Children's Home run by Berry Gifford Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 1 Registered provider: Berry Gifford Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have experienced childhood instability which has led to trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager holds a level 5 qualification and registered with Ofsted on 28 April 2022.

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on and one child remains living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children have made good progress from their starting points. The registered manager ensures that all children have access to education that is individual to their needs. Two children’s attendance in school has improved and children develop aspirations. For example, one child is hoping to become qualified in their chosen career soon. Staff did not update information in a child’s plan following a change to the child’s education timetable. This resulted in some confusion and staff arriving at school to collect him at the wrong time. This has now been rectified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager works well with children’s social workers to ensure that children are supported to keep in touch with people who are important to them. Plans are kept under review and show a gradual increase in the time children spend with family members. As a result, relationships improve and two children have returned to live with parents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop positive relationships with staff. Staff are now trained in PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy), which is the home’s model of care. A clinical psychologist is commissioned by the provider to support staff to understand each child’s needs and develop strategies that will help children. This promotes children’s welfare and contributes to them making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to access health services. Children are up to date with routine health appointments and are encouraged to engage with specialist services. Staff educate children about good health. As a result, children learn about increased risks to their health and one child has now stopped smoking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of positive experiences, such as going on holiday. Staff listen to children when they tell them what leisure activities they want to do. All children are given the opportunity to become the member of a local gym, which most do. This is good for their physical and emotional health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager writes child-friendly letters to children in response to discussions in children’s meetings. He highlights how children can raise concerns if they are not happy with the care they receive. This means that children’s views, wishes and feelings are taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager has plans in place to decorate some areas of the home that are marked. The stairs and hall carpet is stained and needs to be replaced. Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 4

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and the behaviours they present. Risk and behaviour management plans provide staff with clear guidance on identifying early warning signs and understanding possible triggers to challenging behaviour. On some occasions, this helps staff to divert children’s attention away from potentially difficult situations before things escalate. Staff follow clear strategies to reduce and manage risk, which helps to keep children safe.

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

On the rare occasions when children go missing from home, staff respond well. They work closely with professionals and parents to locate children and return them home safely. The registered manager ensures that children have the opportunity to speak to an independent person about their experience while missing and what motivated them to go missing from home. Information gathered is used from return home interviews effectively to help reduce and manage incidents in the future.

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

The registered manager arranged for children to attend a short course to help them to understand how knife crime has a negative impact on people’s lives. This gave children access to useful information and advice designed to promote their safety and that of other people.

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

Staff manage behaviours consistently well. On one occasion, staff used physical intervention to keep staff and children safe and to prevent damage. Children and staff involved were spoken to afterwards by the registered manager or appointed person. This reflective practice helps to create a learning culture. Staff keep clear records of incidents, which are reviewed by the registered manager.

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

There is a full staff team whose members provide consistent care to children. The manager used a small number of agency staff to provide additional support at night when a child was unsettled. The registered manager satisfies himself that recruitment agencies undertake suitable checks before they start work in the home. This reduces the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that all staff receive regular supervision and an annual appraisal of their performance. This provides staff with the opportunity to discuss the needs of children and reflect on the care that children receive. It also helps staff to feel supported and to develop their knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held monthly. The registered manager and staff use this time to discuss the needs of children and agree consistent approaches to support them to maximise their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two staff hold a relevant qualification. Three other staff have qualifications that give them some transferable knowledge. All staff who need to attain level 3 in residential childcare are working towards gaining their qualification. The registered manager monitors their progress to ensure that this is completed within expected timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 5 The registered manager has effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care that children receive. This means he has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas to be developed. The registered manager uses information gathered through audits to develop and improve staff practice. For example, the registered manager identified through monitoring a child’s record that a staff member’s response to a child’s request could have been better. He acted on this information appropriately. Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, the registered manager should ensure that children’s plans help staff to understand their daily routines. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming to children. In particular, the registered manager should ensure that areas of the home are decorated to a good standard and that stained carpets are replaced. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: 2541440 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Berry Gifford Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, 2 Mercury Park, Amber Close, Tamworth B77 4RP

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Inspector

Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 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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