Children's Home run by Care and Management Services Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470457 1 SC470457

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Care And Management Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of a group of four homes run by the same organisation. The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who display complex behaviours as a result of their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2020.

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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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This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection, on 15 and 16 June 2021. As a result of the concerns identified at the full inspection, three compliance notices were issued, in relation to regulation 12, regulation 13 and regulation 25 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulation 2015. Seven requirements were raised and one recommendation was made.

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This monitoring visit

This visit examined the progress made by the home in meeting the three compliance notices. It also considered the other four requirements. The inspectors found that the compliance notices had been met. However, two requirements have been reissued. The recommendation made at the full inspection was not considered during this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, risk assessments now include all the relevant information and are regularly reviewed and updated. The inspector found one risk assessment that had not been updated following an incident. Despite this omission, the staff were aware of the incident and appropriate action had been taken to record the incident. As a result, staff are informed of the action that they should take to protect children. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470457 2 The manager has implemented weekly risk management meetings for one child. These meetings provide an opportunity to regularly review the child’s risks and the strategies staff must use to safeguard the child. This ensures that strategies used to protect children remain effective. The manager has also implemented procedures to monitor one child’s access to items necessary for daily life but which could also be used as a ligature, such as shoelaces and charging cables. Staff complete these

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This monitoring visit

checks. However, they do not always document that they have done so. This could compromise the safety of this child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has put in place a deprivation of liberty (DOL) folder that provides guidance to staff. The manager has also put in place a tool which demonstrates that the required observation levels are completed by staff. As a result of these actions staff now demonstrate a good understanding of the DLO and the expectations within this. This means that staff now have the knowledge required to safeguard the child and they now respond accordingly.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and staff complete direct work with the children to consider their individual risk factors and to support them to learn to keep themselves safe. However, direct work does not always take place as planned and the reasons for this are not clear. This means opportunities are missed to support children to learn to manage their own risks.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment is now safe. The carpet has been replaced and no longer presents a trip hazard. The loose light cord has been fixed. Monitoring of the environment is now in place. This provides the children with a safe living environment.

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This monitoring visit

Children now have the privacy they are entitled to. The manager has ensured that children now have curtains hung at their bedroom windows to prevent neighbours from being able to see in. This protects children’s right to privacy and keeps them safe.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed the fire evacuation plan. Children now have free access to the garden through the patio door, which is identified as a fire exit. There are adequate means of escape from fire in the home and there is now a clear evacuation plan in place. This ensures that anyone living, visiting or working at the home can evacuate safely in the event of a fire.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has taken action to update the location risk assessment. It now includes all known waterways in the area. This protects children from known locations that may present a risk. Staff are now provided with the necessary information they need to safeguard children when out in the community.

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This monitoring visit

Children no longer have restrictions placed on their movement into and out of the garden. A thumb lock has now been placed on the patio door and children can go into the garden when they choose. However, one child, who is working towards independence, does not have a key to leave the house. A risk assessment has been Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470457 3 completed that demonstrates that these restrictions are not in place due to concerns directly relating to the child. As a result of this restriction, the child’s progress towards independence is hindered.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems are now in place that consider the progress of the children. This includes managers’ monitoring forms, individual risk assessment matrices and changes to documentation. These systems provide the manager with oversight of the progress children are making and the quality of care they receive, so that managers can make improvements.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has updated the admission book. The record is now up to date.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is now making notifications to Ofsted. However, on one occasion, the manager failed to notify Ofsted of a serious incident at the home. This is inconsistent practice and has an impact on the oversight of the regulator.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/06/2021 Full Inadequate 13/11/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/04/2019 Full Good 10/12/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470457 4

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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

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager is to ensure that children are not unnecessarily restricted from leaving the home. Any restriction should be reviewed by the manager.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 16 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if-

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager is to ensure that a notification is made to HMCI when a serious incident has taken place. 16 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470457 5 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. In particular, the manager should ensure that staff undertake training in relation to children going missing from the home. This recommendation was made at the previous inspection and is restated. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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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: Care And Management Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Park Business Centre, Hastingwood Industrial Park, Wood Lane, Birmingham, Warwickshire B24 9QR

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Inspectors

Melanie Griffin, Social Care Inspector Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC470457 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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