Children's Home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2516553 1 Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates the home. This home provides care for up to four children with a variety of complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has started work at the home since the last inspection. They hold a level 5 qualification in leadership and management. They are not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 7 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 February 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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. The inspector has 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: 2516553 2

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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

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home and two children have moved in. Transitions are well planned and managed, which gives children the support they need to have a positive experience of moving into or out of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children said they have positive relationships with staff and with other children living in the home. They said they are happy and know who to talk to if they are worried. This helps children to feel a sense of belonging.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and care is planned to take into account children’s personalities and interests. Children enjoy a range of activities individually and as a group. For example, children recently enjoyed a day trip to Blackpool.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are consulted about their care through regular meetings and they are able to choose meals and activities. This consultation helps children to feel listened to and valued.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager works with other professionals to try to engage children in education, however, this has not always resulted in improved attendance. While one child’s attendance has improved significantly, the other two children do not attend their education provision regularly.

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Findings from the inspection

When children are not attending school, staff do not provide structure and boundaries or arrange meaningful activities for them during the school day. Children remain in their bedrooms throughout the day without sufficient challenge or engagement from staff. This does not provide children with the boundaries they need or promote the importance of education.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff work well with other professionals to manage risks related to gangs and exploitation. Advice is sought from those with specialist knowledge, and open communication helps to provide a multi-agency approach to understanding and managing potential risks. Effective partnership working with the police helps staff to make informed decisions about risks in the local community.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments and checks are in place to help staff manage risks; however, these do not always lead to staff identifying concerns. For example, staff carry out weekly checks on children’s games consoles but were unaware that one child had downloaded inappropriate games. This lack of vigilance may lead to children being placed at risk of harm online. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2516553 3 Staff take some action when children go missing from the home, however, this does not go far enough. For example, although staff make calls to friends and family members when children do not return home on time, they do not always go out and look for children. As a result, they are not taking all available steps to find children as soon as possible.

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Findings from the inspection

On one occasion, when a child raised a concern about staff practice, not all relevant people were informed. The child’s social worker was informed and some advice sought. However, information was not shared with the local authority designated officer and Ofsted was not notified. Consequently, managers did not seek advice to inform decision-making and to inform the regulator about what had happened.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager shows a good understanding of children’s plans. Plans are updated to reflect changes in children’s needs and risks, and the manager ensures that discussions take place about the suitability of placements when there are concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has sufficient staff to meet the needs of the children currently living in the home. Very few of the staff are qualified. However, they are working towards their qualifications and receive a wide range of training and support to help them develop their skills and experience.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff report feeling happy working in the home. They feel supported by the manager and by their colleagues. They value supervisions and team meetings as a way of reflecting on their practice. This helps the inexperienced staff team to build positive working relationships and learn from each other, with support from their manager.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/06/2022 Full Good 11/04/2022 Full Inadequate 23/02/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2516553 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 within 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 each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring that children are supported to overcome barriers to their learning, and to provide routine and boundaries when children are not in school, including undertaking constructive activities during the school day.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. 20 March 2024

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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. 20 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2516553 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager notifying all relevant professionals when a concern is raised about staff practice. In addition, managers and staff must take all reasonable steps to look for children when they are missing from home.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to ensuring that staff are aware of the dangers of online gaming and that they take steps to protect children from such harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2516553 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Beacon Childcare Ltd, 28 Phoenix Business Park, Avenue Close, Birmingham B7 4NU

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Inspector

Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2516553 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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