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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258887 1

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Friends & Co Limited

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this inspection was to ensure that the imposed suspension notice was being adhered to. Additionally, it was to review the action taken by the responsible individual to meet the two requirements raised at the last monitoring visit on 2 March 2023.

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This monitoring visit

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

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, a manager and staff team have not been recruited. The responsible individual is the only member of staff. Recruitment remains ongoing. The responsible individual is working with external recruitment agencies to assist him in finding suitable candidates. As there are no staff, staff training and experiences cannot be reviewed. This means that regulation 13 cannot be met and is restated.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has taken action to meet one of the two requirements previously raised.

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This monitoring visit

The environment of the home has improved. The responsible individual has made the home more welcoming by adding soft furnishings, pictures and ornamental Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258887 2 touches that enhance the features of the home. Repairs and redecoration have removed any hazards and created a homely and safe environment.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has plans to develop the garden. The home development plan has clear guidelines for this work to begin. During the visit, inspectors noticed a concrete sloping structure built onto the back of the house. The responsible individual has added this hazard to the home development plan so that it can be removed when the work on the garden begins. This will reduce the risk of injury to children when playing in the garden.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, a drain cover was found to be missing. The responsible individual explained that this was due to investigations taking place to remove a sewer blockage. Once this is rectified, the drain cover will be replaced.

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This monitoring visit

The suspension notice remains in place. This will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

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 3

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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 with 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that there are sufficient staff to meet the needs of 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 July 2023

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258887 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Friends & Co Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Mrs Stacie Sharpe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258887 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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