Children's Home run by Spring Meadow Children's Home Limited in Sandwell

Inspection report children's home: 2581187 1 Registered provider: Spring Meadow Children’s Home Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and is registered to provide care for up to four children who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant. A manager is in post but has not submitted an application to Ofsted to be registered.

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 31 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2581187 2

p.1

inadequate

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. Staff do not have the confidence or skills to meet the needs of the children. As a result, children have made limited progress and they are increasingly exposed to risk. For example, one child’s cannabis use has increased, and another child is increasingly displaying self-harming behaviours.

p.2

inadequate

The care planning for children is disorganised and ineffective. For example, managers have identified that they are unable to keep one child safe. However, they have not worked with the local authority to appropriately escalate these concerns.

p.2

inadequate

Children go missing and spend unauthorised time away from the home. A lack of professional curiosity and poor recording means that the extent to which this is a problem is not fully understood. Managers and staff do not take effective action to keep children safe.

p.2

inadequate

One child is racially abusive towards members of staff. Managers have not taken any action to address this behaviour. This means that staff and the other child living in the home are exposed to this unacceptable behaviour.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children. In part, this is because the home’s safeguarding policy does not always provide the guidance staff need. For example, it is not clear how staff and managers should review, record and report allegations.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

One child has made repeated allegations against staff. These allegations have not been appropriately reviewed and responded to by leaders and managers. The allegations have not been reported to the designated officer or shared with other relevant professionals. This practice does not keep children safe and leaves them susceptible to abuse.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not adequately safeguard children who self-harm. Following an incident of a child self-harming, staff dealt with the physical injuries, but did not seek medical attention in respect of the child’s emotional health. There have been at least four other occasions when staff have failed to take appropriate action. Children are at risk of serious harm because of staff’s failure to take the required action to protect them.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

One child has significant injuries to his face, consisting of black and blue bruises. Inspection report children's home: 2581187 3 These injuries are understood to have occurred as a result of a physical altercation with another pupil at school. However, the injuries do not match the written details about the incident. Staff have shown a lack of professional curiosity about this. They have not notified the child’s social worker or followed up with the school their concerns surrounding the child’s injuries. Staff have not safeguarded this child.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

A recently completed fire risk assessment has identified actions needed to improve the fire safety of the home. These actions have not been completed. The potential risk to children is increased as both children have previously displayed fire-starting behaviours.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Some staff have not been safely recruited. This includes the director for the organisation, who works in the home with children. This means that there is potential for unsuitable adults to work in the home. This poor practice exposes children to the risk of harm.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff are not given clear instructions on how to safely administer controlled medication to children. Furthermore, controlled medication is not stored in line with the home’s medication policy. In addition, when medication is no longer required, it is not disposed of correctly. The manager’s monitoring of the administration of medication has not enabled her to identify and address these shortfalls.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not understand children’s risk assessments or behaviour management plans. For example, one staff member could not confidently explain the risks surrounding the sexualised behaviour of one child or how to manage these risks. This means that staff are unable to take effective action to protect children.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The manager has not used the location risk assessment to assess known risks. For example, staff told inspectors that a cannabis farm has recently been located in the house next door and drunken men often sit outside the home. No safeguarding measures have been put in place to minimise these risks.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager and responsible individual have not maintained effective oversight of the home. For example, managers’ oversight of the records of physical interventions, missing-from-home incidents, self-harming behaviours and allegations is either limited or absent. As such, leaders and managers do not understand the risks that children are exposed to or take the required action to protect children. This has also contributed to managers’ failure to notify Ofsted of any significant safeguarding incidents.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent person’s monitoring of the home has also failed to identify the shortfalls from this inspection. In part, this is because the independent visitor does not routinely consult with the children or external professionals. This has contributed to senior managers’ limited understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Inspection report children's home: 2581187 4 As a result of the quality of management oversight, the requirements raised at the monitoring visit in March 2021 have not been met.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The current manager was appointed in April 2021. She has not yet submitted her application to Ofsted to be registered. The manager was not available during the inspection and therefore it is unclear why there has been a delay in her making this application.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

All staff in the home, including the manager, are still in their probation period. Senior leaders have not ensured that the manager and staff have been adequately trained or supported to ensure that they can meet the individual needs of children. For example, children are restrained by staff who are have not been trained to undertake such physical interventions. This has the potential to increase the risk of harm to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When physical interventions are used, the manager’s oversight of these incidents is poor. This means that the appropriateness of these physical interventions is not adequately assessed or understood.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are blurred lines of management accountability. The director works in the home and is supervised by the manager. The manager is supervised by the responsible individual, who is supervised by the director. This means that any concerns about the director’s practice may not be appropriately addressed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose is not up to date and contains incorrect information. For example, it references a different children’s home and contains unclear information about staff training. This means that commissioners, parents and children are not provided with accurate information about the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to the significant shortfalls identified as part of this inspection, a notice of suspension and two compliance notices have been issued. Inspection report children's home: 2581187 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 25 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2581187 6 This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that there are appropriate safeguarding arrangements in place to protect children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that children who self-harm or use substances are supported to reduce these behaviours. 25 July 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; 25 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2581187 7 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. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. It specifically relates to the provider escalating all concerns to the local authority about care planning arrangement.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. It specifically relates to the provider ensuring that staff have the training, skills and knowledge to provide care to vulnerable children. 25 July 2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 25 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2581187 8 This is a repeat requirement. It specifically relates to the provider ensuring that there are enough staff to support the needs of the young people who come to live at the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.8

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that the home’s statement of purpose is up to date, with accurate information. 25 July 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring there is a system in place for the recording, storage and disposal of medication, including controlled medication. 25 July 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

p.8

Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider taking appropriate action to address all shortfalls identified in the fire risk assessment review. 25 July 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; 25 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2581187 9 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

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) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that all staff are safe to work in the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

p.9

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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 made which includes—

p.9

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.9

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 25 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2581187 10 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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")—

p.10

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

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 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that all physical intervention is monitored and reviewed by the manager and the recording and reporting of these incidents is clear, showing what action was taken by staff.

p.10

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.10

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.10

Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring all safeguarding concerns are reported to Ofsted in a timely manner. 25 July 2021

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.10

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 25 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2581187 11 This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that the manager submits their application to Ofsted to be registered. 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—

p.10

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.11

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 (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.11

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that there is an independent visitor who has the necessary skills to undertake independent monitoring visits for the home. 25 July 2021

p.11

Requirement Due date

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).

p.11

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))

p.11

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring the location risk assessment accurately reflects the geographical risks known by the provider and shared by external agencies, with risk management strategies in place. 25 July 2021

p.11

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.11

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) Inspection report children's home: 2581187 12 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children's home: 2581187 13

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Spring Meadow Children’s Home Limited

p.13

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 106 Willes Road, Birmingham B18 4PX

p.13

Inspectors

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2581187 14 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.

p.13

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.14