Children's Home run by Accalia Care Services Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586947 1

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Accalia Care Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in July 2020 to provide care and accommodation for three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post who is suitably qualified.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was completed in response to practice concerns identified at another home in the company. In addition, this children’s home has not been inspected since it was registered in July 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Since the home opened, three children have lived in the home. Staff supported one child to return to live with their family. Two children remain living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments to keep children and staff safe are in place. However, not all staff have read these assessments. This means that staff are not aware of risks or the strategies put in place to manage the risk behaviours. Some risk assessments require further review and additional detail to ensure that there is clear guidance in place for staff to follow. The registered manager and staff have failed to prevent children from entering the office. During the inspection, children were able to walk freely in and out of the office. This has the potential to place children and staff at risk.

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This monitoring visit

Staff allow both children in the home to smoke a vape; this is not adequately risk assessed by the registered manager. Staff do not discourage children from this activity, despite the known risks. Staff supervision of children has not been sufficient to prevent them from leaving the home to obtain cannabis. This is despite the fact that there is no agreement for children to have unsupervised time outside the home. The registered manager’s review of these incidents is weak; he does not ensure that events are recorded in detail. For example, when children spend short periods of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586947 2 time away from the home without permission, these are not recorded as incidents. As a result, there is little analysis of the event or staff intervention.

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This monitoring visit

There was one occasion when staff used physical intervention but the registered manager did not review the incident within the required time frames. This means the registered manager has not assured himself that the intervention was necessary or appropriate.

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This monitoring visit

Children rarely go missing from home. On one occasion when a child did go missing from home, the registered manager failed to ensure that staff made adequate attempts to keep in touch with the child overnight. In addition, an independent return home interview did not take place promptly. This means there was a delay in providing the child with the opportunity to explore why he went missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

At the back of the home there is a fire escape leading to the first-floor office. A large fence and metal gate have been put up to prevent children from accessing the steps. This is not in keeping with a homely environment and children are unable to access half of the garden. It presents a risk in itself as, on occasions, children have attempted to climb the fence. The home environment is clean and tidy; however, children told the inspector that they would like the home to be redecorated. Both children are yet to personalise their bedrooms.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not ensured that all staff complete key training, such as health and safety, data protection, internet safety, hand hygiene and PPE, attachment difficulties and bullying. This means that staff lack some of the skills to meet the specific needs of the children placed in their care.

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This monitoring visit

Both children told the inspector that they were happy living in the home and felt safe. Both children hope to remain living at the home until they are old enough to live independently. Staff support children to develop their independence skills, such as cooking, cleaning and washing. Both children have targets to work towards and are making progress.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and children appear to have built positive relationships with one another. Both children stated that there were staff that they could talk to if they were worried about something.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager ensures that staff are supported in their role. Regular supervision is provided and staff attend monthly team meetings where they discuss children’s progress. The registered manager has utilised team meetings for further staff development and training opportunities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

This is the home’s first inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586947 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

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— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(b)) This relates to staff understanding and implementation of children’s risk assessments and the day-to-day process in place to keep children safe. 30 April 2021

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) This relates specifically to the fire escape and high fencing in the back garden that is a potential risk for children. 30 April 2021

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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— 30 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586947 4 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. Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) This specifically relates to staff receiving training that ensures that staff have the skills and experience to meet the needs of children. 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

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Requirement Due date

made which includes— 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 person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c) This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager has oversight of any use of physical intervention within the required time frames 30 April 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when children return from a period of missing from the home that they are offered an independent return interview within the required time frames. (‘Guide to children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered provider should ensure that the home environment is homely and provides a welcoming environment. (‘Guide to children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586947 5

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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.

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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: Accalia Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Ciba Building, 146-150 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leaford Williams

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586947 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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