Children's Home run by Resicare Alliance Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463639 1 SC463639

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ASTON CHILDREN’S CARE LTD

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The new manager has been in post since December 2020. The manager is not registered with the regulator.

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This monitoring visit

The home last had a monitoring visit in December 2020. Due to new concerns about children raising allegations, a further monitoring visit has been carried out.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Ofsted did not carry out a physical visit to the home. The inspector gathered evidence in several different ways, including talking with the children and the staff. The inspector also sought the views of children’s social workers and designated officers. Electronic documents were requested and sent to the inspector to review.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that when children make allegations or raise concerns, these are always taken seriously and prompt action is taken. This includes swift referrals to the relevant agencies. Each time a child raises a concern, the manager has ensured that the child receives a letter explaining that their concerns are being investigated. This openness helps children to be assured that their concerns are taken seriously and that their rights are protected.

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This monitoring visit

All children have individualised risk assessments in place. However, these assessments do not always capture an appropriate level of detail to guide staff on the use of physical restraint to help reduce risk. For example, the guide does not take account of things, such as a child’s size and/or health needs. This has the potential to lead to inconsistency in practice and in how children are protected from harm.

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This monitoring visit

A requirement raised at the last inspection required managers to submit a quality of care review report to the regulator. This shortfall remains unmet and means that the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463639 2 regulator still does not have oversight of the service between inspections.

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This monitoring visit

All other requirements raised at the last inspection have not been reviewed. These will be considered at a future visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/02/2019 Full Good 10/10/2017 Full Good 29/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463639 3

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring placing authorities are updated about children regularly and there are no delays in communication. 31/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to raising concerns to the head of children’s services when children are not being adequately supported by placing authorities regarding their education. 31/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

develop the child’s interests and hobbies; 28/02/2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463639 4 participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to making sure that staff plan activities for children that are reflective of restrictions imposed by COVID- 19.

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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

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to staff receiving training in the use of Makaton and Picture Exchange Communication System. 30/06/2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are aware of risks to children due to their size and health needs when using restraint techniques. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.55)

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463639 5 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.

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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: ASTON CHILDREN’S CARE LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 181 Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV3 0EQ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: the manager is not registered with the regulator.

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Inspector

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463639 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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