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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 1 SC470457 Registered provider: Care and Management Services Limited 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 provides care for up to three children who have complex behaviours as a result of their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2020.

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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 good

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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: 6 December 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 6 and 7 December 2022. Ofsted issued three compliance notices, under regulation 10, regulation 12 and regulation 13. A notice to restrict accommodation was also issued to prevent any new children from moving into the home.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit took place on 17 January 2023. At that visit, the provider had taken sufficient action to address the steps outlined in all the compliance notices and had met seven of the requirements. A notice to restrict accommodation remained in place to prevent any new children from moving into the home, due to the home not having enough staff to care for the number of children the home is registered to care for. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2022 Full Inadequate 14/09/2021 Full Good 15/06/2021 Full Inadequate 13/11/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. They have lived here for over a year. Managers have taken vast steps since the previous full inspection to make the required improvements. The child is now making substantial progress from their starting point. They respond well to the consistent care and routines. As a result, incidents in the home have decreased significantly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming and has a family atmosphere. Belongings fill the home, books and games are easily accessible and soft furnishings help to create a nurturing environment. Staff support and encourage the child to personalise their bedroom, and this allows them to take a sense of pride in their home and promotes their well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of education. They have worked in partnership with schools and the placing authority to find the child a suitable provision that reflects their learning needs. This helps them to maintain a daily routine that supports their academic needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s needs well. Staff are always thinking of creative ways to best support the child. The child benefits from these positive relationships, which support them to progress. These relationships with staff are very important to the child. They build trust, as staff show commitment and care and are assertive in delivering difficult messages to the child when this is required. Messages and boundaries are clearly communicated. The child fully understands how staff will continue to keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child well with their health and well-being. The child’s physical and emotional health needs are expertly addressed. Staff demonstrate an ability to seek specialist help when this is necessary and have undertaken research to meet specific needs of the child they care for. There are strong links with health professionals and specialist services. The multi-team approach means that the child’s needs are responded to effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff proactively support the child to enjoy enjoyable activities with them. This provides the child with the opportunity to gain new experiences and have fun. For example, the child attends a local youth theatre group and has visited London to see the attractions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys living at the home and feels safe. The inspector asked the child ‘What is the biggest change you have noticed about yourself since living here?’ The child responded, ‘So much. No one wanted me before I moved here. I moved around so much. This is my home now and I’m not going anywhere.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 4

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

Staff know the child well and have developed a positive relationship with them. Managers and staff listen to the child’s views. The child knows how to make a complaint, and any complaints are taken seriously. As a result, the child feels listened to and valued.

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

Managers and staff place a high priority on keeping the child safe. They work in partnership with the placing authority to protect the child and promote their safety. The effectiveness of these relationships helps the child to feel safe and secure. 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 team meetings and supervision sessions.

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

Staff educate the child around risk in a supportive way, helping the child to understand risk and what to do to keep safe. This includes work on topics such as online safety, anti-bullying and radicalisation. This positive work enhances the child’s knowledge of risk and allows them to take the lead in their learning.

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

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

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

The child living at the home has complex needs and requires constant care and supervision. Consequently, there have been no incidents of the child going missing from the home and no concerns regarding exploitation. Staff receive regular training in safeguarding and discuss their learning and understanding of safeguarding practices. This ensures that safeguarding practice is strong and remains a priority of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team. The manager keeps children at the heart of all he does. He is passionate and ambitious for the child and ensures that this ethos spreads through the staff team. The manager has good knowledge of the child’s starting points and what they have accomplished since living at the home. He is fully involved in the child’s life. He is clear about the progress the child has made and has high aspirations for what they can achieve. He is enthusiastic in his efforts to be a trusted person for the child. This makes him a good role model for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager successfully manages a motivated staff team. The enthusiasm and passion of the staff are integral to the significant progress that the child has made and to the ongoing improvements in the home. Staff enjoy working at the home and feel supported by managers. One staff member told the inspector, ‘He is the best manager I’ve had, he is so dedicated. This has boosted staff morale and helped Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 5 make massive progress over a such a short period of time. We are now all passionate to sustain this.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. Effective auditing tools are used which produce action plans to develop staff practice further and promote consistency in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of the staff hold the required level 3 diploma. One staff member is 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 the child’s individual and diverse needs. Team meetings and supervision sessions take place monthly and are used as a place for reflection and learning. Important issues are tracked and discussed, and the child is at the centre of all practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

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

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In October 2022, an independent person was appointed. They carried out three visits to the home. However, these reports have not been received by Ofsted. This limits the independent scrutiny of the effectiveness of the arrangements for caring and protecting the child. At the time of inspection, another new independent visitor had been appointed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the manager has submitted a quality of care review, it does not identify the shortfalls highlighted at the last inspection. The review fails to focus on the quality of care provided by the home and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are now sufficient numbers of staff in place to care for the number of children the home is registered for. As a result, the notice of restriction has been lifted. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 6

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7)(a)) 26 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 7 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The quality of care review report must be sent to HMCI within timescales and include a full review of the quality of care for children as well as any actions to improve or maintain the service. 25 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 8

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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: SC470457 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care and Management Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC470457 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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