Children's Home run by Individual Specialist Care Limited in Sandwell

Assurance visit report: SC481235 1 SC481235

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a qualified registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 17 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Sustained effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC481235 2

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The care of children

Staff and children have positive relationships with each other. One child shared that she would not change anything about the home or the staff that care for her.

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The care of children

Staff engage children in a range of activities. During the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, staff supported children’s physical health by encouraging exercise and playing with children in the garden. As the restrictions have been lifted, children and staff have enjoyed activities outside of the home.

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The care of children

Children keep in regular contact with their families. Staff facilitate this well. Children use technology such as video calling to help them keep in touch with their families when seeing them face to face is not possible.

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The care of children

Staff build good relationships with children’s families. One parent shared with the inspectors that staff keep her regularly updated about her child.

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The care of children

Staff positively promote children’s education and encourage children’s learning. During the COVID-19 lockdown, children used online resources and learned about different topics including the COVID-19 pandemic and other topical issues.

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The care of children

Children have responded well to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff have worked with the children to ensure minimal disruption and a greater understanding of the concerns. When staff have needed to self-isolate, this has been positively explained to the children.

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The care of children

Staff are enthusiastic and passionate about the work they do with the children. Staff are welcoming and create a homely environment. However, the home is looking tired and needs some redecoration.

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The safety of children

Staff respond appropriately when children go missing. Staff look in hotspot areas where children are known to visit. Staff work collaboratively with others, including the police, parents and social workers to help find children as quickly as possible.

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The safety of children

Staff keep risk assessments up to date and understand what the agreed strategies are to protect children. This ensures that staff take appropriate action to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Staff help children to understand risks and dangers that they may experience. Staff complete regular key-work sessions with children to give them the knowledge to make positive choices and keep themselves safe. This has included sessions on the dangers of child exploitation, smoking, sexual health and relationships.

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The safety of children

When staff physically restrain children, this is appropriate and proportionate to keep children safe. The registered manager has supported the staff to manage children’s Assurance visit report: SC481235 3 behaviour by using de-escalation strategies. As such, physical interventions are used as a last resort.

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The safety of children

On two occasions, the registered manager and responsible individual did not inform Ofsted of a notifiable event. Despite this, appropriate safeguarding protocols were followed on each occasion to keep children and staff safe.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has a calm and nurturing approach towards the children and staff. He is child-focused and wants the best possible outcomes for the children.

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Leaders and managers

Staff value the registered manager and the consistent support he provides them. Staff are confident in the care they provide to the children.

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Leaders and managers

Most staff are up to date with training. A lot of the training has been completed online. The registered manager and responsible individual sit with staff through the training to ensure that they understand the content. This helps develop the skills of the staff, who now feel equipped to meet the needs of the children in their care.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has met the requirement from the last inspection. Work is ongoing to meet the two recommendations raised at the last inspection. This includes work to allow the children to have access to their online records and for staff’s yearly appraisals to be improved.

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Leaders and managers

A core staff team has provided the children with consistent and predictable care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the registered manager has used agency staff. He has used consistent staff from the agency to reduce the amount of people entering the home and to provide continuity to the children.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor continues to monitor the home monthly. Visits were carried out remotely initially during lockdown. However, the independent visitor has now started visiting the home again.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager and staff have good working relationships with other professionals. Social workers are kept up to date and fully informed of any progress or incidents that happen with the children. Assurance visit report: SC481235 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; or there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (a)(c)) 19/10/2020

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  All staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. As part of the performance management process, poor performance should be addressed by a timely plan to bring about improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  Ensure that children live in an environment which meets their basic day to day

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Recommendations

needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) This relates to the home’s decor being improved. Assurance visit report: SC481235 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Individual Specialist Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 65 Lodge Road, Walsall, Staffordshire WS5 3LA

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC481235 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

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Inspectors

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

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