Children's home run by Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

Inspection report for children's home: 1273497 1 Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides short breaks for seven children with learning disabilities. The home is one of four homes run by this local authority children’s trust.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has managed this home for many years and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1273497 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/11/2019 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: 1273497 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children love visiting the home for their short-break stay. Introductions to short breaks are planned and move at a pace that suits the child and their family. A parent said, ‘The staff are very professional and always willing to help. [Name of child] enjoys his short breaks.’ Children make progress at the home. Progress is captured in photos and is shared and celebrated with children and their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Welcome meetings are held at the start of each short break. Creative and flexible methods are used to support children’s engagement. A record of these meetings is made using an accessible format of signs, colours and photos. Consequently, children can take part in planning their breaks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are innovative in ways of working with children. They have developed a mascot character to support children with participation, access to complaints procedures, and learning about diversity and about keeping themselves safe, for example, road safety and online safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun during their short breaks. They enjoy a range of activities at the home and go out for leisure activities, such as to the park and on trips to the seaside. The home has been set up to give children communal areas where they can spend time socialising and smaller lounge areas for when they choose to be alone in a quieter space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One parent describes the short breaks as a lifeline. Progress that their child has made through the ‘steppingstones’ approach is also seen when he goes home. As a result, his independence skills are developing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff communicate with other professionals about the needs of the child. This gives a consistent approach to care across home, school and the short-break setting. For example, in relation to children’s communication needs, action is taken to ensure that the child can access their familiar and preferred communication tools during short-breaks stays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is kept to a good standard. Maintenance work was being undertaken during the inspection. This was done while children were at school and workers had cleaned up in time for children to arrive home. Their short-break stay was not disrupted. Although a bathroom was being refitted, alternative options for personal care were available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an overall ethos of full inclusion and opportunities for participation for all children. Inspection report for children's home: 1273497 4

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

Children are safe and protected from harm because the staff know them well. The manager and staff are instrumental in identifying risks to children. Staff are kind, gentle and attentive. As a result, children thrive in a nurturing and safe environment.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. However, care is taken to ensure that pen pictures are available with information about children in the event that they go missing.

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

Children benefit from high staffing ratios, with staff who are skilled and knowledgeable in how to keep them safe. Children are matched well with other children with similar needs. Group matching is a strength. Children have positive experiences with others despite the challenges they face. As a result, children rarely need to be restrained.

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

Staff understand each child’s vulnerabilities. They implement clear boundaries that are effective in helping children manage their behaviour and emotions. The staff are subtle in their approach. This helps children to remain calm and to be redirected easily when they become distressed. A staff member said, ‘[Name of child] is now much more settled. Previous behaviours shown are not seen any more.’

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

Children know how to tell staff when they feel unsafe. The introduction of a mascot help children to raise complaints. Children are now able to share grumbles, which are taken seriously and acted upon.

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

Recruitment is safe. The manager ensures that all applicants are subject to thorough recruitment checks before they begin working in the home. This keeps children safe from unsuitable people having access to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a long-standing, experienced registered manager. She is suitably qualified in the management and care of children in residential care. The registered manager is aspirational, highly motivated, dedicated and passionate in raising standards and delivering positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and the staff team go above and beyond to ensure that children and their families receive help through short-break stays. They offer an extended arm to help parents when difficulties arise, for example, going to a parent’s home to help the child to get on the school bus. A parent said, ‘They are amazing people. They have helped me out with other things too. It has made a huge difference to me and my life.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Staff understand the targets set and work effectively towards delivering them. For example, Makaton Inspection report for children's home: 1273497 5 training for staff and communication for children using a mascot are exceptional. The manager monitors progress effectively and keeps track of each child’s journey.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive excellent supervision, training and induction. This ensures that they continue to develop their skills and knowledge while supplying good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regardless of children’s disability, they can contribute to sharing their views, wishes and feelings because staff are highly skilled in their ability to communicate with children using their preferred method of communication. As a result, children make requests about how they can improve the short-break service and are encouraged to share their views at the welcome meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring and review by the manager are highly effective. Records are streamlined and clearly track monitoring and progress. Shortfalls are found and action plans are put in place. This continued monitoring and review ensure that the service continues to provide children with positive short-break experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is a real strength. The managers and staff work well together and share good practice with parents and schools. This improves children’s experiences and development.

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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: 1273497 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Birmingham Children’s Trust, Third Floor, Zone 16, 1 Lancaster Circus, Birmingham B4 7DJ

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Inspectors

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1273497 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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