Children's Home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2533064 1

p.1

Beacon Childcare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and provides medium- to long-term care and accommodation for up to three children with learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left post in October 2020 following a period of leave. A new manager has been recruited and started in August 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for monitoring visits.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This home has not been inspected since registration. Two children have lived at the home for 12 months and are both settled. The home is a large semi-rural farmhouse, which is modern and well maintained. There is a large garden, which provides ample space for the children to play in. It is a homely environment for the children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Local area risks are assessed and are minimal to children. There have been no episodes of children going missing from home and no significant safeguarding concerns.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Both children are in full-time education at appropriate special schools. The children are settled and making progress with their learning. For example, one child on admission had significant challenging behaviours and was not attending education. He has had no incidents since coming to live at the home and is now planning for further education and skills training.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Another child with significant behavioural and communication difficulties has also made marked progress. For example, on arriving at the home he had a limited diet, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2533064 2 which was affecting his health. He now eats a healthy, well-balanced diet and is able to make his needs and wants known using the picture exchange communication system.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children are being supported well through COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the national lockdowns. Activities in the home take place and keep the children engaged and happy. The children are able to keep in contact with family and friends. When a child had to self-isolate, staff were sensitive and adapted to the situation. The child told the inspector that they found it a bit tough and boring, but the staff helped him. The staff were able to make use of the separate cooking facilities available, and the child had a separate bathroom. Disruption was minimal, and the children were supported to understand what was happening through good use of keywork sessions.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff support children to spend time with their families. For example, one child enjoys seeing their sibling out in the community with help from staff. A child’s social worker commented that the communication with the staff is excellent, and they have been supportive and flexible, helping children to maintain links with people who are important to them.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Since the home was registered, there have been changes to the management and staffing arrangements. The registered manager went on a period of leave and has now left. An interim manager was then in place before the current manager was appointed in August. The organisation has gone through a further change of leadership with a new responsible individual from April 2020. Additionally, a number of staff left during this period. As a result, there has been a period of disruption and inconsistency for children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have access to core mandatory training and supplementary training to meet the needs of the children, for example training in autism and non-verbal communication. However, the records of staff training are incomplete. As a result, it is unclear whether staff have all the training, knowledge and understanding to meet the children’s needs.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children’s placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour support plans do not contain accurate information and are not effectively reviewed. The language used in the plans is negative and does not promote best practice for children’s care. In addition, although a risk assessment for one child covers known risks, the level of risk is not judged, and control measures to reduce risk are not included in the document. Because known risks are not appropriately assessed, staff may not know how to respond. This has the potential to place children at risk of harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

One child’s behaviour plan includes information about sexualised behaviour. The plan does not consider the effect puberty has on children with severe and complex learning needs and does not support any strategies to help the child understand these behaviours. Poor planning means that children’s needs and risks are not Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2533064 3 always understood by staff, and children are not always receiving consistent care to support their needs.

p.2

This monitoring visit

One child’s local authority plan describes the child’s ethnicity as dual heritage; however, another document states that his ethnicity is White British. The staff are unsure about which is correct but have not taken steps to find this out for certain. As a result, the child’s ethnic and cultural needs are not clearly identified and met.

p.3

This monitoring visit

Children’s health needs are met locally through GPs, dentists and other health professionals such as child and adolescent mental health services. However, the staff have not explored health concerns identified on one child’s health plan. The child has an education, health and care plan; however, the home does not have the most recent version. As a result, it is unclear whether all the child’s physical health needs are well understood and are being met.

p.3

This monitoring visit

During the visit, the inspector highlighted shortfalls in the administration of medicines. One child’s medication had not been signed for on the previous two days. This was not picked up by staff during handovers or by the manager. The manager took steps to rectify this during the inspection.

p.3

This monitoring visit

The manager is new to the role and is getting to know the home and staff team. The manager and responsible individual spent time showing me the plans they have ready to implement a full auditing system for the home to help improve monitoring and oversight. There is also a plan to standardise documentation in the home.

p.3

Recent inspection history

None Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2533064 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 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; that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(c)) 20 January 2021

p.4

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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e)) 20 January 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that arrangements are in place to— manage and review the placement of each child in the home; 20 January 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2533064 5 that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(c)) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular the registered person must ensure that— a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c)) 20 November 2020

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the care in the home meets each child’s needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account of the child’s ethnicity and cultural background, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)

p.5

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.5

Information about this inspection

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

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hazlewoods, Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AT

p.5

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Ann-Cheri Callow

p.5

Inspector

James Tallis, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2533064 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.

p.5

Inspector

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6