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

Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 1 SC467264 Registered provider: N H Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private company own this home. It is registered for up to four children aged eight to 17 who have social and/or emotional needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home had been closed for a substantial period of time and reopened in August 2020. There has been no registered manager in the home since the home reopened.

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 4 and 5 November 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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 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: declined in effectiveness

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/01/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 3

p.2

inadequate

Since the last assurance visit, two children have moved into the home and one child has left the home.

p.3

inadequate

Children are exposed to harm because of staff’s poor supervision and lack of professional curiosity. For example, during the inspection, one child presented as being under the influence of cannabis. The inspector noted an odour in the child’s bedroom which suggested the child had been smoking cannabis in there. Burn marks to the windowsill in his bedroom was further evidence that the child smokes in his bedroom. The smoking of drugs is a risk to the child’s health and places him at risk of accidentally causing a fire in his bedroom.

p.3

inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that there is adequate support for children who have additional needs. One child’s physical health hinders and limits his mobility. The child requires a walking aid and finds it a considerable challenge to use the stairs and the home’s bathroom facilities. Staff do not encourage the child to use his walking aid, and there were no additional measures fitted around the home such as handrails to support his mobility and independence. As a result, there are not sufficient arrangements in place for this child to have full access of the home.

p.3

inadequate

One child only sleeps in the home once a week. This is agreed as part of a reunification plan for the child to return to the full-time care of his family. However, the placing local authority has not had a planned conference to consider and review this reunification plan. The manager has not adequately challenged the local authority on the delay in this meeting taking place. Furthermore, the manager has not assured themselves that the risks associated with the child spending time at home have been fully considered. This does not demonstrate a proactive approach to promoting the safety and welfare of children.

p.3

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

One child, who no longer lives in the home, was able to leave the house at night without staff being aware. A waking night staff member should have been in place and ground-floor motion sensors should have been activated. On this occasion, neither safety measure was in place. The child was at risk of harm as a result of the staff and manager’s failure to follow agreed plans.

p.3

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

An internal investigation into this safeguarding incident was completed by the manager. Despite this, the responsible individual advised the inspector that they were unaware of the incident. The responsible individual has therefore not maintained good enough oversight of this home to assure himself of children’s safety. Furthermore, Ofsted was not notified of this significant safeguarding incident. Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 4 Staff do not adequately safeguard children who are at risk of criminal exploitation. One child living at the home is being criminally exploited. Managers have not followed up plans to ensure that there are appropriate safeguards in place following strategy meetings. The extent of the risk posed to this child is not known by managers and staff. This child is at risk of harm because managers and staff have failed to take appropriate measures to protect him.

p.3

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

Staff do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children. This is because the risk assessments and behaviour management plans do not always provide the guidance staff need. One staff member could not explain how they would respond to risks associated with children going missing from home or being exploited. This does not assure Ofsted that staff can recognise and respond to the signs that children may be at risk of harm.

p.4

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

Poor decision-making by staff increases the likelihood that children will misuse substances. For example, staff transported a child to a location that is known to be used by drug dealers. This does not demonstrate staff’s ability to keep children safe.

p.4

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

The home’s location risk assessment does not accurately reflect known risk factors in the area. For example, the home is situated in an area that is known for anti-social behaviour and drugs misuse. Managers have not considered how to monitor and manage this known risk. Children are therefore not being effectively safeguarded.

p.4

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

The manager does not ensure that there is effective monitoring and oversight of physical interventions, missing from home incidents or other safeguarding concerns. Although the manager has identified failures in how staff keep children safe, he has not put in place a clear plan to address staff practices. This exposes children to unnecessary risk of harm.

p.4

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

Staff who work in the home, particularly agency staff, have not been safely recruited. Employment references have not been verified and gaps in employment are not always explored. This means that there is a potential for unsuitable adults to work with children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been no registered manager in the home since August 2020. The home has had several changes of manager since this time. The lack of a permanent and experienced manager has resulted in a lack of direction and oversight for staff. This has had an impact on the quality of care provided to the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Currently, the home’s deputy manager is acting in the role of interim manager. The manager has resigned and is due to end their employment on 20 July 2021. This will leave the home with no manager and no deputy manager. There are no contingency plans to manage the home. The absence of an appropriate manager reduces the capacity of the provider to address the shortfalls identified as part of this inspection. Furthermore, without a suitable manager, the safety of the current and any new children would be compromised. Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 5 The manager does not provide staff with regular supervision support in line with the provider’s supervision policy. This is a missed opportunity for managers to review staff practice. This means that poor practice from staff is not always challenged and addressed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent person’s audits of the home have not been sufficiently detailed and accurate. This has impacted on the manager’s understanding of the care being provided to children. However, when the independent person has identified required improvements, these are not always followed up in a timely manner. The responsible individual told the inspector that he was concerned about the quality of the independent person’s visits. However, he has not acted to address this.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight of the home is poor. Three requirements raised at the assurance visit completed in November 2020 have not been met. Monitoring systems have not enabled the manager or the responsible individual to identify and take proactive action to address the shortfalls in the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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. (Regulation 5(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that they escalate concerns to the local authority relating to the needs of children. 15 August 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 15 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 7 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that staff have an understanding of their roles and responsibilities and ensure that there is appropriate safeguarding arrangement in place.

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; and

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;

p.7

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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h)) 15 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 8 This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that there is an effective management oversight on staff practice and the quality of care provided to children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that children’s moves from the home are appropriately planned for and any learning from these moves is considered. 15 August 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that the responsible individual has completed safer recruitment training and has the knowledge to ensure that there is management oversight on the home. 15 August 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that a permanent manager is recruited to manage the home. 15 August 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

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

p.8

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, 15 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 9 if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that all staff have undergone a safer recruitment and vetting check.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.9

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.9

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that all staff receive supervision in line with their internal supervision policy and procedure. 15 August 2021

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.9

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.9

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. 15 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 10 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.9

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that the independent visitor consults with children, families and stakeholders and ensures that the safeguarding arrangements for children is appropriate.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.10

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—

p.10

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.10

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

p.10

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 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that the manager’s six-monthly reports reflect the quality of care provided to children and drive improvement to the care provided to children. 15 August 2021

p.10

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). 15 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 11 When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider who must ensure that all geographical risks are considered as part of their location risk assessment.

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) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 69, Steward Street Business Lofts, Steward Street, Birmingham B18 7AF

p.12

Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC467264 13 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.12

Inspector

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.13

Inspector

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

p.13

Inspector

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

p.13