Children's Home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1278806 1 Registered provider: Coventry City Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. There is a suitably qualified registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 23 November 2022

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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: 1278806 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

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. They have both lived at the home for over four years and have made considerable progress from their original starting points in all areas. Both children have positive relationships with the staff. They told the inspector that they are happy and feel safe living in the home. One child has recently moved out to semi-supported accommodation.

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The care of children

Children are listened to, and staff ensure that children are included in planning arrangements to meet their care needs. Staff and managers value children’s views, and staff conduct meaningful work with children and respond to their individual needs. Staff also ensure that children have access to specialist support when needed. For example, children have benefited from support from the Youth Justice Service, Prevent, housing support agencies and mental health support services.

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The care of children

Staff ensure that they manage children’s placement endings sensitively. Staff have supported the child who has recently moved out to visit their new home before they moved in. Staff went out for a leaving meal with the child. They have also maintained regular contact with the child and have continued to offer support through the Lifelong Links programme. This has supported the child to have a positive ending to their time at the home. It has also helped them to settle into their new home, knowing they have support from staff that know them well.

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The care of children

Staff support children with their learning. Both children are in full-time education. When children struggle to attend an educational setting, the staff will communicate with education professionals to ensure that children get the support they need to improve their attendance and achieve in their learning.

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The care of children

The home is well presented with appropriate furnishings and personalisation of the children’s bedrooms. Communal areas are well decorated and homely. Children’s bedrooms are being redecorated. This helps the children to feel comfortable in their surroundings and gain a sense of belonging.

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The safety of children

Managers and staff understand and manage risk effectively. Detailed behaviour support plans and risk assessments are in place. These are regularly reviewed and include appropriate actions for staff to follow to reduce risks to children. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1278806 3 Managers take prompt action when there are complaints or allegations. They listen to the children’s voices and share information with appropriate agencies. As a result, the children feel confident to raise concerns and feel safer.

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The safety of children

Physical interventions are only used as a last resort. Managers have oversight of all incidents, and they provide staff and children with a reflective debrief following the use of the intervention. This ensures that, when used, physical intervention is proportionate and necessary.

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The safety of children

Incidents of children going missing from the home are minimal. When children do go missing or are away from the home without authority, staff follow the children’s individual protocols, searching the local area and consulting with social workers and police. Managers ensure that an independent person completes return home interviews with children, so children can share any concerns they may have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has not been in the home since October 2022. The deputy manager has been managing the home in the registered manager’s absence. The organisation’s operational lead and other managers in the organisation have supported the deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the deputy manager has worked hard to improve the quality of care afforded to the children. She has developed a good understanding of the home’s strengths and the areas for development. She has introduced development plans and audits to improve their oversight and monitoring of the quality of care. These have been effective in supporting the deputy manager to identify and take prompt action when there are shortfalls in staff’s practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The deputy manager has ensured that staff have the knowledge and skills to meet the children’s needs. As well as ensuring staff receive mandatory and specialist training, she has introduced weekly team meetings and workshops to improve staff knowledge and confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been two occasions when managers have not reported safeguarding concerns to Ofsted. This means the regulator may not have all the relevant information to understand what is happening in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular practice-related supervision. However, the deputy manager has not received supervision since she has had responsibility for managing the home. This is a weakness and will not support her to develop in her role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff and managers work with a range of professionals to ensure all the children’s needs are met. The feedback from professionals is positive. One professional told the inspector, ‘In my view, they are excellent. They manage [name of child] well. They are honest and reflective.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have responded to previous requirements. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1278806 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good 15/01/2020 Full Good 12/02/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1278806 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; and

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 11 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1278806 6 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders ensuring that the interim manager receives regular practice-related supervision. 11 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1278806 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Coventry City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coventry City Council, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR

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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1278806 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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