children now have lovely bedrooms.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership and management team ensures that all staff are accountable for the quality of their work and children’s care. All staff are now trained in the core functions of the home. Staff in senior roles demonstrate good leadership and practice to their teams. The registered manager also now ensures that the arrangements for fire prevention are safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager can now demonstrate safe recruitment records for all staff, including agency workers. Staff are now fully competent and suitable to work with children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager takes effective action when there are significant incidents in children’s lives but did not notify Ofsted about this on one occasion. This prevented Ofsted from exercising its responsibility to ensure children’s well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager now has effective oversight and responsibility for all aspects of the service. She has negotiated provision of an occupational therapy service to the home. New management arrangements for the short-break service are also showing benefits in the coordinated review of children’s care and partnership working with in-house health staff. As a result, children receive the services they need. Inspection report children’s home: 1273658 3 Children are making progress and have a really positive experience of living or staying at the home. Staff support children’s well-coordinated moves to more suitable, permanent homes. Two children successfully moved to smaller homes that better meet their needs. Staff also tailor children’s introductions to the short-break service in cooperation with their parents, recognising that each child and their family is unique.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff go the extra mile to make sure that children enjoy a good holiday each year, participate in the local authority’s children’s self-advocacy scheme and enjoy active leisure in the local community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships with parents and external professionals, social workers, teachers and disability health staff are constructive. Children benefit from a holistic approach that considers their need to learn, be healthy and enjoy life. Inspection report children’s home: 1273658 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 12/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1273658 5

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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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 30/04/2020

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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: 1273658 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Third Floor Zone 16, 1 Lancaster Circus, Birmingham B4 7DJ

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Inspector

Christy Wannop, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1273658 7 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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