Children's home run by Ingleside Children’s Home Limited in Birmingham

Assurance visit report: SC025799 1 SC025799

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. The home provides care for up to five children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home accommodates children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered by Ofsted in July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 27 January 2020

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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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC025799 2

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The care of children

No children or young people have lived at the home since April. Ofsted suspended the registration of the home in April this year. The suspension of the home was lifted by Ofsted in July after the provider took appropriate actions to improve the setting.

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The care of children

The home is well prepared to admit children or young people. Staff spoken with noted the importance of meeting the individual needs of children or young people, alongside considering how they will all mix together in the home. Managers have involved staff in considering new referrals, which has helped develop a shared understanding of placement matching.

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The care of children

The home is suitably staffed to look after children or young people. Despite no children or young people being admitted since July, a suitable number of staff members have been employed and are working full time in readiness for their arrival. During interviews staff spoke passionately and comprehensively about their roles and responsibilities.

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The care of children

Suitable care planning policies, procedures and records are in place to assess the needs of children and young people and guide staff. These include daily care plans, education plans and wellbeing plans.

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The safety of children

Staff spoken with displayed an appropriate understanding of how to keep children and young people safe. Staff have received child protection training in the past few months. This, coupled with suitable policies and procedures, indicates that the staff can meet the needs of children and young people.

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The safety of children

The home has made the necessary arrangements to keep all who live and work at the home safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors and staff are expected to use the hand sanitiser at the front door as they enter the home. Further measures include taking the temperature of staff and visitors on arrival at the home and practising social distancing to help prevent the risk of contracting COVID-19.

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The safety of children

The home environment is safe. During a tour of the premises the inspector did not identify any concerns which would impact on children’s health and safety. Staff have received fire safety training and undertaken fire evacuation drills to ensure that they know what to do in the event of a fire.

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Leaders and managers

The management and staffing structure have been considerably improved. The provider has appointed two experienced managers to the posts of new registered manager and new responsible individual. The registered manager and responsible individual have subsequently recruited a predominantly new staff team. Assurance visit report: SC025799 3 The registered manager has utilised his previous experience of working in and managing residential care settings to put in place a raft of positive changes. The decision to staff the home prior to children or young people being resident ensures that staff are prepared and ready to care for them.

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Leaders and managers

Staff spoken with during the visit were positive about the support that they receive and about the home in general. Several members of staff complimented the structures that are in place and are looking forward to meeting the needs of children and young people once they move in. Staff also confirmed that they have regular supervision and benefit from ongoing training programmes.

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Leaders and managers

The home is appropriately monitored. The independent visitor undertakes monthly visits as required. The registered manager completes a report that assesses the quality of care provided at the home and any areas that require improvement.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have ensured that three previous requirements have been met. Rotas now confirm the names of staff, when they are working and the hours that they work. In addition, staff employed at the home either hold the required qualifications or are undertaking them.

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Leaders and managers

It was not possible to assess the remaining requirements, as no children or young people have been admitted to the home since the requirements were made. Therefore, these requirements are restated and will be tested once children and young people are living at the home.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 30/03/2021 Assurance visit report: SC025799 4 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is an up-to-date record of each child’s risks of harm and ensure that staff follow children’s care plans to help ensure that any risks to children are minimised. 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

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 30/03/2021 Assurance visit report: SC025799 5 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of the children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) Children’s case records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and

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Requirement Due date

in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain an accurate record of all the contact details of certain persons in relation to the child. 30/04/2021

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 30/04/2021 Assurance visit report: SC025799 6 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 30/04/2021

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Children’s home details

Assurance visit report: SC025799 7 Unique reference number: SC025799

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ingleside Children’s Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Wheeleys Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2LD

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Inspector

Kevin Whatley, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC025799 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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