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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC467264 1 SC467264

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N H Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection that took place on 7 and 8 July 2021. As a result of the inspection, Ofsted issued a notice of suspension and compliance notices under regulation 12 and regulation 13 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

On 19 August 2021, a monitoring visit was carried out. The compliance notice under regulation 12 was deemed to have been met. There were still shortfalls in the management and staffing arrangements, including the independent person oversight. As a result, the compliance notice under regulation 13 was reissued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of the visit was to review the notice of suspension and the progress made against the compliance notice. The suspension notice has been adhered to, and no children are living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 27 September 2021, the day before the visit, a new manager had been appointed to work in the home. The new manager, who is currently a registered manager at one of the providers other children’s home, will be transitioning to work in this home on a full-time basis over the coming weeks. The new manager intends to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Until the new manager is in day-to-day charge of the home, his ability to maintain and continue with the improvements made since the full inspection are untested. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC467264 2 There are no staff currently recruited to work in this home. The recruitment of staff is underway. Once appointed, the provider has plans to undertake a package of training for the staff to ensure that they are able to meet the needs of the children they intend to move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The lack of staff means that it would be unsafe for children to be admitted to the home. As a result, the notice of suspension has been reissued.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, managers have completed a lesson’s learned exercise and have identified areas of improvement. For example, a new escalation policy has been implemented. There is now clear guidance for staff and managers on how to escalate any concerns to other organisations. The effectiveness of this policy is yet to be tested.

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This monitoring visit

A new independent visitor has been recruited. This is a recent appointment and therefore the extent to which this will support the managers’ understanding of the home strengths and areas of development is yet to be seen.

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This monitoring visit

The location risk assessment, which had been updated at the time of the last monitoring visit, is an area of continued focus for managers. For example, the responsible individual is seeking additional information from relevant partner agencies to further inform this assessment. However, the location of the home is compromised by repeated fly tipping in the alley next to the home. The inspector observed large piles of rubbish near the home. This is unsightly and not in keeping with the ethos and objectives of the home as set out in the statement of purpose.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/07/2021 Full Inadequate 02/01/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC467264 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 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement; this specifically relates to ensuring that there are sufficient, trained and experienced staff to care for children, and that the appointed manager is in day-to-day charge of the home and demonstrates that they and senior managers understand and act on areas of development in a timely manner. 14 December 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC467264 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that the review of the location of the home includes the plans and strategies for managing known risks and concerns. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC467264 5

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC467264 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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