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 Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home 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

A monitoring visit on 26 January 2021 found that managers had complied with the suspension notice. However, managers had not made sufficient progress to remedy Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1277449 2 the shortfalls identified in previous inspections which led to the registration of the home being suspended. Consequently, the home remained suspended.

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This monitoring visit

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

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that managers have continued to comply with the suspension notice. No children have lived at the home since September 2020. However, serious and repeated shortfalls in respect of the leadership and management arrangements for the home are evident. Insufficient progress has been made to bring about improvement to ensure that children would likely receive safe and effective care.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found a repeated and concerning lack of understanding by a manager in relation to the processes for safeguarding children, including the specific role of the designated officer for the local authority in the management of allegations against staff. Despite significant and continued concerns expressed by the regulator and Wolverhampton’s designated officer service about the failure of managers to take effective action in response to a child alleging that he had been hurt by staff, the deputy manager was unable to explain the role of the designated officer when asked by an inspector during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The revised safeguarding policy provided during the visit is of poor quality and does not meet regulatory requirements. It is difficult to understand and does not give staff clear guidance about the range of events that could constitute a safeguarding concern. Some aspects of the policy are irrelevant and out of date. The policy fails to set out the difference between safeguarding concerns about persons in a position of trust and other types of safeguarding concerns. Furthermore, it does not clearly set out the process for reporting safeguarding concerns to the host and responsible local authorities, and/or the different routes for reporting concerns about adults and children. These significant shortfalls do not assure Ofsted that managers have sought to ensure that the safeguarding policy provides accurate information and clear guidance for staff to help them to understand their responsibilities for

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This monitoring visit

safeguarding children. The absence of a coherent safeguarding children policy means that children are likely to be placed at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Managers told inspectors that a consultant has been appointed to support managers in developing an agreed quality assurance system. However, progress is minimal and managers remain unable to demonstrate that they have developed and implemented effective monitoring systems to ensure the necessary oversight of the care and safety of children. Continued failings to develop effective quality assurance systems raises concerns about the competence and abilities of managers to oversee and lead the safe care of children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers do not understand the legal requirements in relation to maintaining records of behaviour management. This means that the action they have taken to address shortfalls in physical intervention records does not meet the requirements of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1277449 3 regulation. During the inspection and following discussion with the inspectors, administrative changes were made to the physical intervention proforma. However, Ofsted remains concerned that without significant input, managers do not fully understand how to maintain good behaviour management records. In addition, managers do not fully understand their role in overseeing behaviour management and physical intervention practices to ensure that these are safe and proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

Managers failed to demonstrate that action has been taken to ensure that there is an effective system in place for staff and managers to notify significant incidents to Ofsted and that staff are aware of the system. This repeated lack of progress does not give the regulator assurance that managers and staff have the necessary arrangements or understanding to support the external oversight of the safety and welfare of children.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has now ensured that differences in a staff member’s account of gaps in employment have been explored and that the record held by the organisation is accurate. However, despite managers having undertaken safer recruitment training, the responsible individual did not demonstrate that the reasons why the one member of staff left all previous posts where they were working with children or vulnerable adults have been appropriately verified or that a poor-quality written reference has been followed up. A lack of diligence in managers following up shortfalls in safer recruitment practice and their continued lack of understanding of what is required, potentially exposes children to the risk of unsuitable adults caring for them.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, managers have taken further advice from a pharmacist regarding the arrangements for the receipt, storage and administration of medication to children. Managers await official confirmation that the pharmacist has reviewed and signed off medication policies as fit for purpose.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the independent visitor has conducted monthly visits to the home. However, the impact of these visits in supporting improvement is yet to be realised.

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This monitoring visit

Poor leadership and management and repeated failure to identify, make and sustain improvements have been ongoing themes since the home’s first full inspection in August 2019. The continued inability of managers to comply with regulation does not give Ofsted confidence that managers have the ability and understanding necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of children.

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This monitoring visit

In response to the serious failings found in respect of the leadership and management of the home and the impact of this on children’s safety, the home’s registration was suspended on 11 March 2021. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1277449 4

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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 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: Osei Minkah Care Limited

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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 Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1277449 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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