Children's Home run by Care and Management Services Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 1 SC470457 Registered provider: Care and Management Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to three children who have complex behaviours as a result of their childhood experiences.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2020.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Good 06/12/2022 Full Inadequate 14/09/2021 Full Good 15/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team. Children form strong relationships built on trust and affection from staff. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the individual needs of children. This positive regard and culture help children to make good progress in all areas of their lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that staff are skilled and equipped to meet all children’s needs. This enables the staff to prepare and support children well, so that their moves into the home are smooth and successful.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are positive about living here and say that the best thing is how the staff look after them. It is a home where care for everyone is promoted. Staff and children celebrate and cherish their individual and shared successes. These positive relationships and experiences have resulted in some children living here for some time and developing a sense of security and belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are valued by staff and managers. Children have opportunities to have their say, for example, through children’s meetings, link-work sessions and in their care planning. This allows the children to share and talk about their achievements, reflect on events and learn how to manage conflict. These opportunities provide valuable experiences for children to learn how to communicate and listen effectively.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have helped one child to prepare for their increasing independence. They carefully balance the risk this poses with opportunities for the child to improve their skills. Children are supported to develop independence at a pace that suits their needs and abilities. Children develop skills such as being able to manage money effectively, attend to their personal needs, carry out household duties and prepare simple meals. These opportunities enable children to take on appropriate levels of responsibility to develop life skills for the future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has an in-house therapist who provides therapeutic sessions to support children with their emotional well-being. The therapist also delivers training to the staff to equip them to provide children with therapeutic care. This means that staff are skilled in talking to children about their worries. This has a positive impact on children’s emotional health and well-being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has a good understanding of children’s health needs. He ensures that children who use medication have this reviewed regularly. Staff promote children’s good health by encouraging physical activities and providing freshly cooked meals and unlimited access to fresh fruit. However, one child has not received their immunisations within timescales. Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 4 Some areas of the home are well presented, clean and comfortable. However, other areas do not create a nurturing environment. Children’s bedrooms and bathrooms were dirty, and the garden was overgrown and full of stinging nettles. This does not help the children to invest in their home and feel valued. The manager took prompt action during the inspection to rectify this.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection, it was found that the kitchen door is sometimes locked between 9.30pm and 7am. The manager said this was to stop the children from making food during these hours. This restricts children’s access around the home and limits their freedom of choice.

p.4

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

Children’s risk assessments are detailed and clear. Staff are directed in how to manage and mitigate the risks identified for each child. Observations show that staff are highly skilled in diversion, distraction and de-escalation, which demonstrates that the strategies identified are being used and are effective.

p.4

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

Children have behaviour management plans. Staff use de-escalation techniques to support children. As a result, there have been no incidents of restraint. The staff work well with children so that children understand behaviour that may present a risk to them. This work has supported children to become increasingly safe.

p.4

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

Staff have the skills and knowledge to keep children safe. Children do not go missing from the home. Concerns about children who have previously gone missing from care have reduced, and there have been no incidents of going missing while they have lived at the home. There are clear risk assessments in place in the event of a child going missing from home, which give the staff clear direction on how to respond to and manage this risk.

p.4

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

Managers and staff place a high priority on keeping children safe. They work in partnership with placing authorities to protect children and promote their safety. The effectiveness of these relationships helps children to feel safe and secure. Staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities, and they have a good knowledge of whistle-blowing procedures.

p.4

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

Managers do not monitor, review and evaluate effectively the consequences given to children. Managers lack professional curiosity and fail to identify shortfalls in staff recording and practice. Consequences given are not restorative in nature or in line with the home’s ethos.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team. He is passionate and ambitious for the children. He has a good knowledge of children’s starting points and what they have accomplished since living at the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 5 The manager has created an open and inclusive culture that places children at the centre of practice. He values and promotes good teamwork. As a result, children build positive relationships with the staff, whose skilled and caring practice increases the bonds between them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of the staff hold the required level 3 diploma. Two staff members are currently working to achieve this, and plans are in place to ensure that they complete this within the required timescales. Staff are provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children’s individual and diverse needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the running of the home. Monitoring systems support the home’s development. This enables the manager to have a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and to be able to take effective action when needed.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established strong connections with partner agencies. External professionals are unanimously positive about the communication with the staff team and about the care provided for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and supervision sessions take place monthly and are used as a place for reflection and learning. Important issues are tracked and discussed, and the children are at the centre of all practice. Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that all areas of the home are clean and well maintained. 7 April 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that all children are up to date with their immunisations. 7 April 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 7 No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

p.7

Requirement Due date

any punishment involving the consumption or deprivation of food or drink;

p.7

Requirement Due date

any restriction, other than one imposed by a court or in accordance with regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child’s contact with parents, relatives or friends;

p.7

Requirement Due date

visits to the child by the child’s parents, relatives or friends;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child’s communications with any persons listed in regulation 22(1) (contact and access to communications); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child’s access to any internet-based or telephone helpline providing counselling for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the use or withholding of medication, or medical or dental treatment;

p.7

Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation;

p.7

Requirement Due date

withholding any aids or equipment needed by a disabled child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

any measure involving a child imposing any measure against another child; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

any measure involving punishing a group of children for the behaviour of an individual child. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)(j)) 7 April 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 8 The manager must ensure that they have oversight of any negative consequences and that these are restorative in nature.

p.7

Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

p.8

Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

p.8

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that children have access to all areas of the home at all times. 7 April 2024

p.8

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: SC470457 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care and Management Services Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Park Business Centre, Hastingwood Industrial Park, Wood Lane, Birmingham, Warwickshire B24 9QR

p.9

Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC470457 10 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.9

Inspector

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10