Children's Home run by Berry Gifford Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 1 Registered provider: Berry Gifford Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have experienced childhood instability which has led to trauma and associated complex behaviours. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in December 2022. The current manager started working in the home in March 2023. They hold a BTEC level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. While they intend to apply to register, at the time of the inspection, Ofsted had not received an application.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2022 Full Good 29/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 3

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inadequate

Serious and widespread failures were identified in how well children are helped and protected. These experiences have had a negative impact on children and their progress and experiences.

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inadequate

Since the last inspection, five children have moved into the home. Arrangements for supporting children’s moves are varied. On one occasion, managers failed to ensure they had sufficient information about a child before they moved in to ensure they could meet their needs. The provider gave immediate notice on the placement three weeks after the child moved in, following a serious incident in which another child was harmed. Poor planning resulted in children being harmed and experiencing further instability and trauma in their lives.

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inadequate

Children do not have positive experiences of moving from the home. Four children who have left refused to return to the home when they had been reported missing. This meant children’s social workers and family members had to make alternative care arrangements at short notice to ensure children’s safety and welfare needs could be met. Leaders and managers fail to learn from children’s poor experiences.

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inadequate

Welfare of children is not always at the centre of staff practice. On one occasion, a staff member did not follow a child’s plans to supervise their time with a person who is important to them. This information was not shared promptly with the child’s social worker. On a separate occasion, an agency staff member unfamiliar with the local area struggled to find their way home with a child after they went out on an activity. This does not help children to feel safe.

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inadequate

Managers and staff do not have access to children’s health assessments and their identified health needs are unknown. Both children currently living at the home are registered with local universal health services. Systems to remind staff of appointments are not used effectively and important health appointments have been missed. This has caused delays in a child’s health being assessed and, as a result, the child did not receive timely treatment.

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inadequate

Medication records show that medication is not administered in line with the prescriber’s directions. There is no record kept of when medication is refused by children or when prescribers have amended instructions about administering medication. Staff do not help children to understand the importance of taking their medication regularly. This is having a negative impact on one child’s health, as they are not getting the support they require to manage a health concern.

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inadequate

Children who hold views that could be perceived by others as discriminatory are not helped by staff to develop an understanding of equality and diversity. This is a missed opportunity to help children make sense of the world around them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 4 Both children spoke with inspectors and said they have positive relationships with staff who care for them regularly. Some staff spend time with the children, playing games they enjoy. However, one child has found changes in the staff team difficult, as on some occasions there has not been the opportunity to say goodbye. This practice does not help children to build trusting relationships that will help them to feel safe and secure.

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inadequate

Children have mixed educational experiences. Some children who no longer live in the home did not attend formal education, or their education was disrupted due to being missing from the home and experiencing unplanned moves. Both children currently living in the home attend school and are making progress from their starting points. One child proudly said he had recently received a student of the week award.

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inadequate

Staff support children with their cultural needs. For example, children attend their chosen place of worship and have access to religious items that support them to follow their faith.

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inadequate

One child who does not speak English as their first language has weekly access to an interpreter who helps to gather his views and wishes. The child now has a better understanding of the English language.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers and staff do not understand their role in providing care that safeguards children. Serious incidents have occurred when children have come to harm or been at risk of harm. Poor decisions by managers and a failure to identify shortfalls and address them effectively mean learning from practice does not improve and a positive safeguarding culture is not developed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not supervise children well. As a result, there was a serious incident between two children and one child was moved from the home at short notice. Following the incident, the manager did not promptly share information with relevant individuals and has failed to challenge external agencies when they have not acted in the best interests of the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not use information shared by social workers to reduce risk. For example, on one occasion, staff did not safely store the car keys and a child was able to move the car from where it was parked without staff knowledge. This complacent practice has the potential to endanger the life of the child and others.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff’s responses to children who are missing is not consistent. On some occasions, there are delays in searching for children who do not return home at the agreed time. Managers do not ensure that there are plans in place to support staff to respond to children when they are not where they are expected to be. Children do not always speak with an independent person on their return. This is a missed opportunity to reduce incidents of children going missing and to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 5 Staff are not always clear on how to provide children with the support to minimise potential risk. Behaviour support plans identify children’s risks and early warning signs. However, the written strategies for responding to risk are poor and lack information.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Support for children who are vulnerable to criminal exploitation is poor. Managers and staff do not work effectively with professionals and parents to understand and disrupt the networks children are associated with. As a result, children continued to have negative experiences, periods of being missing from home and increased vulnerability to exploitation.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers do not ensure sufficient checks are completed when new staff are employed to work in the home. They are therefore unable to assure themselves that new staff are suitable to work with children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

