Children's Home run by Solve Housing Limited in Sandwell

Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 1 Registered provider: Solve Housing Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. The home registered in July 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since it was registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 2

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improvement to be good

Since the home was registered, two children have moved on from the home. One child moved on in an unplanned way following a serious incident in the home. Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that they book appointments for children with the GP, dentist and optician. However, one child has not attended any of their routine health appointments. Staff have undertaken some direct work with the child to encourage them to attend, but this has not yet had the desired impact.

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improvement to be good

Children are not in school, and for one child, there has been some delay in securing a suitable school placement. The manager has escalated concerns in relation to this to the child’s placing authority. One child has a tutor who comes to the home, and staff also support the children to complete some education work in the home. Children do not always complete their work. A school place for both children has now been identified. Although this is a positive step, children’s educational needs are not being met well to help children achieve their potential.

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improvement to be good

Children are not in good day-to-day routines. One child is asleep most of the day, and they will sometimes complete education work with a tutor or staff before going out to spend time in the community. Another child stays awake in their room, playing on their phone or computer until the early hours of the morning. Some work with the children has been undertaken to address this issue, but this has not gone far enough to ensure that children have consistent routines and boundaries in place. This does not help children form good habits to help them when they start school or help them to have good structure to their day.

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improvement to be good

One child regularly smokes cannabis. Managers and staff are suitably concerned about this. The child has completed work with a substance misuse agency, and staff have also completed work with the child to help them to understand the impact smoking cannabis has on their health. There are clear boundaries and consequences in the home for the child should they be found to be smoking cannabis in the home. Staff continue to support the child with this issue.

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improvement to be good

Staff and the manager are worried about a child’s self-care and hygiene. They are monitoring this and have looked at different ways to address it with the child. The manager plans to undertake some further work on this, and a referral has been made to an external agency to help the child with this.

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improvement to be good

Children have positive relationships with staff. One child spends a lot of time with staff, engaging in activities in the home such as playing board and card games, Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 3 basketball, table tennis and using the pool. One child shared with the inspector that they like living in the home and feel that staff understand their cultural needs.

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improvement to be good

The manager has ensured that children have someone external from the home who they can talk to if they want or need to. For example, one child has been provided with a mentor, and another child has a psychotherapist who they meet with regularly. In addition, the registered individual arranged a video call with an England basketball player. Consequently, children have opportunities to speak to positive role models.

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improvement to be good

Staff undertake direct work with children that is linked to their care plans as well as issues causing concern. For example, staff have worked with children on topics such as personal hygiene, education, culture and religion. In addition, children have had discussions on county lines and exploitation with the responsible individual to help educate them to understand how to keep safe in the community.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to see friends and family members. This includes inviting family members to the home. The manager and staff understand that family ties are important to children and work hard to involve family members in the lives of children when this is appropriate.

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improvement to be good

The home’s fire risk assessment has been completed by someone who is competent, and staff are undertaking regular fire checks. When fire safety concerns arise, managers respond. For example, fire safety officers visited the home and spoke to children about fire safety and supplied fire retardant bedding, which is being used. This was in response to a child accidentally burning their bed sheets after smoking in their room. Despite this good work, additional fire safety concerns were identified during the inspection. For example, the fire extinguishers were not in their designated place, and several combustible items were stored inappropriately. Although the manager took action, it is of concern that these issues were identified given some of the presenting risks. The manager has arranged an early review of the fire risk assessment so that matters can be reconsidered.

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improvement to be good

Before a child moved into the home, risks around exploitation were carefully considered to help staff understand the level of risk to a child. Direct work with the child was also completed by staff and the responsible individual to help the child increase their awareness and knowledge about how to keep safe. Recently, there have been some concerns about the child’s increased vulnerability to exploitation which are being kept under review.

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improvement to be good

Staff are concerned about what a child is accessing on the internet and about the length of time the child spends on their internet-enabled devices. There is limited monitoring in place with regards to this, and it is not clear how this will be addressed. Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 4 The manager and staff implement consequences as a way of behaviour management. Although there are not many consequences implemented, records show that most are monetary, and the effectiveness of this is not being considered. In addition, it is not clear how children who are doing well are recognised through rewards and praise.

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improvement to be good

There have been several incidents in the home when children’s behaviours have escalated, resulting in children damaging property, hurting staff and even threatening staff with a knife. On some occasions, the police have been called. A recent incident initially led to the manager ending the placement for one child. However, in consultation with the children’s placing authorities, the child returned to the home. Staffing has been increased during the day and night to ensure that should any incident arise, it can be managed as safely as possible while managers work with the child’s placing authority to consider the way forward.

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improvement to be good

There are some concerns with regard to children going missing from the home. This is the case for one child who lives in the home and has not been going missing overnight but is returning to the home later than his agreed time. This has recently improved with an extension of time given to the child to return home. When children do not return, staff look for the child and continue to contact them and encourage them to come home.

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improvement to be good

There has been one physical intervention. This resulted in a referral to the local authority designated officer following an allegation made by the child. The manager has appropriately reviewed the incident, has liaised with external agencies to learn from what happened and has undertaken some reflection work with the staff and child.

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good

Staff are receiving regular supervision. However, these records are brief and do not give a sense of how staff, particularly new staff, are being supported to develop their practice and in their role.

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good

Children’s case records are not up to date or accurate. For example, the inspector found information in children’s records about other children. Although this does not have a direct impact on children now, it is important that children’s case records are up to date and accurate, ready for them when they are older, should they want to review their records.

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good

The manager has some reviewing and monitoring systems in place. However, shortfalls identified in this inspection relating to fire safety, case records and the quality of supervision highlight these are not wholly effective. In addition, the manager has not submitted their six-monthly review of the quality of care report to Ofsted within the timescale set out in regulation. Therefore, it is not clear how the manager has evaluated the care and support they provide to children and how they plan to continue to make improvements. Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 5 Despite being new to the role, the manager has relevant experience and skills. The manager is open about the challenges they have faced and understands the strengths and areas of development of the home. The manager is supporting the staff team to offer consistent care and support to children and to build on staff skills.

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good

Professionals working in the home shared positive feedback with the inspector. This included a mentor, a psychotherapist and a social worker. Professionals shared that staff and managers work well with them, keep them informed and work in partnership with them to support the children.

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good

Staff are provided with appropriate training to help them meet the needs of the children in their care. This has included training in county lines and exploitation. This ensures that staff are provided with opportunities to build their knowledge about issues relating to children in their care. Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement; and

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iv)(vi)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are in good daily routines, are supported to take part in lessons with the tutor and attend school. 9 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 9 May 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children receive support to help them to attend health appointments, as well as support and services to help them stop using cannabis. In addition, support children to promote better self-care.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 9 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 15 April 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s use of the internet is monitored to ensure that they access safe content online. In addition, ensure that the time children spend on electronic devices is managed better. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)  The registered person should ensure that when consequences are implemented, they help children reflect on their behaviours, and when children are doing well, this is recognised through rewards and praise. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.39)  The registered person should ensure that staff supervision sessions are reflective and help staff develop and improve their practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s case records are kept up to date and accurate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Unique reference number: 2679735 Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 9 Provision sub-type: Children’s home

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solve Housing Limited

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Inspector

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2679735 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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