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

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to 16 children who have a physical and/or learning disability and/or a sensory impairment. Children are aged between five and 17. Children may stay beyond their 18th birthday while they finish their education. The home provides 10 long-term placements and six short-break placements.

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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 registers and inspects the healthcare that is carried out on the premises.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 25 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: improved 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:  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. Assurance visit report: 1273658 2

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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.

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The care of children

Children are happy and flourishing. Despite the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, children continue to thrive.

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The care of children

Staff are enthusiastic in helping children to succeed. Staff ensure that the smallest of achievements are celebrated. As a result, children develop a sense of security and belonging.

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The care of children

Occasionally, staff forget that when they need to talk about a child’s care, other children may be able to overhear the conversation. This creates a risk of sensitive information being unnecessarily shared.

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The care of children

Occasionally, the menu for children is not displayed. This means some children are unable to make an informed choice about their meal.

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The care of children

During the COVID-19 pandemic, managers and staff have worked hard to ensure that children are able to stay in touch with their families. Staff have used alternative communication techniques to help children to stay in touch with people who are important to them. The use of video calling has been invaluable, and children have benefited from having virtual fun times with their families.

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The care of children

Staff understand the importance of education. When children have been unable to attend school because of COVID-19, staff have been skilful in devising daily programmes to help support children’s ongoing learning. This daily support has included helping children to develop their daily social and life skills. Staff have used social stories and taught children the importance of regular handwashing by using videos. As a result, children have been less anxious and appear to have accepted the new routines as part of everyday life.

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The care of children

Staff have been creative in keeping children occupied. They have used the garden space to enable children to have fun in a safe place. This has included purchasing a new trampoline. There have also been theme nights, birthday parties, celebrations and cinema nights.

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The safety of children

When incidents occur, staff take prompt action. As a result, there have been no incidents that have required physical intervention.

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The safety of children

Managers have responded appropriately to a complaint. Following discussions with the family, the complaint was resolved and action taken to ensure that lessons have been learned and children are safe. Assurance visit report: 1273658 3 Staff have maintained good safeguarding protocols during COVID-19. This has resulted in a limit being set around the numbers of visitors to the home and issuing instructions to staff and children around handwashing. These actions have helped to ensure that children are not placed at unnecessary risk.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is an experienced and child-focused manager. Despite the challenges faced by COVID-19, she has managed the home well by making sure that children’s plans are progressed.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has been proactive in ensuring that children’s moves are well planned. She has ensured that proposed placements are suitable and that, where possible, children are involved in every step of the process.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor has carried out virtual monthly visits to monitor the progress and well-being of the children. Despite the visits being done remotely by using technology, the independent visitor has been able to review records, speak to children and their families, and consult professionals.

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Leaders and managers

Supervision for staff has been prioritised, with staff receiving regular and frequent supervision which is reflective, informative and gives opportunities for staff to learn.

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Recommendations

 Positive relationships are those which are characterised by consistency and unconditional positive regard for the child on the part of the carer; and where the carer acknowledges the importance of understanding and responding to the child’s lived experience of care. Positive, stable relationships help the child to feel secure and cared about and for. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 21, paragraph 4.3)

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Recommendations

This is in regard to staff not talking about children in front of other children.

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Recommendations

 The home should work in partnership with relevant people as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. This may include the use of and support to use communication aids, equipment and/or any necessary language support. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 22, paragraph 4.6)

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Recommendations

This is with regard to ensuring pictorial or symbolised menus are always available to children. Assurance visit report: 1273658 4

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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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Inspectors

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1273658 5 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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