Children's home run by Spectrum Care Services

Inspection report for children's home: 2594148 1 Registered provider: Spectrum Care Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to care for three children who may have learning disabilities and other complex health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2020 and holds a level 5 qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2594148 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2594148 3

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outstanding

Children flourish and thrive at this home because of the exceptional care they receive from the committed staff team. Staff know the children well and provide them with excellent support in line with their needs.

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outstanding

The home is decorated to a high standard and has a homely feel. Staff take advice from a therapist when considering how best to decorate the home. For example, one child’s bedroom was designed to reduce the risk associated with their complex health issues. The use of stencilled dinosaurs on the child’s walls, instead of wallpaper, has reduced the risks around the child eating the wallpaper. As well as reducing the known risk, the bedroom still reflects his interests and is a nice place for the child to spend time.

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outstanding

Staff are effective at promoting children’s health needs. For example, one child who prior to living at this home had never attended a dental appointment is now having regular check-ups. This success is because staff created an individual support plan to help and encourage him to attend the appointments. Comprehensive health plans capture key information and provide staff with clear guidance. Staff work closely with parents and social workers to ensure that children’s health information is updated. This joined-up approach enhances positive health outcomes for children.

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outstanding

Research-informed practice is at the centre of staff’s approach to meeting children’s individual health needs. For example, two of the children living at the home have a rare chromosome disorder which can affect their eating. Staff have worked hard to improve their own knowledge about the disorder and have sourced specialist medical advice to obtain techniques and strategies to support the children with their eating. Positively, an improvement in the children’s eating habits has been observed.

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outstanding

All children access education that is appropriate to their individual needs. All three children are attending school and making good progress in all aspects of their education. Highly effective links and regular communication with children’s schools ensure that staff understand children’s progress in school and can support them well at home. A teacher told the inspector that they have a great relationship with the registered manager and the support provided is ‘second to none’.

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outstanding

Staff work sensitively to support children to understand their own identities. This includes cultural evenings to celebrate different cultures and diversity. Staff use visual aids to support children to understand and practice their religious beliefs. Each evening, staff play the ‘call to prayer’ and will sit with the children and watch a televised recording of a prayer.

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outstanding

Staff are committed to providing children with new experiences and activities outside of the home. Staff have identified sessions at the local soft-play centre and Inspection report for children's home: 2594148 4 trampoline park that are tailored to the needs of the children and enable them to participate. This not only provides children with a sense of enrichment but also promotes their social, emotional and physical needs. Furthermore, children have recently been on a seaside holiday. Photos displayed in the home remind children of the fun they had.

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outstanding

Staff promote and support children to have time with their parents and families. One parent told the inspector that family time at the home is fantastic and commented that the staff and managers are like an extended part of their family. This level of support ensures that children maintain positive relationships with those close to them.

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outstanding

Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure that the care provided to children is well coordinated. Professionals told the inspector that the home is ‘great’ and that the staff and managers are skilled in meeting children’s needs. One social worker commented, ‘They [the staff] are fantastic.’

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outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of the risks associated with each child. Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are of a high quality and provide staff with clear direction and strategies to reduce the risk of harm.

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outstanding

Staff consult with a therapist to explore children’s new and emerging patterns of behaviour. This informs the individual support plans and strategies used to safeguard children. These plans are regularly updated and, as a result, staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in how to keep children safe.

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outstanding

Research-based practice and the input from a therapist mean that staff are well informed, skilled and able to support children. Staff are innovative in supporting children to understand and manage their behaviours. For example, they use visual and musical tools to ensure that children can explore and reflect on incidents. In addition, staff use play therapy to support children’s social and emotional needs. This has helped to support children to understand their behaviours and make improvements.

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outstanding

Staff support children to take appropriate risks to develop their physical and independence skills. For example, one child loves to climb and will try and climb on most things. To support his love of climbing, the registered manager has built a climbing wall in the sensory room. This means that he can climb safely while developing his fine and gross motor skills.

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outstanding

On the rare occasion that a safeguarding incident occurs, the registered manager undertakes a comprehensive review to understand what happened. This means that staff practice is continually improving and developing from a strong starting point. Physical intervention is only used when all other strategies have been exhausted and the welfare of the children and staff are at risk. The staff use their individual Inspection report for children's home: 2594148 5 knowledge, experience and understanding of children’s behaviours to enable them to work restoratively with the children. Records of these incidents are robust and demonstrate that holds are proportionate and appropriate. Following a physical restraint, staff use individualised approaches to ensure that children’s voices are heard and recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits from an exceptionally well-skilled and knowledgeable registered manager, who is supported by an equally enthusiastic, forward-thinking deputy manager. The leadership team leads a staff team that is dependable, highly competent and reliable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular formal and informal guidance and support from the management team. This includes reflection on children’s experiences, and discussions about adherence to policies and procedures. The registered manager welcomes new ideas and supports staff to develop in their role. As a result, children enjoy care provided by a stable, skilled and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive an in-depth, good-quality induction that includes face-to-face training in supporting behaviour and the company model of care. Staff told the inspector that they feel supported by the manager and that this helps them to develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most staff hold the required level 3 diploma. A small number of staff are currently working to achieve this, and plans are in place to ensure that they complete this within the required timescales. Staff are also provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children’s individual and diverse needs. This provides staff with the essential skills and knowledge for their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She continually makes improvements to raise standards. For example, she has sought additional specialist training to enhance staff practice and promote outcomes for children.

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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 for children's home: 2594148 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Spectrum Care Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 25 Hawkhurst Road, Birmingham, Worcestershire B14 5HS

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Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2594148 7 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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