Children's home run by Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1273658 1 Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to 16 children who have a physical and/or learning disability and/or a sensory impairment. The home provides 10 long-term placements and six short-break placements.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been operated for over 20 years by a local authority. The service and the existing manager registered again as a children’s trust limited company in March 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 September 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: 1273658 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

Following the last inspection, the short-breaks section of the service closed for a period. This time was used to train and develop staff. The short-breaks section has recently reopened and is now providing the children who use it with good care, which is of a consistent standard with that received by children living in the home permanently.

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The care of children

All the children who were living at the home at the time of the last inspection continue to do so. In addition, one new child has moved in. The children are making progress. Staff work with children and their families to set achievable goals for each child. Staff support the children to achieve their goals by providing lots of help and using direct sessions and activities to promote the children’s achievements.

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The care of children

The home is well decorated throughout and provides a pleasant place for children to live. Each child has a personalised bedroom which is adapted to meet their individual needs. The short-breaks unit was redecorated during its period of closure and is homely and welcoming. Personal touches, such as photos of the children enjoying activities, can be found throughout the home.

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The safety of children

Children are safe. There have been no safeguarding incidents, use of physical restraint or episodes of children going missing reported.

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The safety of children

The home no longer has a dedicated nursing team and the home’s staff are trained to meet all aspects of children’s health and physical needs. Staff have been trained to care for the children who are tube fed. However, a contingency plan is in place to ensure that there is rapid response from the community nursing team if a child’s feeding tube becomes detached.

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The safety of children

Staff are skilled in safe handling and can use the home’s specialist hoist system to move children safely when needed.

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The safety of children

The managers have ensured that staff follow the procedures for the safe storage and disposal of medication. Staff are competent in the administration of medication. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1273658 3

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager is experienced and knowledgeable. She has worked hard to develop and improve the home since the last full inspection. All requirements and recommendations raised at the full inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has appropriately delegated responsibilities among her senior staff and management team. This provides an opportunity for staff to develop, while also giving the manager good oversight of the running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have regular supervision and an annual appraisal, which help them to feel valued and supported in their practice. The registered manager has ensured that all staff are up to date with their training so that they are adequately skilled to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has developed a new assessment for those children who access the short-breaks section. The assessment helps the manager to consider each child’s individual needs, vulnerabilities and likes and dislikes. This has contributed to the manager’s effective planning for the use of the short-breaks section.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/09/2021 Full Good 25/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1273658 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Birmingham Children’s Trust, Third Floor Zone 16, 1 Lancaster Circus, Birmingham B4 7DJ

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Inspector

Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1273658 5 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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