Children's Home run by Friends & Co Limited in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1258887 1 Registered provider: Friends & Co Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to four children with learning difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered in January 2018. Children have never lived in this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the manager is no longer working for the company and has withdrawn their application to register.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken remotely. The purpose of the inspection was to review the action taken by the responsible individual to meet the requirements raised at the last monitoring visit on 5 January 2023. Additionally, it was to ensure that the imposed suspension notice was being adhered to.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The suspension was imposed as the findings from the previous visit were that the home was not safe for children to move into. Significant failings included having no staff to care for children and the home conditions not being a homely environment for children to live in.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There continue to be no children living at the home. Therefore, the suspension notice has been adhered to.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the manager is no longer working for the organisation. Therefore, the responsible individual is the only member of staff. Recruitment of staff remains ongoing. As there are no staff, staff experiences and training cannot be reviewed. Consequently, regulation 13 cannot be met and is restated.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has worked hard to take action to meet seven of the nine requirements previously raised. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1258887 2 Action has been taken to ensure competent people have now carried out health and safety checks, including a fire risk assessment.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Door alarms are not being used on children’s bedrooms, and the frosted film preventing children seeing out of windows has been removed. There has been some improvement made regarding furnishing the sensory room. The environment of the home will be reviewed further at the next inspection.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has commissioned an independent person to complete visits in line with regulation 44. The first visit has taken place, and recommendations have been made by the independent person to support the responsible individual to make improvements. The independent person has been recruited in line with safe recruitment practices.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A review of the local area and potential risks posed to children has been updated. The responsible individual met with relevant people, including the local police community support officer and local area designated officer, to help him understand the local area in more detail. He has used this information as the basis of the review of the suitability of the premises.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home’s statement of purpose has been updated. This now contains information regarding the home’s approach to restraint practices. The responsible individual is booked on a ‘train the trainer’ course for restraint to ensure new staff joining can be taught in a speedy manner. The proposed staff structure is also included, as are the responsible individual’s experiences and qualifications.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has completed a review of the quality-of-care children receive in line with regulation 45 requirements. As no children have lived in the home, the focus of the review is related to staffing and staff retention.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The suspension notice remains in place. This will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1258887 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/12/2018 Interim Not judged 29/10/2018 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1258887 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that the home provides a homely environment for children that is safe and that any repairs are done to a good standard. 9 April 2023

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that there are sufficient staff to meet the needs of the children that the home is registered to care for and that any staff employed by the service have the skills and training needed to meet children's needs. 9 April 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1258887 5

p.4

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1258887 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Friends & Co Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ

p.6

Inspector

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1258887 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspector

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7