Children's home run by South West Childcare Services

Inspection report children’s home: 2567039 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for a maximum of three children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and has been in post since the home was first registered with Ofsted in January 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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 17 February 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2567039 2

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Inspection type Inspection judgement

Inspection report children’s home: 2567039 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are three children currently living in the home. None of the children have previously lived in a children’s home. The registered manager ensured that there was careful planning and consideration given to the matching of the children. The children said that they feel safe, supported and cared for by the staff. One child said that they ‘loved’ living there.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have made good progress from their starting points. One child has been supported by staff to obtain a job. This has helped to improve his sense of worth and self-esteem. The children’s individual skills and talents are encouraged. One child has been supported by staff to join a local football club and he is now in the football team. This has increased his confidence, and staff have planned a trip to London for him to visit the stadium of his favourite team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued and the staff promote positive relationships with the school and the training provider. Staff support the children to attend school regularly and they have aspirations for them. One child is now attending a painting and decorating course at college. The staff help to celebrate his talents and pieces of his artwork are displayed around the home. This has helped to increase his sense of worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children flourish at this home. Two children recently left the home to move to supported living arrangements in accordance with their plans. Staff understand the importance of keeping in contact with these children and they continue to take an interest in their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and advocate on their behalf. All meetings in relation to the children’s health and education are attended by the staff, and positive working relationships with other agencies and professionals are promoted. Children’s views are actively sought and recorded and staff represent the children’s views in the meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Where it is safe, children’s relationships with their parents and family members are supported. Staff are committed to promoting family time and this helps to develop the children’s identity and sense of belonging.

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

Staff work well with other professionals and share information to help keep children safe. Social workers said that they are given information in a timely manner and that there is good communication with the registered manager and their deputy.

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

The missing-from-home protocol is clear and staff said that they feel supported by the registered manager when children go missing. There is good management oversight and the number of incidents has decreased. Lessons learned from missing- Inspection report children’s home: 2567039 4 from-care incidents are reviewed, actions implemented and risk assessments updated.

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

The children said that they are aware of the home’s missing-from-care policy and that they feel the staff care for them and help to keep them safe. However, lessons learned are not always implemented swiftly enough to improve practice. For example, on one occasion, staff did not collect a child after he had been reported missing to the police. Police later collected the child and returned him home but this was over an hour later.

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

The registered manager and staff advocate for children to have return home interviews to help identify any themes or patterns. Children receive key-worker sessions to help them discuss any concerns or worries they may have. Work in specific areas is completed with the children to help inform children of any possible risks. Referrals to specialist agencies and professionals are made if necessary.

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

Physical restraints are not used and there have been no sanctions used. Staff promote positive relationships with the children and the children’s achievements and successes are celebrated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some serious incidents reported during this inspection period. The registered manager has had good oversight of these. Incidents have been reported to the appropriate agencies in a timely manner and thoroughly investigated. Lessons have been learned and addressed in staff supervisions. Any further training needs have been identified and provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is valued by the managers. Staff complete all mandatory training, and the registered manager ensures that any additional training required, to meet the specific needs of the children, is provided. At the time of this inspection, staff were attending in-house training. Staff said that the training was relevant and informative, and will help them to understand the needs of the children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff reported that they feel supported and valued by the registered manager. The registered manager provides regular supervision and team meetings, and actions from these meetings are clearly recorded with timescales for completion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers promote a positive team culture. Staff have access to resources to support their ongoing professional development. Staff use their professional knowledge to help the children to understand their own needs and the needs of the other children who live in the home. This promotes a culture of tolerance, acceptance and understanding of differences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safe recruitment practices are used in this home. A new member of staff said that they liked working at the home. They feel supported by the registered manager and found the induction process helpful and valuable. Inspection report children’s home: 2567039 5 The home has recently been decorated and the children said that they were consulted about this. The children’s bedrooms are personalised, and there are photographs and other items to help individualise the rooms. One child said that they would like a grey feature wall in their bedroom, but this has yet to be done. A damaged carpet has been replaced and maintenance work has been completed. This provides the children with a comfortable and homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is enthusiastic and committed. She has achieved good outcomes for children who previously lived in the home. The registered manager and the staff have aspirations for the children who currently live there. Inspection report children’s home: 2567039 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is effective pathway planning in place for each child and strong working relationships between the staff of the home and the placing authority with regards to pathway planning. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2)

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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: 2567039 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Second Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Claire Drummond, Social Care Inspector Tina Maddison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2567039 8 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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