Children's Home run by N H Care Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 1 SC432966 Registered provider: N H Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children with physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager in post since March 2022. The manager in post has failed to register with Ofsted within the required time frame and has withdrawn his application. A new manager has been appointed and will need to apply to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 31 January 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Inadequate 13/10/2021 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home, all of whom have complex needs. Two of the children are non-verbal. Since the previous inspection, one child has moved on. This was a positive and planned move and the child is settling well in their new home.

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improvement to be good

Aspects of the home environment require improvement. The main lounge is not warm and welcoming for children to enjoy spending time in. Some furniture is worn and damaged and some equipment needs replacing. Leaders, managers and staff have not taken swift action to rectify these issues despite these being repeated actions on the home’s maintenance logs. In contrast, children’s bedrooms are personalised, well decorated and furnished, and they are kept clean by staff.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have failed to promptly consult health professionals to receive guidance on how they should be supporting one child with their personal care, including moving and handling. Children’s written plans do not provide staff with any guidance around this. As a result, this is left to staff’s discretion. Furthermore, none of the staff have completed any relevant training. Consequently, it is not clear whether staff and managers are supporting the child appropriately.

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improvement to be good

All three children are making progress from their starting points. For example, one child has received a very good end-of-year school report. Teachers say that she has settled well at school and is meeting all her academic targets. They say that staff at the home support the child’s learning. Another child’s mobility and confidence have improved and so have his interactions with his peers in school. A child’s social worker commented on how well their child has settled in at the home and formed positive relationships with staff.

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improvement to be good

Children are given opportunities to express their wishes and feelings through key- work sessions, children’s meetings and one-to-one quality time with staff. The children are experiencing new activities and are making positive memories. They have been on holidays, trampolining, swimming and on trips to the zoo and museums.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to spend quality time with close family and friends, which is important to children. One parent told the inspector that staff are supportive, communicate with her well and offer reassurance, which helps the family time to be special. Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 4

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improvement to be good

Despite staff and managers undergoing training and new procedures being put in place, medication management and administration continue to be areas that require improvement. Since the last inspection, there has been one occasion when staff administered the wrong medication to a child. Staff promptly sought medical advice and there was no detrimental impact on the child’s health on this occasion. There have also been incidents when children’s medication has been given to them late and records have not always been accurate.

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improvement to be good

At the last inspection, shortfalls were identified in the local area risk assessment as managers had not consulted with partner agencies. Although managers sought information in March, they have not followed this up when they have not had a response. Consequently, the quality and effectiveness of the safe area risk assessment continue to be limited.

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improvement to be good

Staff have carried out a lot of one-to-one work with the children to educate them on important issues, such as road safety, internet safety, how to make a complaint, wishes and feelings and regulating emotions. One child told the inspector that she is proud of herself as she is now able to express herself better and manage how she is feeling in a more positive way.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of self-harm are managed well by staff. Children are offered a lot of reassurance and are supported in keeping safe.

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improvement to be good

Improved safer recruitment practices have been implemented, which helps to ensure that suitable adults are employed to care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has not had a registered manager since March 2022. A manager was appointed in June 2022; however, their employment ended in September 2022.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

In December 2022, a new manager was appointed but there has been a lot of drift and delay in them resubmitting their application with all required supporting documents. The manager withdrew his application and then changed his mind. However, he then withdrew his application for a second time. A new manager has been appointed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Uncertainties in relation to management arrangements and shortfalls in monitoring have limited the development of the home and the quality of care provided to children. For example, managers, including senior managers, have not acted quickly to address issues with the home environment and source training for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Some staff’s mandatory training, such as first aid, physical restraint and food hygiene, is not up to date. None of the staff have received specialist training to support them in understanding the health needs of one child who has recently Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 5 moved into the home. Two members of staff have not completed the relevant qualification in residential childcare within the required time frame. However, staff say that they feel supported and that they receive regular supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers do not ensure that they have all the relevant statutory documentation for children. When these documents are not received, managers do not escalate concerns with children’s placing authorities about this. Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 6

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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 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

protect and promote each child’s welfare,

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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)(ii)(iv)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home environment is well maintained and that staff receive guidance and training to meet children’s personal care needs. 10 November

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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

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 30 November

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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: SC432966 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Steward Street Business Lofts, 69 Steward Street, Birmingham B18 7AF

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Inspector

Rumbi Mangoma, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC432966 9 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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