Children's Home run by Osei Minkah Care Ltd in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277449 1

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Osei Minkah Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This provider is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children with learning difficulties and mental health difficulties. The home is dual registered with the Care Quality Commission.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager left in October 2020. A deputy manager is in post while the arrangements for a new manager are finalised.

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This monitoring visit

At an assurance visit on 23 and 24 September 2020, serious and widespread concerns were identified in relation to the care and protection of children. As a result of this inspection, and in response to the serious failings found in respect of safeguarding children and the leadership and management of the home, the home’s registration was suspended on 25 September 2020. Eight requirements were raised, five of which were the subject of compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit on 3 November 2020 found that managers had complied with the suspension notice. However, managers had not prioritised making the necessary improvements. Consequently, progress was slow and none of the compliance notices or requirements had been met. Eight requirements were remade.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit on 15 December 2020 found that managers had complied with the suspension notice. However, serious and repeated shortfalls in respect of the leadership and management arrangements for the home continued to be evident. The registration of the home was suspended on 17 December 2020 for a further 12- week period, subject to review at six weeks.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit is to monitor the home’s adherence to the suspension notice and to consider any progress made to address the shortfalls identified that had led to the home’s registration being suspended. Managers were unable to Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277449 2 attend the home to accommodate the inspection. In light of this, inspectors agreed with the responsible individual that an inspector would visit the home to look at the environment and confirm that no children lived there. Managers also provided records via email for inspectors to review.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that managers have complied with the notice of suspension. No children have lived at the home since September 2020. Concerns remain that managers have not made sufficient progress to remedy the shortfalls identified in previous inspections which led to the registration of the home being suspended.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has failed to follow up and resolve shortfalls in safe recruitment practice identified at the previous monitoring visit. The responsible individual did not demonstrate that, so far as reasonably practical, she has acted to ensure that the reasons why the one member of staff left all previous posts where they were working with children or vulnerable adults had been verified. In addition, the responsible individual has not demonstrated that she has explored differences in the same staff member’s account of gaps in employment to confirm that the record held by the organisation is accurate.

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This monitoring visit

It remains unclear if the arrangements for the administration of medication to children are safe. Managers have consulted with a pharmacist about the organisation’s arrangements for the administration of medication. The evidence provided to inspectors does not clearly show that this consultation was specifically in relation to this children’s home or children. In addition, no evidence was provided to show that staff understand how to record ‘as needed’ medication, administered to a child. This means that Ofsted cannot be assured that the arrangements for the administration and recording of medication given to children are suitable and safe.

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This monitoring visit

A safeguarding policy was made available to inspectors during the visit. The primary focus of the policy relates to the safeguarding of adults rather than children. It also contains inaccurate information about who the local authority designated officer is. This does not provide Ofsted with assurance that there are suitable arrangements in place to ensure that staff and managers understand their responsibilities and the arrangements for safeguarding children, particularly in response to allegations of harm to children by staff.

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This monitoring visit

No progress has been made in ensuring that records of physical intervention meet regulatory requirements. As a result, it is not clear that managers and staff know how to correctly record restraint incidents. Poor record keeping means that managers do not have access to essential information to ensure that behaviour management (or restraint) practice is safe and proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

Managers did not demonstrate that action has been taken since the last visit to ensure that there is an effective system in place for staff and managers to notify significant incidents to Ofsted. This does not give the regulator assurance that managers and staff have the necessary arrangements in place to support the external oversight of the safety and welfare of children. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277449 3 Information provided by managers during the visit did not show that the provider has responded effectively to recommendations contained in the independent visitor’s report following the visit undertaken in December 2020. This means that managers have failed to evidence that they are using external monitoring to bring about improvement. This, coupled with ineffective internal monitoring systems, continues to raise significant concerns about the competence and abilities of managers to lead

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This monitoring visit

Doors have now been fitted to the en-suite bathrooms in children’s bedrooms. This further improves the physical conditions of the home, which is good.

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This monitoring visit

The home remains suspended at this time.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/12/2019 Full Inadequate 27/08/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277449 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to monitor the home’s adherence to the suspension notice and to consider any progress made to address the shortfalls identified that had led to the home’s registration being suspended.

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Information about this inspection

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

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Osei Minkah Care Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Trilogy Suite 9 Church Street, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire WV11 1SR

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Inspectors

Alison Cooper, social care inspector James Tallis, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1277449 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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