Children's home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

Assurance visit report: SC033056 1 SC033056

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides a residential short-break service for up to four children who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the service stopped offering overnight stays, and instead, moved to day-care and outreach service until it resumed overnight stays from 10 August 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2014 and holds a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health, Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 10 February 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:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. 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: SC033056 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

During the national lockdown due to COVID-19, the home stopped offering overnight stays until 10 August 2020. During this time, staff provided outreach and day-care services. This support was invaluable in giving children the opportunities to spend time with their friends and to engage in activities such as arts and crafts and walks in the countryside.

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The care of children

Staff have positive relationships with children and go above and beyond in making children’s stays memorable. Despite the many challenges imposed by COVID-19, children have enjoyed playing in the garden, getting involved in messy play, participating in walks and shopping trips, and going swimming.

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The care of children

Staff have helped children to understand changes to their routines due to COVID-19 through holding open discussions and by using social stories. Children who have had worries have been helped through play. This has included the staff using a worry monster toy to help children to work through their concerns. Consequently, children’s anxieties have reduced.

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The care of children

Staff understand the importance of education and help children with homework. They also provide educational type activities such as learning about money, taking part in cooking and other tasks that promote independence . This support has helped children to develop essential life skills.

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The safety of children

Managers and staff have kept children safe during COVID-19. Children have been cared for in bubbles with the most vulnerable having their own bubble. Staff have implemented good cleaning routines during and in between stays. Visitors have been kept to a minimum and staff have carefully considered any venues visited. Consequently, children have been protected from COVID-19.

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The safety of children

Children’s behaviour plans and risk assessments have improved and are now subject to regular reviews. The detail now gives staff the information they need to provide a consistent response to risks posed to and from children. Consequently, staff are now more informed about the risks and how to respond.

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The safety of children

Managers have implemented an electronic recording system. This can be accessed by the children’s social workers. This means that social workers are now better informed about children’s care and their safety. Assurance visit report: SC033056 3

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Leaders and managers

The home is managed by an experience child-focused manager who knows the children well. She is supported by a consistent staff team, many who have worked at the home for a number of years.

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Leaders and managers

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, managers have prioritised staff learning by facilitating online training and when restrictions allowed, face-to-face learning and instruction as part of team meetings. Consequently, staff now have the knowledge and skills to care for children at the home.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has advocated well for children when education placements have ended. This has resulted in a child who had been out of education for a while having an alternative provision provided.

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Leaders and managers

Managers have not yet met one requirement from the last inspection due to COVID- 19. This relates to improving the monitoring systems. This means that there is still a delay in having a system to help managers to identify and evaluate patterns and trends within 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 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

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

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)(h)) 30/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC033056 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Coventry City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coventry City Council, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR

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Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC033056 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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Inspector

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