Children's Home run by Osei Minkah Care Ltd in Wolverhampton

Information about this children’s home

This provider is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with learning and / or mental health difficulties. The home is dual registered with the Care Quality Commission.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified registered manager is in post.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 3 December 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Inadequate

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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.

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Findings from the visit

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit: Assurance visit report: 1277449 2  Staff have failed to promote the safety and welfare of young people in their care.  Staff do not consistently follow young people’s plans and risk assessments.  Staff do not record physical interventions in accordance with the regulations.  Young people are not in full-time education or engaged in suitable structured activities that help to reduce barriers to learning.  The staff team does not have the skills to meet the needs of the young people.  The registered manager has failed to ensure that medication records are well maintained.  The registered manager has failed to take effective action when safeguarding concerns have arisen.  The registered manager has failed to report significant concerns to the regulator.  The internal and external monitoring of the home is ineffective.

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Findings from the visit

 Managers have failed to maintain improvements to the physical conditions of the home.

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The care of children

Since the monitoring inspection in June 2020, two new young people have moved into the home and two young people have moved out. A young person’s move on from the home to supported accommodation was well planned and considered. However, planning for young people to move into the home is weak. The registered manager failed to consider the known risks and vulnerabilities of a young person already living at the home when making plans for the other young person to move in. This means that the placing authority was not given crucial information to understand the levels of risk posed to their young person prior to placement. Poor matching affected the experiences of this young person, who was exposed to challenging behaviour, including being assaulted by his peer.

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The care of children

Although staff are in the process of working with relevant professionals to identify appropriate educational placements, neither of the young people attend full-time education. The absence of a structured daily programme means that one young person was observed by inspectors to remain in his bedroom until lunchtime. The lack of support from staff to help the young person establish a daily routine that prioritises learning means that he is not being prepared and equipped to be ready to attend college when a place is confirmed.

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The care of children

Staff do not understand the health needs of the children in their care. One member of staff was unaware that one young person is prescribed regular medication. In addition, managers have failed to ensure that medication is administered safely. For example, it is not clear that medication prescribed to be taken in the morning is administered in the morning. There is no guidance for staff about the administration Assurance visit report: 1277449 3 of medication that is prescribed to be taken as needed. Failure to understand young people’s health needs and to ensure safe procedures for the administration of medication poses a risk to young people’s health.

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The care of children

The inspectors found that the home environment is poorly maintained. For example, in one young person’s bedroom the wardrobe is damaged and laminate flooring does not reach the door. The ceiling in the lounge is marked from water damage. The fire and surround in the dining room is broken. Trunking is missing from electrical cables under the stairs. The dining table does not have sufficient seating for staff and children to eat together at mealtimes. An old toilet and a broken chair are discarded in the grounds. Managers have been slow to repair broken windows. A lack of attention to maintaining good physical conditions in the home fails to show young people that the staff care about them and value them as individuals.

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The care of children

An absence of hand towels in the bathroom and toilet shows staff disregard for helping children to reduce the spread of COVID-19 through maintaining good hand hygiene.

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The safety of children

Staff do not keep young people safe. Staff have failed to provide support to a young person who is at risk of criminal exploitation, in accordance with a court order designed to increase his safety. Stipulated staffing levels have not been adhered to by managers and staff in the home or in the community. For example, on one occasion, the young person was able to leave staff and return to the home alone. In addition, the young person should not have a mobile phone or access to the internet. However, when staff heard the young person talking on a phone in his bedroom, no action was taken to understand who the young person was in contact with or if the device was internet compatible. Complicit staff who lack curiosity and failure to adhere to agreed staffing levels increase risk to the young person.

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The safety of children

Young people’s missing from care risk assessments do not contain essential information. For one young person there is no guidance for staff on when to report him missing, despite him having a significant learning disability. This leaves staff without important information to help them to keep the young person safe. When another young person has been missing, staff have failed to consistently follow procedures to help locate him, despite grave risks posed to his safety. The registered manager was unable to demonstrate that return home interviews have been completed on the young person’s return. Disregard for following agreed protocols places the young person at significant risk of harm.

