Children's Home run by DMR Services Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 1 DMR Services Ltd

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to four children aged between 11 and 17 who may have had adverse childhood experiences.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in day-to-day charge since September 2022. He has withdrawn his application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 25 and 26 July 2023, Ofsted carried out a full inspection of the children’s home. Serious and widespread concerns were identified in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the home. The home was judged inadequate for a second time. The steps in the compliance notice in relation to regulation 12 had not been met. The compliance notice in relation to regulation 12 was reissued. Two additional compliance notices in relation to regulation 10 and regulation 13 were also issued. The restriction of accommodation already in place was reissued for a second time.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 7 August 2023, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit of the home to review the compliance notices and to ensure that the restriction notice had been adhered to. No other requirements or recommendations were reviewed at this inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted found that little improvements had been made and found that managers had continued to fail to keep children safe. As a result of this inspection, the provider submitted an application to cancel their registration, which has been accepted by Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the safety and well-being of children and ensure that the restriction notice had been adhered to. No other requirements or recommendations were reviewed at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 2 During previous inspections, there were significant concerns in respect of safeguarding practice. Managers and staff were not keeping children safe. Managers have now taken action to improve systems when children present behaviours that may place them at harm. This has helped children to remain safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the recording of incidents and significant events. Reports are factual and clear and provide the reader with a clear understanding of events that have happened.

p.2

This monitoring visit

However, managers do not ensure that, following incidents, the actions set by the manager are completed. For example, the manager requested that direct work be completed with one child around internet safety and staying safe on social media forums. This work has not been completed with the child. Furthermore, the manager did not know that the direct work had yet to take place.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Risk management plans continue to be weak. Staff are not provided with sufficient guidance that helps them to keep children safe. Plans are vague and continue to lack sufficient information. For example, the manager informed inspectors that one child can spend time at a friend’s house. However, the child’s risk management plans contradict this information. Consequently, staff are not provided with up-to-date guidance to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Inadequate 05/05/2023 Full Inadequate 09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/06/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.4

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff help children understand the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and learn to manage their behaviour more appropriately.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed at this visit. 5 September 2023

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 5 that staff—

p.4

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that there are improvements to the safeguarding culture in the home and all aspects of the compliance notice are met.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 6 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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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;

p.6

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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that the staff team are trained, skilled and experienced to meet the needs of children and keep them safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that managers and leaders review monitoring systems in order to improve oversight of staff practice and records.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit.

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. Regulation 26 (7)(b)

p.6

Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring that the responsible individual reviews the effectiveness of her oversight of the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit. 5 September 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 7 (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i)

p.7

Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring that the responsible person reviews the current day-to-day management arrangements, and that the manager revisits training in relation to safeguarding children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement is unmet from the last visit and is restated.

p.7

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

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,

p.7

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.7

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 (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(d)

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that agency staff are safely recruited and staff have the experience and skills to meet the needs of the children living in the home and keep them safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit. 5 September 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 8 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.8

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

p.8

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.8

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.8

Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that leaders and managers review the threshold for ‘seriousness’ in relation to current guidance and ensure that notifications are submitted without delay.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 9 use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that improvements are made to the home environment, repairs are carried out promptly and children live in a safe environment.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.9

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

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;

p.9

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being; 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 10 that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

p.9

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(c))

p.10

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with medical intervention when this is required. In addition, that any medical appointments are attended without delay.

p.10

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.10

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.10

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not reviewed during this visit. 5 September 2023

p.10

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.

p.10

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: DMR Services Ltd, 102 Queslett Road, Streetley, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B74 2EZ

p.11

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Joanna Mountford

p.11

Inspectors

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Jessica Forshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1278421 12 regulates and inspects 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.

p.11

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12