Children's home run by Birchwood Independence Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2679827 1 Registered provider: Birchwood Independence Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for one child who may have social and emotional needs. A qualified registered manager oversees the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2679827 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides much-needed stability, warmth and genuine affection for the child, who has experienced many placement moves and has been unsettled for a long time. Carers have quickly fostered positive relationships with the child, who wants to stay in this home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s quality of life has significantly improved since moving into the home. They feel safe, and their sleep patterns and their diet have improved. The child chooses and enjoys activities, especially spending time on the beach. Their passion and talent for art are also encouraged.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home responds effectively to self-injurious behaviour. Carers work in partnership with specialist agencies to obtain the help, medical attention and guidance needed. Mental health specialists are involved in the life of the child, including therapists, a youth worker and child and adolescent mental health services.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is detailed and kept up to date following regular strategy meetings, which are attended by significant stakeholders, including a parent.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child feels listened to and the care provided is responsive to their needs. The manager and independent visitor now do some of their work off site, as the child expressed concern about the home being used as an office for administrative tasks.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and carers have worked diligently with schools, the virtual school and the placing authority to try to secure a suitable education place for the child. As an alternative, a weekly planner is in place and the child is encouraged to take part in activities. Tutors have also been employed to provide some education in the home.

p.2

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

The child feels safe in this home and trusts the adults who care for them to act in the child’s best interests.

p.2

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

The serious risks presented by the child are fully acknowledged and understood. The response from carers is informed by, and agreed with, the specialist agencies involved. Carers have responded effectively to minimise harm, ensure that medical attention is obtained and keep the child safe in times of crisis.

p.2

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

A deprivation of liberty order is in place for the child. The least restrictive options are applied to offer the child some freedoms and quality of life. Restrictions are only applied when necessary, and as a safeguarding measure. Inspection report for children’s home: 2679827 3 The child has not been restrained in this home. This is contrary to the child’s previous experience of being restrained frequently. Behaviour management is focused on risk-reduction.

p.2

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

Responses to the child going missing from the home are carefully planned and revised following each episode. The child’s desire to go missing has reduced since moving into this home.

p.3

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

Medication records do not include the reason that non-prescribed medication was given to the child. This information is needed to indicate where symptoms persist and additional medical guidance may be necessary.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The care provided to the child is as detailed in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and dedicated manager oversees the home. He has the trust and support of a stable and consistent staff team.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have a wide variety of experiences and qualifications, which support the understanding and care of the child. The majority of staff have mental health qualifications, and all have undertaken additional training around self-harm and mental health awareness. Managers and carers are equipped to fulfil their roles and responsibilities towards the child. They are eager for the child to do well and not afraid to challenge when other services fall below what is expected of them.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are precise, concise and up to date. The manager collates notes taken at meetings. This avoids any delay in implementing agreed actions while waiting for official meeting minutes. Stakeholders are kept informed about the life of the child. Their social worker described the care provided as ‘exceptional’.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good-quality, reflective supervision. On occasion, the frequency of supervision has been compromised. Supervision is especially important when carers are dealing with stressful situations.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of care is monitored by the manager, independent visitor and a parent, who is a frequent visitor to the home. This scrutiny offers additional protection to the child. The strengths and weaknesses of the home are understood by leaders. A strategic plan implemented as the home opened has just been completed. A live planning document is in place, which can be updated following supervision and team meetings or through monitoring visits.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The house is safe, homely and personalised for and by the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2679827 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, improve the frequency of supervision. 5 October 2022

p.4

Recommendation

 Care must be taken to ensure that prescribed medicines are only administered to the individual for whom they are prescribed. Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. These are fundamentally the same sorts of arrangements as a good parent would make but are subject to additional safeguards. Where the home has questions or concerns about a child’s medication, they should approach an expert such as a general medical practitioner, community pharmacist or designated nurse for looked-after children. In particular, record the reasons for administration of non-prescribed medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including

p.4

Recommendation

the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

p.4

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: 2679827 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Birchwood Independence Ltd

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 14 Highlands, Taunton TA1 4HP

p.5

Inspector

Janice Hawtin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2679827 6 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6