Children's home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to three girls who have learning disabilities. A private provider operates the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since June 2020. However, a new manager has been in post since August 2020. She has submitted her application to be registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

On 14 January 2020, a monitoring visit was undertaken. This visit was completed following complaints received by Ofsted. Due to the concerns identified during this visit, a notice of restriction of accommodation was issued. Compliance notices were also issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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Information about this children’s home

On 13 February 2020, a monitoring visit was undertaken. Compliance notices were reissued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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Information about this children’s home

On 2 April 2020, a monitoring visit was undertaken. The compliance notices were considered to have been met and the notice of restriction of accommodation was lifted.

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Information about this children’s home

On 26 May 2020, a monitoring visit was undertaken. The visit was completed following a complaint received by Ofsted. Due to the concerns identified during this visit, a notice of restriction of accommodation was issued. Compliance notices were also issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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Information about this children’s home

On 1 July 2020, a monitoring visit was undertaken. The compliance notices were considered to have been met. The notice of restriction of accommodation continued to be in place.

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Information about this children’s home

On 18 and 19 August 2020, a monitoring visit was undertaken. Ofsted found that progress continued to be made in a range of areas. As a result, Ofsted lifted the notice of restriction of accommodation. However, it was acknowledged that improvement work was ongoing. As a result, Ofsted imposed urgent notice to vary the conditions of registration of the home. This reduced the number of children that the provider could supply care and accommodation to three children. Assurance visit report: 1255147 2 Visit dates: 30 September to 1 October 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 28 August 2019

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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.

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The care of children

Two children currently live in the home. Staff continue to build strong and trusted relationships with both children. This means that staff increasingly understand children’s needs and provide them with individualised care. As a result, children feel settled and continue to develop a sense of belonging to their home.

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The care of children

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, children have regular opportunities to spend time with those people who matter the most to them. Staff provide children with transport and supervision to ensure that family time is a safe and enjoyable experience.

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The care of children

Staff meet the complex health needs of children. They seek medical advice when necessary and have safe and robust procedures in place for the administration and Assurance visit report: 1255147 3 management of medication. In addition, staff use individualised strategies to help children settle when they are anxious.

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The care of children

Both children attend school and have excellent attendance records. Teachers told the inspector that children make good academic and social progress. In addition, effective working relationships between staff and teachers ensure that children benefit from joined-up and consistent care.

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The care of children

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children have been able to continue to enjoy a range of activities and enjoyable experiences. For example, they take part in horse riding, baking and enjoy trips to the seaside.

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The care of children

Staff provide children with opportunities to express their views and take these into account when planning their care. For example, children complete key-work sessions to decide on new purchases for the home. Recently, staff bought children new play equipment. Children are currently working with staff on plans to redecorate the home.

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The care of children

Staff have made some improvements to the home environment by adding child- friendly features. The manager has given staff responsibility to continue these improvements and plans are in place to fully redecorate the home. This will address the clinical decor of some aspects of the home.

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The safety of children

Overall, COVID-19 has had a minimal impact on children’s lives. Staff continue to provide children with safe and consistent care and take necessary precautions to manage risks. Children’s plans are regularly reviewed and reflect the changing COVID-19 restrictions and guidance.

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The safety of children

Staff understand and manage the risks associated with each child. They provide appropriate supervision and support to keep children safe. Some risk assessments are out of date. However, the manager is alert to this. The manager is implementing revised risk assessments to support staff to better find and manage risk.

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The safety of children

Staff respond well when children display risk-taking behaviour. Staff work effectively with each other to de-escalate challenging incidents. Staff use a range of strategies to support children to settle when they are distressed. In addition, children learn new strategies to self-regulate, for example going to their bedrooms or playing with their toys. As a result, incidents of challenging behaviour continue to reduce.

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The safety of children

On occasions, staff use restraint to keep children safe when they become distressed and unsettled. This practice is appropriate and proportionate. However, the inspection found some shortfalls in the recording of these incidents. For example, records do not accurately reflect and analyse all restraints used during incidents. In addition, staff do not fully record why children were unsettled prior to the incident. This means that the manager is not able to make a fully informed analysis of these incidents. Assurance visit report: 1255147 4 The manager has introduced new systems to provide staff with opportunities to reflect on challenging incidents. For example, staff complete reflective reviews after each incident and during staff handovers. This added scrutiny helps staff to identify learning and improve their practice.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has been in post for several weeks. She continues to support staff on a journey of improvement. The manager is ambitious and empowers staff to take ownership of their practice. Staff told the inspector that their morale has significantly improved, and that they are building a stronger sense of team identity. As a result, children benefit from increasingly consistent care provided by a passionate and reinvigorated staff team.

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Leaders and managers

Staff work effectively with a range of agencies including teachers and health professionals. The manager plans to enhance the role of the in-house clinical team. For example, clinical staff will attend regular staff meetings to provide advice and continued oversight of children’s care.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has a clear understanding of staffing strengths and areas to improve. Her practice strikes a good balance between healthy challenge and development. Staff meetings provide staff with opportunities to explore their practice and identify learning.

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Leaders and managers

COVID-19 has been a barrier for staff being able to complete training. However, the manager has supported newly recruited staff to continue their induction training. Plans are in place to deliver further specialist training to all staff throughout October and November 2020. This will ensure that staff are able to continue to develop the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the children.

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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 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. 07/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 1255147 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation13(1)(a)(b)(2))

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Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. In particular, ensure that restraint records fully record and analyse all restraint and control measures and contain adequate detail with regards to incident triggers. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that communal areas of

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Recommendations

the home are decorated in a child-friendly and homely manner.  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bryn Melyn Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bryn Melyn House, 3 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, Shropshire TF2 9TU

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Inspector

Gareth Leckey, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1255147 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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