Children's Home run by Resicare Alliance Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: 2503598 1 Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to five children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered on 29 September 2020 and is suitably qualified.

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 29 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2503598 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection in June 2021, seven requirements were raised. At this inspection, the inspector determined that six requirements had been met. One requirement, under regulation 32, the fitness of workers standard, is not met and has been restated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most children continue to make good progress. In the main, they enjoy positive relationships with staff and each other. The manager and staff know the children well and understand their individual needs. When there are difficulties in peer relationships, staff support children to reflect on behaviours and develop mutual respect.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff facilitate a range of experiences that reflect the children’s interests and hobbies. Some of the children have recently started to attend a youth group. These opportunities enable the children to expand their social network and form important friendships with peers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are encouraged to express their views and opinions freely through regular conversations with staff and during weekly house meetings. Children’s voices are heard, and they are involved in making decisions about their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most children are actively engaged in education. The staff work collaboratively with education providers and placing authorities to support tailor-made education packages that enable children to make progress with their learning and work towards achieving their potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s individual care plans and risk assessments are clear and comprehensive. Risk management strategies ensure that staff are aware of the specific risks to each child and the actions they must take to minimise those risks. Staff carry out sensitive and focused key-work sessions with children to help to support the reduction of risk. This provides children with the opportunity to reflect on risk and supports their safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a creative approach to family time and often support children to see their family members. This helps children to safely strengthen relationships with the people who are important to them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff benefit from regular supervision. This supports staff to enhance their understanding of children’s individual needs. Inspection report children’s home: 2503598 3 Some internal monitoring systems have been developed by the manager since the last inspection. There are now clear systems in place to review staff training in respect of understanding child sexual exploitation, children being at risk of being involved with county lines and bullying.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monthly external monitoring visits are taking place. However, Ofsted has not received these monthly reports in a timely fashion. Failure to provide Ofsted with these reports affects Ofsted’s ability to monitor the service effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager undertakes an internal review of the quality of care. However, this fails to fully consider consultations with children, their families and external professionals. This reduces the capacity of the management team to have a thorough understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Inspection report children’s home: 2503598 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2503598 5

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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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff completing the Level 3 Diploma in the required time frame. 30 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, these reports must be forwarded to Ofsted in a timely manner. 30 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. 30 May 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2503598 6 In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: 2503598 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aston Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 181 Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV3 0EQ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Colleen Davies Jones

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Inspector

Lisa Walsh, Her Majesty’s Inspector, Social Care Inspection report children’s home: 2503598 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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