Children's Home run by Wynford House Limited in Birmingham

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to accommodate two children, aged six to 18, with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation and was registered with Ofsted in June 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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: 2567658 2

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The care of children

Children have good relationships with most staff and the manager. This helps children to feel settled and well cared for. Children said that they are happy living in the home. This view is echoed by children’s parents and those professionals who are involved in the children’s lives.

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The care of children

Staff listen to children and understand their views. This means that children can contribute to the decisions about how they are looked after. For example, one of the children has recently had her room decorated and was able to choose the decor herself.

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The care of children

Due to the support and guidance from staff, children are making good progress in many aspects of their lives. Staff have worked hard to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on children’s lives. For example, staff have allowed one child to have pet rats. This has acted as a focus for the child’s energies while providing a mechanism for developing her independence skills.

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The care of children

Not all children are accessing full-time education. Staff have used informal learning opportunities and completed academic work set by the school to try to promote one child’s educational development. However, the registered manager recognises that the education being provided for this child is not enough. The registered manager is exploring all options to secure a more sustainable and appropriate education placement for the child.

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The care of children

Staff are successful at promoting children’s health needs. Throughout the pandemic, children have been able to access the specialist services that they need to meet their physical and emotional health needs.

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The care of children

Staff put in place routines and consistent boundaries. This means that children understand what is expected of them. Staff give appropriate sanctions for challenging behaviour. There is an emphasis on staff using restorative practice and praise for children. Because of this, children feel safe, and challenging behaviour has decreased.

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The care of children

Children have remained active during COVID-19, which has helped promote their emotional health and well-being. Children have completed fun activities such as visiting farms, skate parks and amusement parks, and they have been for walks in the country.

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The care of children

Throughout COVID-19, staff have ensured that children have had contact with their families. When it has not been safe to do so face to face, children have used the telephone or visual technology.

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The care of children

On one occasion, staff took a child to their parent’s home without first seeking agreement from the child’s local authority. The impact of this was limited, and the child was not at risk of harm. Assurance visit report: 2567658 3

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The safety of children

The manager and staff work hard to keep children safe. Risk assessments are clear and kept up to date. This ensures that staff have the right information they need to manage known risks.

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The safety of children

When children go missing, staff take the correct action. Because of this, children are located quickly and returned to the home.

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The safety of children

Staff are successful at promoting positive behaviours. Staff praise children at every opportunity so that they receive attention for following the rules and being well behaved.

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The safety of children

Staff use de-escalation techniques to good effect. This helps children to learn how to regulate their own behaviours. As a result, children’s challenging behaviours have reduced. Staff use physical intervention as a last resort to keep children safe. However, the manager scrutinises such incidents to identify any learning.

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The safety of children

The registered manager takes a proactive approach to maintaining harmony in the home. For example, where tensions between children and staff have arisen, mediation meetings are arranged to try and improve these important relationships. This helps children to feel important and that they are listened to.

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The safety of children

The registered manager works collaboratively with partner agencies to help children understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, the police have completed a session with the children about concerns such as drug use and grooming. This complements the direct work that staff have completed with children to help them recognise dangers and to stay safe.

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The safety of children

All staff and children are aware of the risks of COVID-19. Appropriate strategies are in place to reduce the risk to children and staff.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is well respected by staff and children. His child-focused approach ensures that the needs of children are prioritised.

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Leaders and managers

There are currently four staff vacancies. Where possible, the manager has been creative in how he has used his existing staff. This has limited the extent to which agency staff have worked in the home. Despite this, agency staff are being used, and this means that children are sometimes looked after by unfamiliar staff.

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Leaders and managers

Some staff have not completed the mandatory training, including safeguarding training. To manage this, the registered manager ensures that at least one senior member of staff who is trained and has the correct skills works each shift.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision. The registered manager helps staff to reflect on Assurance visit report: 2567658 4 their work and discusses areas of development and training. He shares good practice and supports staff to learn and enhance their skills.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager communicates well with parents and professionals. This promotes a collaborative approach to meeting the needs of 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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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—

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(1)(c)) 31/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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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—

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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— 31/03/2021 Assurance visit report: 2567658 5 ensure that the home’s workforce provide continuity of care to each child

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Recommendations

 Both the arrangements for contact and any contact details (telephone numbers etc.) must be included in the placement plan agreed between the registered person and the child’s placing authority and updated regularly (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.15)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wynford House Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Gowlett

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: James Montgomery-Williams

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Inspectors

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Paul Robinson, Regulatory Inspector Manager Assurance visit report: 2567658 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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