Children's home run by Spectrum Care Services

Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 1 Registered provider: Spectrum Care Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to care for three children who may have learning disabilities and other complex health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2020 and holds a level 5 qualification.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 12 January 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/01/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 3

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outstanding

Two brothers have lived in the home for some time. A third child has moved out since the previous inspection. Managers have made the decision that they will not move any more children in so that staff can dedicate their time to meeting the complex needs of the children currently living in the home.

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in all areas of their development because of the high quality of care they receive from dedicated and resilient staff. Staff have an in- depth understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities and provide them with remarkable help and support in accordance with their care plans.

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outstanding

Research-informed practice is a significant element of staff practice and how they support children’s individual needs. For example, children living at the home have verbal communication difficulties. Staff are committed to broadening their skills and knowledge of any barriers to communication. For example, they have introduced communication aids, such as picture exchange systems and short stories that describe social situations, into children’s daily lives. Staff are trained in these methods and they are highly effective in how they use these to communicate with children. This is widening children’s access to the world as their communication is improving significantly in comparison to their starting points. Furthermore, staff work diligently to increase their knowledge about the children living in the home who have a rare genetic disorder that affects their eating habits to support them better.

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outstanding

Staff show a very good understanding of the importance of children’s identity. They are considerate and attentive to promote and support children to get a better understanding of their own culture and identities. For example, children enjoy special cultural days and evenings; this includes them dressing in their shalwar kameez , and learning about Pakistan, Eid and Ramadan. Moreover, staff use visual and communication aids, such as interactive prayer mats, to support the children to celebrate and practise their religious beliefs.

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outstanding

Both children benefit from opportunity and support from staff to access specialist education in line with their individual needs. Children have excellent attendance and are making good progress. Staff maintain effective communication with teachers about children’s progress and areas of development. This means that children receive targeted support when needed.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are consistently met to a high standard. Regardless of the amount of medical appointments, staff work hard to ensure that children attend all appointments. Staff ensure that children’s health needs are monitored, and individual health assessments are in place. Recommendations from health plans are acted on. Staff work well with specialist health services and the local authority to ensure that comprehensive health plans are implemented. As a result, one child has gained weight and is no longer considered to be at risk of being underweight. Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 4 Children who live in the home experience a welcoming, comfortable and nurturing environment that is decorated to a high standard. Staff and children take pride in their home and bedrooms are personalised to suit children’s wishes and interests. Clothes are all ironed and folded or hung neatly in bedrooms. Staff ensure that

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outstanding

children are always well presented and have good-quality clothes. Children’s photos, family culture and achievements are proudly displayed throughout the home. Furthermore, the home has sensory equipment and adapted wall spaces for the sensory needs of each child; this creates a homely atmosphere where children thrive. This high level of care and nurture shows children that they are valued and treated with high regard.

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outstanding

Staff are creative and enthusiastic to provide children with new opportunities and enjoyable activities within and outside the home. For example, staff take children to trampoline and soft-play centres that are specific to their needs and abilities. These activities not only enable children to experience enjoyment and participation but also give them a sense of belonging to the wider community. In addition, children benefit from travelling to other parts of the country for holidays and days out. The thought that goes into planning these trips is exceptional, for example leaving early to ensure that children experience enjoyable activities at the quietest time of day to suit their needs. These experiences enhance the quality of life for children and make them feel valued.

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outstanding

Staff use their imagination to create meaningful and personalised discussions and conservations worksheets for each child. For example, visual and interactive communication aids are used to capture children’s experiences, wishes and feelings. This enables children’s voices to be heard and considered by professionals when decisions are made about their care plans. As a result, this promotes children’s self- worth and shows them how much staff care about them.

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outstanding

Staff have an in-depth understanding of the importance of family relationships to children. They promote family time well and make family members feel welcomed into the home. This level of support ensures that children maintain positive and meaningful relationships with those close to them.

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outstanding

Staff work closely with a range of professionals to ensure that the quality of care provided to children is coordinated . The children’s social worker told the inspector: ‘Staff are attuned with the children and have a good understanding about [children’s] complex needs.’ Another professional told the inspector: ‘Staff celebrate the little things… staff have built up a good level of resilience and show a desire to learn and understand more about the children they care for.’

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff fully understand potential risks and how to manage them. They assess risk associated with each child and the impact when new children move into the home. Staff ensure that all known risks are identified, and Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 5 they consider the impact of the risks in relation to the location of the home. Furthermore, the registered manager has an in-depth understanding of risk assessments and behaviour support plans. These are of very good quality and provide staff with comprehensive strategies to manage risk. This level of scrutiny has resulted in a positive experience for children who have moved into the home.

