Children's Home run by Next Step Residential Care Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2684458 1 Registered provider: Next Step Residential Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and was registered with Ofsted in April 2023. It provides care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since February 2022.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress made in meeting the requirements issued following the full inspection undertaken on 25 and 26 July 2023 when the home was judged inadequate, and an assurance visit undertaken on 16 August 2023. An urgent condition was imposed on the home’s registration which reduced the number of children the home could care for from four to two. The home remains subject to this condition.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the inspector found that the manager had taken steps to address four of the requirements and a recommendation raised at previous visits. However, improvement work is ongoing and some requirements remain unmet. Managers have complied with the restriction of accommodation notice and no new children have moved into the home.

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This monitoring visit

Two children were living in the home at the time of the monitoring visit. The registered manager in charge of the home at the time of the last inspection remains in post. A new responsible individual commenced their role at the end of August 2023. This is a positive step, given that regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, has been raised twice before. However, it is too soon to assess the effectiveness of this development. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2684458 2 New monitoring systems are being developed, although these have not yet been implemented. This continues to limit the effectiveness of managerial oversight of the quality of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Although staff have informed the emergency duty team in a child’s placing authority when the child has gone missing from home, they have not always informed the social worker in line with the child’s plan. In addition, a child’s medical condition and how to manage this is not included in their risk assessment to provide staff with clear guidance to follow. A written plan contained inaccurate information about arrangements for a child’s visit to their family. These issues have not been identified by managers and addressed as needed.

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This monitoring visit

The support children receive with their education is mixed. One child who has an identified school placement is being encouraged and supported by managers and staff to engage with education. Another child who does not yet have an identified education provision is not being supported to have a routine or structure in place that encourages them to engage in any educational activity while this is rectified. In addition, managers have not acted promptly to challenge professionals in the child’s placing authority about this child’s lack of access to education.

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This monitoring visit

Children receive some good support on important issues. For example, children know how to make a complaint and they are being taught about money management to help them develop independence skills. Children present as happy and settled and told the inspector they like living at the home. They have enjoyed different activities over the summer, including a trip to a theme park.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed and updated the medication policy to make guidance clear for staff around the administration of medicines. This has been shared with staff and, to date, there have been no further medication errors.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s mobile phone policy now sets out the permissions needed for information to be deleted or transferred from children’s phones. As a result, staff have been provided with clear practice guidance that will help to better safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff rosters now accurately reflect the staff working in the home. Changes have also been made to the times staff start and end their day. This has been done to help a child to settle better at night.

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This monitoring visit

Four new bank staff have been recruited, which helps with staff sufficiency. Recruitment is ongoing to the deputy manager and team leader positions. Physical intervention training is scheduled to take place for staff in the coming weeks. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2684458 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2684458 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, if a child has no identified education provision, the registered person must challenge relevant agencies to ensure that the child’s educational needs are met. 15 October 2023

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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 requires the registered person to ensure—

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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

In particular, the registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments and relevant plans include all relevant information and are accurate. In addition, they 15 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2684458 5 should ensure that staff follow the guidance set out in children’s plans to better promote their safety and welfare.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is repeated.

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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

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

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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)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that systems are in place to monitor, review and update practice as required to improve the quality of care needed to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is repeated. 15 October 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: 2684458 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Step Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Wetherly Court, High Gate, London N6 4DP

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Inspector

Sharon Bourne, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2684458 7 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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