Birch Cottage

Assurance visit report: SC421197 1 SC421197

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for up to four children. Its statement of purpose notes that children who live at the home are likely to have experienced abuse, rejection, previous placement breakdown and exclusion from mainstream education.

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Information about this children’s home

It is operated by a small organisation consisting of two homes. The home has its own educational facility on site, which all children attend.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 9 June 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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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. Assurance visit report: SC421197 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

Young people have been pleasantly surprised returning from a holiday to find their home redecorated and refurbished. The home looks homelier and more comfortable, with one room adapted to provide young people with a craft room and beauty area.

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The care of children

Young people mostly enjoy positive relationships with staff. However, during this visit, young people shared some of their frustrations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent lockdown. One young person found it particularly upsetting that she has not been able to have direct contact with her family during this time. This has seemed unfair as those with family closer to the home have been able to enjoy some family time.

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The care of children

Young people found the government restrictions during the lockdown period quite challenging. Staff encouraged young people to be as active as possible, taking regular exercise and joining in with fun activities at the home. Additional resources, such as games and outdoor equipment, were provided to keep young people occupied. Staff encouraged regular video calls with family and friends to promote young people’s mental health and emotional well-being.

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The care of children

Staff have actively supported young people to continue with their education during this difficult time. All have benefited from the education facilities available at the home. One young person, who previously attended mainstream school, despite the disappointment of not being able to sit her GCSE examinations and say goodbye to school friends, has been successfully supported by staff to make the transition to college. Her social worker acknowledged that his was a huge personal achievement.

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The care of children

Professionals speak highly of the home, recognising that staff are good advocates for young people and work hard to build trusting and meaningful relationships. Because of this young people do achieve stability in their lives.

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The safety of children

The home is identified by professionals as a safe place for young people. Staff have a clear understanding of young people’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Risk management planning and the attentiveness of staff is key in mitigating and reducing these risks.

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The safety of children

Staff appropriately prioritise young people’s safety. Staff are familiar with the triggers that are likely to escalate risky behaviours and know how to effectively and safely de-escalate such situations. Risk-taking behaviours, such as young people going missing from the home, have successfully reduced. Assurance visit report: SC421197 3 Staff have been trained in a wide range of child protection issues. They keep their personal development current with additional and refresher training to ensure good safeguarding practice is maintained in the home.

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The safety of children

Staff have educated children and young people to understand the health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and follow health and government guidelines to stay safe and healthy. The risks associated with COVID-19 are well understood by young people. Overall, their cooperation with rules has been good during this period.

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The safety of children

Young people know how to complain and have their voice heard. Some young people have raised concerns when they have felt unhappy with staff practice. Managers ensure complaints and allegations are appropriately reported, recorded and investigated. Close working relationships with the local authority designated officer and police ensure high safeguarding standards are maintained.

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The safety of children

Recruitment practice is robust. Young people contribute to the process, giving their views of any member of staff likely to be appointed. Managers closely monitor staff practice, particularly during the induction and probationary periods, to identify any concerns at an early stage.

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Leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the home’s leadership has considerably strengthened. The home has a new manager who has been recently registered with Ofsted. The manager has also been supported by the appointment of a new deputy, who is also qualified and has relevant management experience in children’s residential care.

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Leaders and managers

Managers have been diligent in ensuring all staff have felt safe and had the support and the supplies they need to continue working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential areas of risk have been assessed and documented, and measures put in place alongside government advice, to ensure staff safety and well-being.

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Leaders and managers

Staff personal development has been successfully maintained during this difficult period. Staff have benefited from the company’s online training package and regular supervision to maintain confidence and feel supported in their role.

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Leaders and managers

Ofsted received regular monthly reports from the home’s independent person. Reports reflect that the home has been thoroughly monitored and scrutinised during this period. Instead of using the flexibility allowed by recent amendments to the children’s homes regulations, the independent person has continued to visit the home through lockdown. The independent person has adhered to social distancing and other good practice to avoid COVID-19 transmission.

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Leaders and managers

The home has recently appointed a new independent person, to avoid complacency in the role and maintain a high level of external scrutiny. Assurance visit report: SC421197 4 Requirements made at the home’s last inspection in May 2019 have been met. The home is working in accordance with its statement of purpose. Only one recommendation is made, to improve the quality of the manager’s six-monthly reports to Ofsted.

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for deciding what each review should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home at that particular time and any areas of high risk to the children that the home is designed to care for, such as missing or exploitation. They will also consider what information or data recorded in the home will form part of the evidence base for their analysis and conclusions. There is no expectation that the registered person will review the home against every part of the Quality Standards every six months – registered persons should use their professional judgement to decide which factors to focus on. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The

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Recommendations

whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ABC Care and Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: International House, 61 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kennedy

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Inspector

Gillian Walters, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC421197 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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