Children's Home run by Stanfield Care Services Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258026 1

p.1

Stanfield Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to two children with complex needs. The registered manager left the organisation in September 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is currently being managed by an interim manager while the provider recruits a permanent manager.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 16 September 2020, Ofsted undertook an assurance visit and found widespread and serious concerns. Compliance notices under regulations 12, 13, 23 and 32 were issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor the compliance notices and the requirements raised at the assurance visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

One child continues to live at the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have undertaken training to gain better insight into the child’s needs and risks in areas such as child sexual exploitation and self-harm. This has led to staff writing and implementing better risk management plans and adopting improved behaviour management strategies to help the child. This has led to fewer incidents of challenging behaviour, including missing from home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff are clear about the level of monitoring the child needs when she is using the laptop and accessing the internet. This protects the child from communicating with people who may pose a risk to her. Measures to alert staff at night if the child was to leave the home have also been put in place. Door alarms have been fitted, with the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258026 2 consent of the child’s placing authority, and their use is kept under review. The reasons for these measures have been explained to the child.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Shortfalls around fire safety have been addressed. The fire and rescue service have visited the home and are satisfied that fire safety arrangements are appropriate. Work with the child around fire safety has also been completed. Because of these changes and improvements, the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 have been met.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Policies and procedures around medication have been reviewed and updated to make them more robust. A new competency assessment tool is in place, which the manager will complete to assess staff’s level of competency to administer medication. This will help to address any practice issues. In addition, staff have completed medication training again. No medication errors have been noted since the assurance visit. As a result of these improvements, the compliance notice under regulation 23 has been met.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have undertaken a review of all staff personnel files, which helped to identify shortfalls in recruitment practice. These shortfalls have now been rectified. Staff recruitment practice now meets regulation and so the compliance notice under regulation 32 is met.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The child has made positive relationships with staff. This is helping the child to feel more secure. Staff talk to her about the dangers of smoking, her health and what healthy relationships look like, which enable her to make better informed choices.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The child’s attendance at school is good and this promotes their learning and enriches their life chances. Discussions with the child around working towards independent living have started and key areas of work have been identified with her. This is helping her to have a sense of purpose and is enriching her life chances.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured that all staff receive regular supervisions. Records show the quality of supervision has improved and that sessions are more reflective. The annual appraisals for staff have been booked. New staff working in the home have clear induction plans and are having monthly progress meetings during their probation. These improvements are helping staff to feel valued and are helping staff be clearer and more accountable in their roles.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Senior management oversight of the home is much improved. In addition, the home has introduced internal monthly visits by someone not directly working in the home. The purpose of these visits is to help the development of the home and to assist in consolidating and building on the improvements made already.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home has taken positive steps to address the shortfalls identified at the assurance visit. The compliance notices and requirements raised at that visit have all been met. The positive changes made are still in their infancy and managers and Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258026 3 senior leaders will need to ensure that the improvements made continue and become embedded into practice.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/11/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258026 4

p.3

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stanfield Care Services Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 6, Cuckoo Wharf, 435 Lichfield Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire B6 7SS

p.4

Inspectors

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258026 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.5