Children's home run by Bright Life Birmingham Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2730797 1 Registered provider: Bright Life Birmingham Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a permanent registered manager, who is suitably experienced. This home was registered on 29 June 2023. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2730797 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living at the home. Staff provide good-quality care and the child has a good experience living at the home. Their move into the home was well planned. This included an introductory visit and asking them about how they wanted to be welcomed into the home. Consequently, a welcome party was held and they were given a welcome hamper.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A high level of consultation is a key focus of the care provided. The manager has placed a high priority on finding out what communication approach the child wants and needs from staff. Staff understand the importance of truly listening to the child. This has led to the child building trusted relationships with staff. The child said that the best thing about the home is the staff, that they are ‘funny and easy to get along with’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have embedded very clear routines at the home. This includes time for education, despite the child not initially having a school to attend. Staff have sourced educational resources and engaged the child in learning effectively. They have successfully worked with the child to explore and reframe their thoughts about school. The manager has advocated strongly for the child to secure a school place. This included respectfully challenging a funding decision to ensure the child’s rights were met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide care in a planned way. Staff actions promote development of the child’s independence and help the child make progress. For example, they now have more confidence in using buses and going to shops and activities. Initially, they were very reluctant and reliant on staff. Now they will do this with more confidence and increased independence. They are enjoying lots of different activities, including going to the library, cinema and bowling. Staff recognise and celebrate the child’s musical ability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported the child to attend health appointments. Staff promote a healthy lifestyle. For example, staff are working with the child to develop their cooking skills and devise a cookbook. However, staff do not ensure that the child can always access their inhaler. For example, this is not taken out of the home. There has been no harm to the child, but this has the potential to place their health at risk.

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

Children’s plans are detailed and clearly identify risks, providing history and context. Plans very clearly set out the action staff must take to reduce and manage the risks. The manager has explained to the child why some measures are in place. This aids their learning about keeping themselves and others safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2730797 3 Staff reduce the child’s anxieties through effective communication and adapting their approach. Staff are competent in this and are very attentive to the child. As a result, there have been no significant behavioural incidents involving the child.

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

Staff know how to keep the child safe. For example, measures are in place to ensure that the child remains safe online and when using a mobile phone. This includes restrictions, monitoring and educating the child about using the internet safely.

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

Staff and managers are aware of how to respond in the event of an allegation being made, and the child does not go missing from the home. However, this risk is assessed, and action staff must take to prevent and respond to this is set out in the child’s plans.

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

The house is a welcoming and homely environment. However, the grass is overgrown and there are weeds in the garden. A visit by the gardener is planned. The home is well maintained and there are no hazards. Health and safety checks are routinely carried out at the home.

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

There has not been sufficient review of the surveillance measures in place. The CCTV of the back garden and the bedroom door alarm are activated 24 hours a day and are more intrusive than is necessary. This unintentionally impinges on the child’s privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to ensuring that the child has the right care and support to make good progress. She is highly aspirational for the child’s outcomes. She is reflective about being a new manager and she seeks support where necessary. She is undertaking a level 5 qualification in leadership and management for residential childcare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team has remained stable and unchanged since the home was registered. As a result, staff provide consistent care and there is stability for the child. The staff team has a wealth of experience and skills. Half the staff team are qualified and the remainder are now taking their qualification. Staff feel well supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are all in their probation period. This is being conducted in a very structured way. There are clear expectations for progress staff must make by each stage of their probation. This is closely monitored by the manager and senior staff through regular supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a plan for the training that staff must complete. This plan is being added to continuously, widening the breadth of training topics. This ensures that staff are trained in line with, and are equipped to meet, the child’s specific needs. However, the home’s statement of purpose does not clearly reflect the staff training requirement for models of care at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2730797 4 The manager has developed effective systems for monitoring the quality of care. She can identify where monitoring has led to improvements at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2730797 5

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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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to inhalers prescribed to be administered as and when required always being safely accessible for the child. 31 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to all surveillance being reviewed to continually assess that the measures remain necessary and are no more intrusive than necessary. 31 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2730797 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. This includes being clear about models of care that staff are trained in and that are used at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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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: 2730797 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Life Birmingham Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Big Peg, 120 Vyse Street, 503 B, Birmingham B18 6NF

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Inspectors

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2730797 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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