Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 1 SC425859

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Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is operated by a private provider, is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably experienced manager has been appointed since the last inspection. They have submitted their application to Ofsted to register.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 26 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: SC425859 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

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home and on to adult provision. The manager and staff worked closely with the local authority to facilitate a planned move for the young person when they turned 18. Staff offer outreach support to the young person daily, as agreed with the local authority. The manager has ensured that any worries they have about the young person are reported to partner agencies to ensure that they are responded to and that appropriate support is in place.

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The care of children

Two children living at the home have moved in since the last inspection. Staff ensure that children benefit from well-planned transitions. The manager met with a parent, a carer, teachers and the children before they moved into the home. On one occasion, a parent visited the home before their child moved in and went with staff to purchase clothes and essentials for the child. This partnership working helps children settle in well.

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The care of children

Children’s interests are promoted well by staff. Staff have been keen to learn about children’s interests. For example, they have subsequently taken a child to museums and art galleries.

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The care of children

Children have excellent attendance at school. One child was not attending school before they moved into the home and is now attending every day. A child has recently chosen their GSCE options and is making progress in their subjects at school. Staff are committed to ensuring that children attend school, and they take and collect a child even though their school is far away.

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The care of children

Staff and the manager build positive relationships with parents, carers and other family members and take children to meet and spend time with people who are important to them.

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The care of children

Staff understand that children, at times, may feel low. This is regularly monitored by staff, and support is offered to children to help them understand how they feel and what things they can try to do to regulate their feelings. Staff link with external agencies when children need additional support.

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The safety of children

Staff write detailed children’s risk assessments that they keep up to date. The assessments give clear information about children’s risks and behaviours and help staff to understand what they need to do to help keep children safe. Staff use the Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 3 information in the assessment to plan direct work with children to support their learning and understanding of any worries that staff have about their behaviours.

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The safety of children

There have been no physical interventions used since the last inspection. However, the manager has reflected on the regulatory shortfall identified at the previous inspection about physical intervention records. As a result, he has devised additional checklists to ensure that, should a physical intervention be used, the record of this will be compliant with regulation. This new system has yet to be tested out.

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The safety of children

There have been no complaints. Children know how to make a complaint. This information is given to children when they move into the home and is displayed in the home for them to access.

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The safety of children

Children do not go missing from home. Any potential risks around missing and exploitation are considered as part of the admissions process. There are clear and agreed missing-from-care protocols in place to guide staff in the event that this is necessary.

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The safety of children

Staff manage incidents well. Any concerns are appropriately shared with partner agencies, and agreed support for children is put in place. Follow-up work is completed with children to ensure that they feel listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A permanent, suitably experienced manager is managing the home. They have worked in the home for several years and know the team well. They have undertaken learning since the last inspection and are keen to continue to make improvements to the care and support provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has responded to most of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. In this regard, six requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. Three requirements are restated, and one new recommendation has been made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have regular supervision, and staff have received an annual appraisal. This helps staff feel supported and helps them to develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have relevant training. The manager has an individual training plan for each staff member to support their future learning. This helps staff to keep on top of their learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Experienced and qualified staff work in the home. Children are cared for by a consistent team of staff, many of whom have worked in the home for several years. They have a good understanding of the needs of the children they care for. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 4 The manager has implemented some further systems to help them monitor and review the care and support offered to children. However, these are in their early stages, and the impact of this is not yet realised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Some improvements have been made to records kept at the home. However, gaps in children’s records remain, with information missing or not fully recorded. This means that if children want to review their records now or when they are older, they may not have accurate information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A new independent visitor has been appointed, and the reports to Ofsted are submitted in a timely way. However, the report still does not give enough analysis or critical evaluation to help the manager improve the care and support offered to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has completed a quality of care report and has submitted it to Ofsted since the last inspection. However, the report does not include any consultation and feedback from children and others, and it is not clear how this has been considered as part of the manager’s review. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/12/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 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 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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 May 2023

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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. 31 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 7 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. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that the independent visitor report provides critical analysis and evaluative information to help the provider improve the quality of care and support to children.

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Requirement Due date

This was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the review of the quality of care includes the views of children and others and their feedback contributes to the development of the service. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ventura House, Ventura Park Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3HL

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Inspector

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC425859 9 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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Inspector

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