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The safety of children

Managers do not take their safeguarding responsibilities seriously. The registered manager failed to provide evidence that recommendations arising from a management investigation into the poor practice of staff had been actioned. This means it is unclear if essential learning aimed at improving the care and safety of young people has been embedded into practice. Furthermore, the registered manager has not taken effective action in response to a young person alleging that Assurance visit report: 1277449 4 he had been hurt by staff. A failure to follow safeguarding procedures places young people at risk of abuse from people in position of trust.

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The safety of children

Previous progress in improving the quality of physical intervention records has not been sustained. For example, physical intervention records made by staff do not consistently detail an accurate description of the hold used or the duration of each hold used. In addition, records do not set out if any injuries were sustained by the young person or if any medical attention was necessary or administered. This means it is not clear if physical restraint practice is proportionate and safe, and that young people have access to medical assistance should they need it. Records of discussions held with the young person and staff, following physical intervention incidents, are of poor quality. This is a missed opportunity to understand the effectiveness of the hold in ensuring the safety of the young person and what needs to happen to reduce the need for the young person to be held. In addition, records do not detail

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The safety of children

when discussions with staff and the young person take place. Consequently, it is unclear if debriefing takes place within the timescales required by regulation.

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The safety of children

Despite the risks of criminal exploitation posed to one young person, the registered manager has not made sure that staff know what action to take should unknown persons come onto the premises. A lack of safety planning places young people at risk from harmful individuals.

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The safety of children

During the visit, inspectors became aware of a fault to the fire panel and observed that fire doors did not shut easily into the frames. At the request of the inspectors, the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service attended the home and oversaw that the provider took action to secure the safety of the fire alarm system.

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Leaders and managers

Failures in monitoring and inattention to records mean that the registered manager is not aware that court-ordered staffing levels for one young person are not consistently maintained and that procedures for reporting young people missing are not consistently followed by staff. A failure by the registered manager to keep good oversight of the day-to-day practice of staff leaves young people at risk of harm.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager was unable to demonstrate that all staff had received important and fundamental training to raise their awareness in key areas including child criminal exploitation and working with young people with a learning disability. Of the 27 staff detailed in the statement of purpose only ten had completed training about sexually harmful behaviour. However, this training is scheduled. A lack of attention to timely staff development leaves staff without essential knowledge and skills to understand the young people’s needs and to identify and reduce risk.

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Leaders and managers

The one requirement raised at the last inspection in relation to independent visits to the home has not been met. There was no evidence that independent visits took place either physically or virtually in the months of June and July 2020. Consequently, Ofsted cannot be satisfied that independent visits to the home have been conducted in accordance with regulation. Furthermore, the registered manager Assurance visit report: 1277449 5 has failed to notify the regulator of serious incidents, such as when young people with significant vulnerabilities are missing from the home. These shortfalls seriously compromise the external oversight of the safety and welfare of young people.

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Leaders and managers

In response to the serious failings found in respect of safeguarding young people and the leadership and management of the home, the home’s registration was suspended on the 25 September 2020. Five compliance notices have been issued and three new requirements raised.

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(vii))* 01/11/2020

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 01/11/2020 Assurance visit report: 1277449 6 that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(v) (vi)(vii)(b))*

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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. 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; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(h))* 01/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)) 01/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) 01/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— a description of the measure and its duration; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")— has spoken to the user about the measure; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(c))* 01/11/2020

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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)) 01/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. 01/11/2020 Assurance visit report: 1277449 7 The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— HMCI. (Regulation 44(1)(7)(a))*

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child’s needs under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an

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Recommendations

opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Osei Minkah Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trilogy Suite, 9 Church Street, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire WV11 1SR

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Inspectors

Alison Cooper, Social Care Inspector James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1277449 8 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

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