On most occasions, managers follow safeguarding processes when concerns about staff are raised. These concerns are taken seriously and reported to the relevant professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager resigned in December 2022. Two interim managers supported the home when it was without a manager. The current manager started in March 2023. Changes in the management team have been disruptive for children and their support network. Social workers raised concerns with inspectors about poor communication within the team and delays in sharing information with relevant individuals. This has contributed to relationships between managers, staff and relevant individuals in children’s lives becoming strained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality and effectiveness of management oversight are poor. Managers have not identified or escalated concerns when children’s care plans are not received from external services. There are delays in improving practices and lessons learned exercises are not comprehensive. Identified learning is not embedded in practice and on one occasion there was a repeat of practice that placed children at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Training records are not well maintained. Staff do not always complete training specific to the needs of children who live in the home and refresh their training in line with expected timescales. Some staff are not trained in physical intervention and there is no confirmed date for this training to be undertaken. Managers have not considered this when planning staff rotas. This means that there are occasions when children are being cared for by staff who are not trained to use physical intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children do not always receive consistent care from staff they know well. Since the last inspection, seven staff have left and six staff have joined the team. Shortfalls in staffing are covered by staff working additional hours. However, they feel this is not Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 6 sustainable. There is regular use of agency workers, which does not help children to invest in meaningful relationships that will enable them to reach their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The care described in the home’s statement of purpose is not being implemented. Children are not receiving care that is based on the therapeutic reparenting approach and staff were not able to demonstrate how to apply it to their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A heavily stained carpet is still in place on the stairs and in the first floor hallway. This was identified at the previous inspection and managers have failed to have it replaced. Some areas of the home require decorating and sofas are worn or damaged and need replacing. The entrance hall is dark and unwelcoming. While the home is tidy, there is a lack of attention to cleaning. This does not create a comfortable and homely environment for children to live in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are now receiving regular supervision and their performance is appraised during probation reviews and annual appraisals. These provide opportunities for staff to discuss children and matters important to them. Despite changes in the management team, staff told inspectors that they feel well supported. Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 7

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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, The 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe.

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm.

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other.

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)) 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 8 This relates to the registered provider ensuring that staff understand how to protect children, that they understand potential risk and how to minimise it and that they fully consider risks before children move into the home.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to ensuring that the manager and staff follow safeguarding procedures and that they ensure children do not harm one another.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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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’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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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)(a)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered provider ensuring that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place to review and improve the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to ensuring that they provide care in line with the home’s statement of purpose and that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of children. 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 9 The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that staff have access to children’s care plans and that the home is maintained and furnished to a good standard. 16 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)) 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 10 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.

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must support children to access health services without delay and keep clear records of medication administered or refused. 16 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 11 that arrangements are in place to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home.

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority.

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Requirement Due date

That each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must gather sufficient information to inform decisions to move children into the home and that all children have positive experiences of moving into and from the home.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers ensuring that staff understand children’s contact arrangements and follow plans agreed with children’s social workers.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 12 the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Berry Gifford Ltd, Unit 2, Mercury Park, Amber Close, Tamworth B77 4RP

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Inspectors

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 14 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

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