Children's Home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1253711 1 Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care for up to three children who have had adverse childhood experiences. Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2020 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 17 October 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: 1253711 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

Children make good progress, with improvements in education attendance and engagement. Since the last inspection, both children have been attending full-time education.

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The care of children

Children form positive relationships with staff, who they see as family. Children enjoy participating in activities. Staff support children’s hobbies and provide additional opportunities for children to enhance their skills and build their self-esteem. For example, one child asked for additional support to further develop his footballing talent. As a result, he attends extra football coaching sessions.

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The care of children

Children’s views are considered and responded to. Staff consult children on aspects of their care and support them to take control of decisions that affect their lives. Children confirmed that staff listen to them. This ensures that children feel that their views are valued and provides them with a degree of personal choice. The registered manager ensures that children receive feedback about requests they have made.

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The care of children

Improvements have been made to the environment, especially in relation to the children’s bedrooms, which are now clean and personalised. However, some areas of the home need further improvement to provide children with a more homely and well-maintained environment to live in. For example, parts of the home require redecoration, the oven is not suitable for use and kitchen cupboards are worn in places, as are the dining chairs. The sofa in the dining room is stained and dirty and is covered in mildew. Some flooring also needs replacing. An unpleasant smell permeates throughout the house when a first-floor toilet is flushed.

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The safety of children

Individual risk management plans are in place and regularly updated. They include relevant information relating to incidents, and measures are in place to manage these. Plans are detailed and clear. This means that staff are aware of de-escalation and intervention strategies, which they use to support children effectively during times of crisis.

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The safety of children

Incidents are well managed. Physical interventions are rare, only used as a last resort and in accordance with the children’s individual plans. Staff use de-escalation techniques and the least restrictive measures of restraint to manage incidents. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1253711 3 The manager has good oversight of restraint records and provides staff and children with a reflective debrief after any use of the intervention. This ensures that, when used, physical intervention is proportionate and necessary.

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The safety of children

The manager responds quickly when there are concerns about staff practice. She ensures that the local authority designated officer is informed and that concerns are investigated. This helps children to be confident to raise any concerns, as they know staff will take them seriously.

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The safety of children

There is a well-coordinated response when children occasionally go missing from home. Staff follow the children’s individual protocols by contacting the children and liaising with social workers and police. Interviews with children take place when they return home so they can share any concerns they may have.

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The safety of children

Staff are vigilant regarding the risks children face online. Effective safety measures are in place to manage risks, as staff undertake regular checks of the children’s electronic devices and mobile phones. Staff immediately respond to identified issues of concern. This supports the children to have positive experiences and opportunities to learn while keeping them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager. She is committed and enthusiastic. She has developed a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have worked hard to improve the quality of care. The manager has implemented new audit systems and has made good use of external monitoring to support the continued development of the quality of care. Checklists have been introduced to ensure that all features of follow-up work and actions are completed in a timely manner. As a result, all requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Practice in the home is reflective and staff are positive about the support they receive from the manager. Staff now receive good-quality supervisions which support them to feel valued and to develop and improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager ensures that staff understand their roles and responsibilities. She provides staff with relevant training to help them to develop in their roles and meet children’s individual needs. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1253711 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/01/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1253711 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the standards of decoration and condition of furniture in the home are high. They should address shortfalls in standards highlighted in this report, providing a children’s home that is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children and is a homely, domestic environment. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations; however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic impression. This is in relation to the kitchen, dining room chairs, sofa, redecoration, flooring and the hall, stairs, landing carpet, bathroom and drains. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1253711 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Beacon Childcare Ltd, 28 Phoenix Business Park, Avenue Close, Birmingham B7 4NU

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Inspector

Glenis Staiger-Grant, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1253711 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 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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