Children's home run by Care and Management Services Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 1 SC419217 Registered provider: Care and Management Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately operated children’s home provides care for up to two children who have experienced early childhood trauma and may exhibit complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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

Date of last inspection: 19 October 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/10/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Full Good 04/02/2019 Full Good 27/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children live in the home. Both children have lived here for over two years. Children make good progress in important areas of their lives. This is because of the close relationships that they have with the staff and the consistent, individualised support that they receive from them. Staff have persevered through some challenging times, further strengthening relationships. Staff respond to children sensitively and with compassion, which means that children make good progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the individual needs of children. This positive regard and culture help children to make good progress in all areas of their lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming and has a family atmosphere. Children’s belongings fill the home. Books and games are easily accessible and soft furnishings help to create a nurturing environment. Children personalise their bedrooms and this allows them to take a sense of pride in their home and promotes their well-being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of education. They work in partnership with schools and the placing authority to find children a suitable provision that reflects their learning needs. This helps children to maintain a daily routine that supports their academic needs. Managers have challenged education providers when children’s needs have not been met, for example, when one child was not provided the support stipulated in their education, health and care plan.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like spending time with staff and enjoy living here. They take part in activities that they enjoy with staff. This gives children the opportunity to have new experiences and have fun. For example, one child is learning how to play the drums and attends a local youth club. They have also been on a holiday to Ireland.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to support children to keep in touch with people who are important to them. Staff take time to plan these visits carefully. This enables children to have positive experiences with their families.

p.3

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

Staff build positive relationships with children, who feel listened to. As a result, children feel safe and secure and there has been a reduction in incidents in the home.

p.3

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

Staff understand the impact of children’s adverse experiences on their development. They have a clear insight into the reasons behind children’s behaviour and provide children with the warmth, structure and consistent boundaries that they need to feel safe and emotionally secure. Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 4 Staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and they have a good knowledge of whistle-blowing procedures. The depth of staff’s safeguarding knowledge is continually reflected on during practice-based meetings and supervision sessions.

p.3

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

Children are safeguarded and feel safe at the home. The manager has ensured that the staff have appropriate safeguarding training and that they understand the procedures. Staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents, which helps to keep children safe.

p.4

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

Staff educate children around risk. Children take part in work sessions with staff to address identified risks and raise their awareness about topics of concern. This direct work includes how to act appropriately in public and internet safety. This positive work enhances children’s knowledge of risk and allows them to take the lead in their learning. Because of this, children are educated about the risks that they may face.

p.4

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

The manager and staff demonstrate a great understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and potential risks posed to them. Clear guidance and strategies to follow are recorded in written risk assessments. This helps ensure that children are protected from harm.

p.4

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

When children go missing from care, staff follow the joint protocol effectively. Searches conducted by staff and persistent attempts to make contact show children they are cared about. Proactive collaboration with parents, local authorities and police supports children to return home safely. Missing-from-care incident records are clear, enabling thorough monitoring of these events by the manager.

p.4

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

The staff have managed some significant incidents and supported children when they have been distressed. Staff use restraint as a last resort to keep children safe. The manager completes debriefs with the children and staff. She has a good overview and understanding of each incident. This positive approach gives children the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings. On two occasions, a child was left with red marks following a restraint. This was reported to the social worker and the emergency duty team. However, the manager had not shared these concerns with the statutory agencies.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team, supported by a deputy manager. The manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted. She keeps children at the heart of all she does. She is passionate and ambitious for the children and ensures that this ethos spreads through the staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good knowledge of children’s starting points and what they have accomplished since living at the home. She is fully involved in children’s lives. She is clear about the progress children are making and has high aspirations for what they Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 5 can achieve. She is enthusiastic in her efforts to be a trusted person for children. This makes her a good role model for staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight and monitoring processes are effective. As a result, the manager has a good insight into the home’s strengths and areas for development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of the staff hold the required level 3 diploma. A small number of staff are currently working to achieve this, and plans are in place to ensure that they complete this within the required timescales. Staff are provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children’s individual and diverse needs. However, deprivation of liberty training has not yet been delivered.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home and feel supported by the managers. One staff member told the inspector, ‘If I was a child in care, I’d want them fighting my corner.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and therapy team distil learning from theoretical models for staff. This gives staff greater understanding of children’s emotional needs and supports them to deliver consistent and individualised care. Children build trusting relationships with staff and are involved in life-story work. Staff help children to understand their journey and develop skills enabling them to express their feelings.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established strong connections with partner agencies. Professionals are unanimously positive about the communication with the staff team and about the care provided for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The external monitoring of the home does not meet regulation 44. An independent visitor had not visited the home for several months. This limits independent scrutiny of the effectiveness of the arrangements for caring for and protecting children. At the time of the inspection, a independent visitor had been appointed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.6

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

p.6

Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

p.6

Requirement Due date

If the independent person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest (whether under regulation 43(3) or otherwise) after a visit to the home, the independent person must include in the independent person’s report—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the conflict of interest; and 5 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 7 the reasons why the independent person did not notify the registered provider of the conflict of interest before the visit.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5) (6)(a) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff have received training on deprivation of liberty orders. 5 March 2023

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that managers fully follow the child protection procedures, in particular, ensuring that the local authority designated officer is consulted, as well as the child’s social worker and emergency duty team, following any concerns arising from the use of restraint. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.19) Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 8

p.7

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: SC419217 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care and Management Services Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Park Business Centre, Hastingwood Industrial Park, Wood Lane, Birmingham, Warwickshire B24 9QR

p.9

Inspectors

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Nicola Lownds, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC419217 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspectors

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.10

Inspectors

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

p.10

Inspectors

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

p.10