Birch Cottage

Inspection report for children’s home: SC421197 1 SC421197 Registered provider: ABC Care and Education Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for up to four children who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is overseen by an experienced manager. The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC421197 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2022 Full Good 18/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC421197 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home. The manager ensured that this happened in a planned way. The children had the opportunity to meet staff before they moved in. This helped to ease any worries they may have had about moving into the home. Children leaving the home are supported by staff to celebrate their time living there. One child who has recently moved out of the home said, ‘Without staff at the home, I would not have made it to where I am today.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home are supported to secure education provision. When children are not in education, staff offer a range of informal learning opportunities until an education placement is identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home are registered with local health services. Children’s health needs are carefully considered by the manager and staff before they move to the home. When children need additional services to support their health and development, the manager identifies what is required and ensures that suitable support and services are implemented.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built good relationships with staff. Staff and managers spend time with children. They take time to talk to and listen to them despite any communication difficulties. One child moved into the home speaking only a few words and is now talking in sentences. Staff provide children with consistent routines and boundaries, which helps them feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms reflect their likes and interests. The children living in the home like different activities. Staff provide the children with the opportunity to do the things they enjoy individually.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to make progress towards their goals. Staff use incentives charts to promote progress. Individual sessions focus on what support children need to achieve their identified goals.

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

Children can name a trusted adult they can talk to about any worries or concerns. The manager has introduced new systems for ensuring that children living in the home have the opportunity to share concerns with staff and give feedback on the care they receive.

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

Children are supported to manage their behaviours and feelings safely. When children struggle, staff follow the de-escalation techniques in their individualised behaviour plans. When children need to be held, they are given a chance to reflect on this. All records of restraint are reviewed and scrutinised by the manager to Inspection report for children’s home: SC421197 4 identify any learning. One child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘They were having hours of physical aggression and emotional distress, resulting in them being held, but the frequency of these [incidents] has reduced.’

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

The management of allegations is effective. When children raise concerns, they are supported by staff, who record the details sensitively. The manager shares information with the appropriate agencies. Children’s social workers say that they receive regular updates about the children living in the home.

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

Children’s life experiences are understood by the manager and staff. Children have weekly contact with the provider’s therapist. The therapist offers advice and guidance to staff so they can support children in a therapeutic way.

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

The house is a safe and secure environment for the children. The home has bedroom alarms to manage and reduce risk in the home. Consent for the use of these alarms has been obtained from each child’s placing authority. The manager uses the home’s local area risk assessment to inform decisions about children moving into the home.

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

Staff are recruited safely. The manager ensures that she has access to all information gathered during the recruitment process. This means the manager is fully aware of staff qualifications and experiences and can identify relevant training and development needs they may have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed and suitably qualified to run the home. She works closely with the management team to ensure that the home runs efficiently. The manager knows all children well, which enables her to fully support the staff in caring for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The ages of the children living in the home has changed since the last inspection. In response, the manager has ensured that the systems for consulting with children have been revised in line with their age and understanding. The manager uses feedback from children to inform any changes in how the home operates and to influence staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is sufficiently staffed to meet the needs of the children living there. Staff complete all mandatory training as well as any training felt to be specific to meet the children’s individual needs. The manager considers the skill set of the staff team before decisions are made about children moving into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the manager. Supervision and team meetings takes place in line with the statement of purpose. Staff say that supervision is a chance to reflect on their practice. Appraisals for staff take place annually but these do not yet include feedback from children, colleagues and external professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC421197 5 The manager has systems in place to monitor and review the quality of care provided. However, the statement of purpose does not reflect the current therapeutic service offer by the provider. Managers regularly audit children’s plans so that they are taking account of their needs. The manager is responsive to the advice of the independent person and swiftly acts on any recommendations they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a real sense of teamwork among the staff, who spoke of working together to promote positive outcomes for the children they care for. Inspection report for children’s home: SC421197 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose is kept under review and outlines who provides the home’s therapeutic care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should implement a system where staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of children and other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: SC421197 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ABC Care and Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: International House, 61 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kennedy

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Inspector

Sarah Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC421197 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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