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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2581187 1

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Spring Meadow Children’s Home Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and is registered to provide care for up to four young people who have experienced childhood instability that has resulted in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 22 and 23 June 2021. As a result of that inspection, 14 requirements, two compliance notice’s and a suspension notice was issued.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there has been no children living in the home. The provider has adhered to the suspension notice. Furthermore, because of the progress made, the two compliance notices have been met.

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This monitoring visit

A new manager has been recruited and is currently undergoing safer recruitment checks. In the manager’s absence, the responsible individual and the director have taken the lead on making improvements to the home. Although this work is ongoing, progress has been made, and there is a clear plan to address the remaining areas of development.

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This monitoring visit

An internal learning review has contributed to the implementation of a new safeguarding procedure and conflict of interest policy. This provides the basis for clearer lines of accountability and management oversight of safeguarding matters. Furthermore, the director has made the decision that he will no longer complete shifts in the home. In part, this is to enable him to have more independent oversight of the operation of the home and the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2581187 2 The responsible individual has put a new monitoring system in place. This is to ensure that shortfalls are known and are addressed immediately. The effectiveness of this monitoring system is still to be fully tested.

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This monitoring visit

A new independent visitor has been appointed. The impact of this change is not yet known as the visitor has yet to complete their first visit.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed safeguarding and administration of medication training. Further training is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. This includes training in attachment and trauma, physical intervention, behaviour management and their roles and responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

A new medication cabinet for controlled medication has now been fitted. Furthermore, a new recording system is in place for the administration of controlled medication.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has reviewed all recruitment files for staff and now has a system in place to ensure that all staff have undergone recruitment and a vetting check. This means that only staff who are appropriate to do so work in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The location risk assessment now includes relevant geographical risks. The responsible individual is also in the process of gathering further feedback from partner agencies to enable a further update of the location risk assessment.

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This monitoring visit

As there are no children living in the home, four requirements raised at the last inspection could not be reviewed and have, therefore, been restated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2581187 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

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

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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;

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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

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that children who self-harm or use substances are supported to reduce these behaviours. 1 September 2021

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 1 September 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2581187 4 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

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 1 September 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2581187 5 the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. 1 September 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2581187 6 (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. This specifically relates to the provider ensuring all safeguarding concerns are reported to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that the manager submits their application to Ofsted to be registered. 1 September 2021

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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: Spring Meadow Children’s Home Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2581187 7 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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Inspector

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