Children's Home run by Young Birch Ltd in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 1 Registered provider: Young Birch Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home in an unplanned way. Managers took time to reflect on learning from what happened. Since then, two children have moved into the home in a planned and gradual way. Managers have considered the children’s needs to ensure that staff have the skills and experience to meet these and to support them to live alongside each other safely.

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The care of children

Children have positive relationships with staff. Staff carry out direct work with the children to build their relationship with them, and they use these opportunities to address issues about children’s behaviours and to teach them important life skills. Children told the inspector that they get on well with staff and can talk to them if they are feeling worried.

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The care of children

Both children are in education. Staff are keen to ensure that children do well in school and college and work closely with teachers to ensure that children have the right support to help them thrive. One child told the inspector that he wants to go to university.

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The care of children

Children enjoy a range of experiences with staff, including regularly playing pool, going to the cinema and having meals at a restaurant. One child has enjoyed a summer holiday with staff. Staff are also keen to promote children’s hobbies.

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The care of children

Children see people who are important to them. Staff are proactive in arranging family time. One child was supported to see a parent who they had not seen for a few years. This good support helps children to maintain important family ties.

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The care of children

Improvements have been made to the home environment, such as with soft furnishings and decor. Children have private space around the home, including their bedrooms. However, the top floor banister poses a risk if climbed. The current children’s ages and behaviours do not demonstrate an immediate risk to them. However, further safety work with the children to reinforce the potential risks to them from the banister could enhance their understanding. In addition, the manager should continue to seek advice to find a longer-term solution to this issue.

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The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments provide staff with an understanding of children’s risks and behaviours. They are updated by staff to give relevant information on current issues and how best to support children. Staff follow the guidance set out in these documents and they provide children with good support to help them to keep safe. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 3 The manager ensures that he follows the procedures related to managing allegations against staff. This includes liaising effectively with the police and the local authority designated officer.

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The safety of children

Staff have carried out work to help a child have a better understanding of online safety. This work is continually carried out to help the child to learn and implement tools to keep safe online.

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The safety of children

There has been one incident where physical intervention has been used since the last inspection. The manager has reviewed this record. While the intervention was necessary to keep the child safe, the manager identified some learning for staff to help give them a better insight into children’s trauma and behaviour. Further training and additional support were put in place for staff to help them raise their knowledge and skills.

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The safety of children

Children’s medication is stored safely. However, one child is currently refusing to take their prescribed medication. Although medical advice has been sought, this is not recorded in the child’s records to inform staff and guide them on what to do in this situation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is managed by a qualified and experienced manager. The manager told the inspector that the home is on a journey of improvement. Some progress has been made, while other areas continue to need focus. For example, the provider is recruiting staff to increase sufficiency and the level of experience in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has carried out a six-monthly review of the quality of care provided to children. The report does not provide a thorough overview of the last six months and does not include an action plan which sets out how the manager plans to further improve the service in the coming six-month period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff employed to work in the home have now completed their mandatory training. They have also received training to increase their knowledge of current national issues, such as county lines.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff working in the home have been safely recruited. This helps to ensure that suitable adults are employed to care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Not all staff have regular good-quality supervision. This includes the manager, who does not have a written record of his supervision sessions. As a result, staff do not have consistent opportunities to learn and reflect and develop their practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/08/2021 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they carry out work with the child to increase their awareness of safety in the home, particularly around the potential dangers associated with the top floor banister. In addition, a longer-term solution to the risk posed by the banister should be explored and implemented without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when children are not taking their prescribed medication, any medical advice sought is recorded on the child’s file. This should include the impact on the child should they refuse to take the medication and guidance for staff about any next steps. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that all staff, including the manager, are receiving regular and good-quality supervision and that there is a record of this

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Recommendations

on file. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  The registered person should ensure that a quality of care review is carried out at least once every six months. This should include an action plan to guide improvement work over the next six months. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraphs 15.2 and 15.3)

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Children’s home details

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 6 Unique reference number: 2618755

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Birch Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Station Avenue, Tile Hill, Coventry CV4 9HS

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Inspector

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 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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