Children's Home run by HAVEN CARE GROUP LIMITED in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548333 1

p.1

Haven Care Group Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A privately-owned company runs this home. It offers care for up to four young people. The home specialises in caring for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 28 July 2020. A new manager has been in post since 28 September 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At an assurance visit conducted on 21 and 22 October 2020, serious and widespread concerns were identified. One compliance notice was issued and six requirements were raised.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit is to review the provider’s action in meeting the compliance notice and the six requirements raised at the assurance visit. Three of the six requirements and the compliance notice are now considered met.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Managers have acted to make improvements to the physical conditions in the home. This includes ensuring that young people’s bedrooms have individualised personal space, free from trip hazards, and sufficient storage space to store their belongings. All areas of the flat roof that were previously covered in rubbish are now clean and tidy.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Fire safety systems are in good working order and defects have been rectified. For example, during November 2020 there was a repeated defect noted with the fire alarm system which was raised with management. A new fire alarm system has been implemented into the home as a response. This ensures that the safety and welfare of young people are not compromised. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548333 2 Despite this progress, there are still significant shortfalls in how children are supported to keep themselves safe. For example, staff have failed to act in response to concerns of a young person smoking in her bedroom. Staff have also failed to act when the same young person declined to engage in a fire evacuation drill. These omissions are missed opportunities to help young people to learn how to keep themselves safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Not all young people attend education in line with their current plans. Despite efforts and completed applications, one young person is not currently engaging in any form of education. As a result, this young person is not making measurable progress towards achieving her educational potential.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed and updated young people’s risk management plans. However, not all staff are aware of these changes. For example, one young person’s risk management plan was updated on 17 November 2020. One member of staff only became aware that a change had been made to a young person’s plan during this monitoring visit. This shows a lack of oversight of the manager to ensure that all staff are clear about their responsibilities in safeguarding young people.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers’ systems for reviewing the quality of care remain weak. Audits that have been completed fail to highlight the shortfalls of ensuring that young people are supported to remain safe. Managers have been unable to test the effectiveness of imposed sanctions. Due to this, a repeat requirement has been issued.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Not all the previous recommendations and regulation 35 that were set at the assurance visit have been reviewed during this visit. Therefore, these areas for improvement have been reissued.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager was not available during the monitoring visit. The responsible individual was present and available and acknowledged that areas for ongoing improvement remain.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.2

Recent inspection history

N/a Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548333 3

p.2

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.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)) 8 February 2021

p.3

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— Understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(h)) 8 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548333 4 The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is

p.3

Requirement Due date

made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered

p.4

Requirement Due date

person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 8 February 2021

p.4

Recommendations

 Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulations 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548333 5  All children must have access to appropriate advocacy support, and where possible this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. Looked- after children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and

p.4

Recommendations

feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) This is with reference to ensuring that staff supervision routinely focuses on the safeguarding of children.  The registered person must ensure that young people are supported to achieve their education targets in line with relevant education plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess

p.5

Recommendations

the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548333 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Haven Care Group Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 6 Barberry Court, Parkway, Centrum One Hundred, Burton-on-trent DE14 2UE

p.6

Inspector

Kev Brammer, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548333 7 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.6

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 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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7