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outstanding

Staff find creative ways to engage children in other activities to reduce the amount of time they spend on electronic devices. For example, staff dedicate time each day to help children improve their communication by supporting them with signing and sharing ideas and feelings effectively. In addition, staff are professionally curious and vigilant to keep children safe. They carry out checks to monitor children’s electronic devices to keep them safe. This practice reduces the potential risk of vulnerable children being harmed.

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff consult regularly with the children’s therapist to discuss and investigate emerging themes and patterns of behaviour. Also, staff use this time and space to examine their own practice, to see what they can do better. This approach informs children’s individual care plans and considers new, inventive ways of supporting complex needs.

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outstanding

Children are supported to take age-appropriate risks as part of their development and degree of freedom and choice. For example, one child can put his clothes into the washing machine and switch it on. Also, staff introduced ear defenders to one child and he can now enjoy much more in the community, such as going to his local cinema. This means that children learn new life skills and have better opportunities.

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outstanding

When safeguarding incidents happen, the registered manager is quick to respond and undertake a thorough review to understand what has taken place. This means that reflection on staff practice continues to develop and improve the management of risk to children.

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outstanding

Staff only use physical intervention when all other de-escalation strategies have been used and the welfare of the child and staff are at risk. Staff are knowledgeable and use their understanding of the child’s behaviours to enable them to manage incidents. Following a physical restraint, staff use flexible approaches to ensure that the child’s voice is heard. However, some records of incidents did not contain all the relevant information. For example, on two occasions, staff had not accurately recorded the duration of the hold. This did not impact on the child’s safety or well- being as records demonstrate that holds were proportionate and appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has positive relationships with children and staff. Through her knowledge, enthusiasm and innovation, she has an ongoing positive impact on the lives of children and staff. Staff feel emboldened by this ethos, and children are shown appropriate affection because of the home’s family-oriented culture. Staff told the inspector: ‘I have learned through the manager to really fight for the children.’ Staff look forward and are excited to come to work. The registered manager listens Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 6 to staff and encourages them in their practice and development. As a result, children’s lives are enriched by a highly skilled, committed and dedicated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff show genuine dedication to children in their care. They have individually and collectively participated in ongoing reflective discussions and conversations about their practice and the progress of children. They have regular clinical team meetings to develop a more in-depth understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and experiences to enhance their practice and the quality of care that children receive. This means staff are attentive to children’s needs, positive in their parenting approach, and provide children with the most secure and stable environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager rigorously challenges other professionals to ensure that children receive the support and help that they need. For example, the registered manager met with professionals and advocated on behalf of a child regarding the local authority providing targeted services for children. She has been influential in escalating concerns to the highest level of senior management. Furthermore, the registered manager has ensured that all children have access to appropriate independent advocacy support to ensure that they have the support needed. This tenacious and child-centred approach ensures that children’s care and support plans remain the focus for the team around the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager uses a range of internal audits to monitor and track children’s progress extremely well. These help to identify strengths and areas for development. The registered manager closely scrutinises patterns of behaviour and evaluates these to improve the quality of care that children receive. These consistent monitoring systems mean that the quality of children’s care is high.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is a strength. The registered manager recognises the importance of maintaining strong relationships with partner agencies. She attends regular meetings internally and externally with the therapist, teachers, health professionals and social workers to closely scrutinise children’s progress. In addition, she uses this learning to continually develop children’s care and generate creative ideas to support children and create positive experiences for them. Feedback from professionals is highly complimentary. A therapist told the inspector: ‘[registered manager] is a force to be reckoned with, and someone I respect… I think the children are fortunate to be in that home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has worked hard to ensure that staff engage with specific training to support children effectively. This has recently included training to improve staff’s understanding of global development delay, autism spectrum disorder, signing and sensory integration techniques. Furthermore, new staff receive an in-depth, good-quality induction that includes face-to-face training. This provides staff with additional knowledge and skills in how to keep children safe. One member of staff had not received refresher training in physical intervention. This has not had a significant impact because the staff member had not been involved in physical restraint. Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 7 Staff benefit from an environment that encourages learning and development. Discussions in supervision sessions strike a healthy balance between effective challenge and support. New staff receive regular supervision to help them

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

understand their roles and responsibilities and to develop their practice to safeguard children. This means that staff progress and professional development are always monitored effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s statement of purpose has been recently reviewed but needs to be updated to reflect the changes in the staffing structure. The registered manager acknowledges this and has a plan to address this matter. Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is reviewed and updated to reflect the staffing structure. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 14–15, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate resources to support their training needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that all records of incidents of restraint contain all the relevant information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.35)

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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: 2594148 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Spectrum Care Services

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Children’s home details

Registered Provider address: 25 Hawkhurst Road, Birmingham B14 5HS

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Inspectors

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Nicola Lownds, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2594148 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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