Children's Home run by N H Care Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children's home: SC365366 1 SC365366 Registered provider: Nh Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for three young people who have learning disabilities. It is privately owned.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2018.

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Information about this children's home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children's home

We last visited this setting on 5 March 2020 to carry out a full inspection. The report is published on our website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children's home: SC365366 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2020 Full Good 22/11/2018 Full Good 01/02/2018 Full Good 24/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC365366 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s care plans, risk assessments and behaviour managements plans do not accurately reflect children needs and the progress that they have made. This disorganised approach to care planning, undermines the progress that children have made.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not maintain an accurate record of children’s day to day experiences. For example, when incidents occur, such as assaults on staff from children, staff do not ensure that the record of this incident is accurate. Furthermore, the registered managers oversight has not enabled him to identify the errors in staff’s recordings. These errors impact on managers and staff’s understanding of children’s progress, safety and welfare.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has not effectively challenged the need for one child’s medication to be reviewed by health professionals. As a result, the usefulness of his medication and impact of the child not taking his medication is not fully understood

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improvement to be good

Staff have worked with health professionals to address one child’s difficulties with sleeping. As a result, sleeping patterns have improved and he is sleeping at appropriate times.

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improvement to be good

Staff support and encourage children to attend their education. Staff praise children each morning for being ready to go to school. Daily handover’s between staff and the school contribute to a joined-up approach to supporting children’s attendance and attainment.

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improvement to be good

Staff use visual aids when giving advice and guidance to children. For example, staff have discussed issues related to stranger danger. This has improved children’s understanding of their personal safety and their ability to recognise who they can seek help from when they are in danger.

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improvement to be good

Staff celebrate key events in children’s lives. For example, staff and children recently took part in Eid celebrations. This enables children to have a better understanding of their identity.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported by staff to see their families. One independent reviewing officer shared that staff have been flexible and adaptable in achieving for one child. This has improved the child’s relationship with their parents. Similar feedback was received from another child’s parent.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has not effectively challenged the need for one child’s medication to be reviewed by health professionals. As a result, the usefulness of his medication and impact of the child not taking his medication is not fully understood Inspection report children's home: SC365366 4

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has failed to ensure that safeguarding procedures are followed. The findings of an internal safeguarding investigation have not been shared with the designated officer. This does not show effective safeguarding practice.

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improvement to be good

Furthermore, actions from the internal investigation, including the need for training and subject led supervisions, have not been completed within the agreed timescales. This means that the required action has not been taken to ensure that staff are skilled and trained to safely care for children.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently follow agreed behaviour management strategies. This has resulted in an increased use of physical interventions. Furthermore, the registered manager has not considered and acted on any learning from these incidents. This is a missed opportunity to improve staff practice.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has not completed safer recruitment and vetting checks for all staff. For example, gaps in staff employment are not explored, employment references are not verified and information received from employment references do not match the details recorded in the application form prior to interview. The registered manager has failed to follow his own internal procedures when completing quality assurance audits on staff personnel files. As a result, children may be cared for by staff who are not appropriate. Children’s safety is therefore compromised.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not receive specific safeguarding training for children who are non-verbal and have learning difficulties. This limits the extent to which staff have the skills and knowledge to respond to safeguarding concerns in an effective and consistent manner.

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improvement to be good

The home’s location risk assessment lacks detail, it does not state where information has been gathered from and if there has been changes to the known risks in the local area. There is little evidence of consultation with the local police and other external agencies. This means that information about the risks posed to children in the local community is not current.

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good

The registered manager has additional responsibilities within the organisation. This includes providing supervision for other registered managers and undertaking quality assurance visits to other homes. This has reduced his time in the home and his capacity to provide the required oversight. This has contributed to his delay in identify and acting upon shortfalls in the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report children's home: SC365366 5 The independent persons visits do not provide an accurate assessment of the care provided to the children. In part, this is because the independent person does not routinely consult with children, professionals or their families. The quality of these visit has limited the registered manager and responsible individual’s understanding of the homes strength’s and areas of development.

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good

The registered manager’s six-monthly quality-of-care report contains duplicated information from historical quality-of-care reports submitted to Ofsted. The registered manager told the inspector that this was because there has been no change to the progress and quality of care provided to the children. Ofsted is not assured by this explanation given the shortfalls identified during this inspection.

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good

Staff have had some successes in working in collaboration with external agencies. One social worker spoke highly of the staff, stating staff have developed a good understanding of the needs of the child. Inspection report children's home: SC365366 6

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What does the children's home need to do to improve?

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

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. (Regulations 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that he escalates the medication review with mental health, to ensure the medication needs is assessed appropriately. 31 July 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) 31 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC365366 7 This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that staff complete training to care and safeguard children who are non-verbal and have learning difficulties. 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that there is an effective oversight of the quality of care provided to children. 31 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 31 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC365366 8 This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that staff are safely recruited. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being

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Requirement Due date

The independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the independent visitor has the skills and ability to undertake an accurate assessment of the quality of care provided to children. 31 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person completing an up to date assessment of the quality-of-care provided to children. 31 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC365366 9 The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children's home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12 (2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person undertaking a review of the location of the home. 31 July 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered provider must ensure that all staff including the registered manager understand the importance of careful and clear recording. This includes the recording of decisions and actions taken to safeguard children and met their needs. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the 'Social care common inspection framework'. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards'. Inspection report children's home: SC365366 10

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 3 Shetland Close, Birmingham B16 0RF

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Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC365366 11 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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