Children's Home run by The Spring Children‟s and Transitional Care Limited in Walsall

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1271519 1 Registered provider: The Spring Children’s and Transitional Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home providing care for up to three children who have a range of additional complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

On 1 December 2021, Ofsted carried out an interim inspection. The home was judged to have declined in effectiveness. In response to that visit, Ofsted issued a compliance notice under regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

On 18 January 2022, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit to the home. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the provider’s progress in meeting the compli- ance notice and the requirements raised at the interim inspection. The inspector found that the provider had not met the steps set out in the compliance notice. On 25 January 2022, Ofsted re-issued the compliance notice under regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager resigned from post on 20 April 2021. A new manager has been appointed but has not yet started in post as safer recruitment checks have yet to be concluded.

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This monitoring visit

Despite the manager’s safer recruitment checks not yet being completed, the manager has started to undertake leadership responsibilities. For example, the manager has liaised with a child’s social worker, is accessing and sharing documents about the child, and is providing staff with advice and guidance. It is unclear how it Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1271519 2 has been assessed as appropriate for the manager to begin undertaking these tasks before the safe recruitment checks have been completed.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual at the time of the visit has had oversight of the home in the absence of the manager and service manager. However, they have failed to provide the required scrutiny and oversight of the home. For example, physical intervention records show that staff who have been involved in the use of restraint have not had a debrief with a manager. Additionally, records of restraint are incomplete. This lack of monitoring by the responsible individual does not instil confidence in the oversight of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, the service manager has taken over the role of the responsible individual. At the time of the visit, this had not been finalised. In her role as service manager, she had overseen the amendments to the home’s statement of purpose. This document contained errors relating to the geographical area where the home is found. This lack of attention to detail does not demonstrate effective oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Staff now receive regular supervision sessions. However, two staff members have not yet received their annual appraisal. This is a missed opportunity for staff to receive important feedback about their practice and development.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, some progress has been made. The manager has supplied a report to Ofsted about the quality of care, updated the home’s location risk assessment and recruited two more staff. As no children have been admitted to the home since the last inspection, regulation 14 (the care planning standard) has not been considered and has been restated. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1271519 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/12/2021 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/05/2021 Full Good 14/11/2019 Full Good 21/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1271519 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

*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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered person uses monitoring systems to improve the service and ensures that the home is managed to provide effective leadership.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person considering staffing arrangements before children are admitted to the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1271519 5 The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The statement of purpose should contain accurate information about the service.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff having annual appraisals in line with the company’s policy.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that any document relating to children’s care, including records of incidents and physical interventions, are up to date and contain all accurate information.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1271519 6

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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: 1271519 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Spring Children’s and Transitional Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 9 Grenville Drive, Birmingham, Warwickshire B23 7YX

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1271519 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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