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

Assurance visit report: SC471672 1 SC471672

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. The home is owned and operated by a small private company. The manager of the home is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 15 October 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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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: SC471672 2

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The care of children

A supportive staff team has built trusting relationships with the children. The staff eagerly seek and act on the children’s wishes, when appropriate. The staff helped the children to understand the COVID-19 pandemic and other significant events, such as global race-related issues.

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The care of children

The children continue to keep in touch with their families. This has increased from telephone to face-to-face contact as the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. It has been difficult for the children to have reduced contact with their families during the lockdown. However, the staff supported the children to understand the situation and the need to keep safe.

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The care of children

The staff have enabled the children to engage in educational activities during lockdown, when education provisions were closed. They supported the children to engage with in-house education packs in line with the education provision curriculum.

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The care of children

The staff have been creative while the children were unable to attend their weekly hobbies and off-site activities. The children raised money for the local community through a cake sale. They have engaged in workshops, culture nights and karaoke. These stimulating activities have been recorded in vibrant memory books for the children to take with them.

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The care of children

The staff understand the children’s complex needs. For some children, the initial lockdown restrictions increased their emotional difficulties. However, with the appropriate external support, alongside the staff’s support, the children’s risk-taking behaviour settled. Some children have been unable to access some of their health appointments during the pandemic, such as dental treatment.

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The care of children

The staff support the children to become more independent in line with their age and ability. The staff work well with families and social workers to prepare children for their next identified placement. As a result, two children have moved successfully from the home during the pandemic.

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The safety of children

The staff implement the home’s safeguarding policy following allegations about the staff and historical disclosures. Detailed recording clearly demonstrates the actions taken by staff. A social worker confirmed good communication of the required information. This enables swift decisions and ensures that suitable action is taken to keep the children safe.

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The safety of children

The children can present high-risk taking behaviours. The manager actively and confidently advocates for the children to have access to the required services to meet the children’s needs. The manager challenges external agencies when there is a lack of clear rationale for decisions. This ensures that the children receive a Assurance visit report: SC471672 3 positive multi-agency approach to their safety. As a result, the children’s risk-taking behaviours decrease.

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The safety of children

The home’s location risk assessment does not include information about all potential risks to the children, such as all nearby train stations and lines. Therefore, not all possible action to reduce risks to the children has been considered.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is dedicated to and passionate about her role. She has the required experience and qualifications and has been the manager of the home for several years. The staff spoke positively about the support and guidance that they receive. The manager has met the one requirement raised at the last inspection.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor continues to undertake monthly visits to the home to monitor the safety and well-being of the children. During the height of the pandemic, the visits were virtual. The visitor invited the children to share their views and raise any concerns using audio and visual technology. The independent visitor had a good oversight of the home during this time.

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Leaders and managers

Not all staff have refreshed or undertaken training in managing self-harm or understanding mental health needs. This fails to ensure that all the staff have the required skills to meet the complex needs of the children.

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Leaders and managers

On one occasion, the manager failed to ensure that a significant incident was notified to Ofsted promptly. This did not enable Ofsted to have a timely overview of the incident and the way in which it was managed.

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Leaders and managers

The recording of some paperwork requires improvement. One child’s placement plan is not consistent with the local authority’s plans, and some records lack detail. These have the potential to lead to confusion between the staff.

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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 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— 16/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC471672 4 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the location risk assessment contains all known risks to children regarding the location of the home. 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 promotes their welfare.

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff undertake or refresh training in managing self-harm and mental health needs. 16/10/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 16/10/2020

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Recommendations

 Ensure all children’s case records (regulation 36) are kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) In particular, ensure that children’s records are clear and consistent. Assurance visit report: SC471672 5

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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

Natalie Burton, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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