Children's home run by YCPG Services Ltd in Walsall

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 1 SC392492

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care for four children aged between 11 and 17 years.

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Information about this children's home

The manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 17 August 2023, Ofsted conducted an assurance inspection of the children’s home. Serious and widespread concerns were identified in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the home. Following this inspection, Ofsted issued compliance notices under regulations 6, 12, 13 and 26.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 20 September 2023, Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit to review the safety and well-being of children and to review the provider’s progress in relation to the compliance notices issued under regulations 6, 12 and 26. As a result of the inspection, Ofsted deemed the compliance notices under regulation 6, 12 and 26 were met.

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 2 Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 3

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Findings from the inspection

Overall children are safe and are well cared for by staff. Children say that they have good relationships with staff and said they like living in the home. Children talk openly with staff and feel supported. They told the inspectors that they feel ‘safe’ in their home and are ‘happy.’

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Findings from the inspection

There have been improvements made in the home environment. There has been some redecoration to the home and new soft furnishings have been purchased. Managers and staff have improved the cleanliness of the home and make regular checks of children’s bedrooms. As a result, the home is clean, tidy, and well decorated throughout.

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Findings from the inspection

All children are now accessing education and their attendance is improving. When children find it difficult to attend school, staff work with children and professionals to understand the barriers to education and look at how to support children to improve their attendance. As a result, one child is now regularly attending education, after a prolonged period of being out of school. The child’s social worker said, ‘this is a real achievement.’

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Findings from the inspection

Staff regularly seek children’s views about their feelings and day-to-day experiences. However, staff and managers do not always provide feedback to children. As a result, children are not always able to see that their views are being listened to and acted upon.

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Findings from the inspection

There continues to be shortfalls in the staff supporting children to have positive experiences with staff. For example, while two of the children’s activity plans did have some activities planned, one child’s plan did not have any planned activities. This lack of consistent approach does not support children to feel cared for or help to build relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from the support of staff whom they trust to help them to stay safe. Risk plans have been improved. This ensures that staff know what is expected of them when managing behaviour and risk. Records of incidents are detailed and include management oversight.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been one occasion where managers and staff did not take effective action to safeguard a child. There was a delay in staff seeking medical advice when they suspected that a child had taken an overdose of medication. As the child was at school, the child was spoken to by the school nurse. However, staff did not seek their own medical advice until the following day. While, the delay does not appear to have caused the child harm, it did have the potential to do so. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 4 There have been improvements in the effectiveness of the leadership and management of the home. There is now a permanent suitably qualified manager in post. She is supported by two experienced deputy managers.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have implemented new monitoring systems, which have improved their oversight and enabled them to quickly identify and address any shortfalls in practice. The manager has also completed a review of the quality-of-care children receive. However, they have not fully considered the views of children, staff, parents and placing authorities when completing the review. These are missed opportunities to strengthen their evaluation of the care in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

There is now a sufficient staff team in place and training has improved. Managers have ensured that staff have completed all their mandatory training. In addition, managers have ensured that staff have completed child specific training and managers have provided additional workshops in team meetings, on topics such as missing from care. This ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills to meet children’s needs and keep them safe. However, two staff have not completed their qualification in line with the timescales stipulated in regulation 32. While this is a shortfall, there is no impact on children.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff now receive regular supervision. However, they are yet to receive an annual appraisal of their performance. The manager is aware of this and has plans to complete this, now that she has a better understanding of the staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

As a result of this inspection, Ofsted has deemed the compliance notice under regulation 13 to be met. In addition, leaders and managers have worked hard to address the requirements and recommendations raised at the previous inspection. Five of the seven requirements raised have been met.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2023 Full Good 08/07/2021 Full Good 21/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards.’ The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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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 (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2) (iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff seeking immediate medical guidance when they are concerned that a child may be at risk from self-harm, including medication overdose. 20 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year (Regulation 33(4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 20 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality-of-care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 20 December Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 6 The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of the paragraph above, an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b)) 20 December Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should support children to take part in school holidays and leisure activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards,’ page 31, paragraph 6.5) Restated.  The registered person should ensure that when consulting children on their views about the home’s care, children receive feedback. This ensures children can see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards,’ page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: D M R Services, 102 Queslett Road, Streetley, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. B74 2EZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Joanna Mountford

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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC392492 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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