Children's Home run by Berry Gifford Limited in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 1 Registered provider: Berry Gifford Limited

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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 one child who has experienced childhood instability, which has led to trauma and associated complex behaviours. At the time of this assurance inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since December 2022. A new manager started in October 2023. They have not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 27 November 2023

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2023

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Inspection date: 27 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following a full inspection on 12 and 13 September 2023, Ofsted imposed an urgent variation to reduce the number of children who can be cared for at the home, from three children to one child. This was because of insufficient staffing and the management arrangements at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance inspection was carried Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 2 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: 2541440 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has appointed a qualified and experienced manager who took up the post in October 2023. A new deputy manager has been appointed and is undergoing recruitment checks before starting work at the home. A temporary deputy manager from another home in the organisation is supporting this home in the meantime. Four new staff have started working in the home. However, since the last inspection, two staff have left and one has transferred to another home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has had a positive experience of moving on from the home. He visited his new home, which provided him with an opportunity to meet the adults who would be caring for him. The child enjoyed a leaving party at which he celebrated his time in the home with staff and the friends he had made.

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Findings from the inspection

A new child moved into the home. Records do not show how the responsible individual determined that the home could meet the child’s needs. It is not clear if he considered the child’s needs alongside staff’s skills and experience. In spite of this shortfall, the child has settled in well.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a reduction in the child’s missing-from-home incidents. On the one occasion when the child was missing from home, staff worked well with external professionals to locate the child. The provider has requested that an independent person speaks with the child. However, this has not yet taken place. The child has had the opportunity to speak with staff and to reflect and talk about what happened.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff support children to spend quality time with people who are important to them. For example, a parent visited their child at the home and spent time putting up festive decorations and completing some artwork to be displayed on the wall.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have consulted with the child about their education plans. In line with the child’s wishes, staff support the child to remain at the same school despite it being further to travel. There have been some challenges with communication between teachers and the home’s staff. The manager has requested a meeting with the school to support the child to return to school following an absence. During the absence, the child has been completing online education.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the child’s early childhood experiences and assessed needs. However, clear information about the child and how to care for them is not included in written plans. This has the potential for care to be delivered inconsistently, particularly with new staff joining the team. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 4 Staff respond well when there are concerns about the child’s health. They seek emergency medical attention and follow advice received.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is developing a good understanding of the home’s strengths and the areas to be developed. Action is taken when shortfalls are identified. However, these actions are not always recorded, which will limit the effectiveness of oversight from the responsible individual and external auditors.

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Findings from the inspection

Records of staff working in the home are inconsistent. It is not always clear which staff are caring for children. On one occasion, the responsible individual authorised that two agency staff could be left in charge of the home for a 24-hour period. On that day the responsible individual had visited the home but was not named in the home’s daily records. On another occasion, the rota showed two staff working in the home. However, all the records for the day only show one staff member working.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/06/2023 Full Inadequate 14/06/2022 Full Good 29/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 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

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that the staff rosters are kept up to date and are an accurate reflection of who is working at the home and when. 7 January 2024

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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;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that information recorded in the child’s plan should provide sufficient information to help and guide staff to meet the child’s needs. 7 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Berry Gifford Ltd, Unit 2, Mercury Park, Amber Close, Tamworth B77 4RP

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Inspector

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2541440 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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