Children's home run by Care and Management Services Ltd

Inspection report children's home: 2596121 1 Registered provider: Care and Management Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of four homes run by the same organisation. The home provides care for up to two children with complex needs because of their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023. She is suitably qualified.

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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 requires improvement to be 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

Date of last inspection: 8 November 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2596121 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2022 Full Good 14/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2596121 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Since the last inspection three children have moved out of the home. The manager ensures that staff are skilled and equipped to meet all children’s needs. This enables the staff to prepare and support children well, so that their moves into and out of the home are smooth and successful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team provide children with a welcoming, warm and nurturing home environment. Children’s bedrooms and the living areas of the home resonate with a sense of individuality, achievement and special interests. Childrens photographs, artwork and certificates fill the space and clearly reflect the individual hobbies, interests and achievements of each child. The décor, maintenance and organisation of the home clearly suggest that those who live there are important, valued and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff want the best for the children who live here. Relationships between adults and children are warm, affectionate and loving. Their positive relationships are clear to see. Children like spending time with staff and enjoy living here. As children grow in confidence, they access new social circles and enjoy a range of new activities. Children take part in activities with staff that they enjoy. This provides children with the opportunity to gain new experiences and have fun. For example, one child attends The Girls Brigade, another child has been on their first train ride.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. All children have faced challenges with their education and have had periods of disengaging. The manager is persistent with children in motivating them to want to learn and finding ways to engage them. For example, with The Prince's Trust application, supporting a child to create a CV. Home tutoring for another child, and continuing to communicate with other services to find ways of reintegrating children back into education. They work in partnership with schools and the placing authority to find children a suitable provision that reflects their learning needs. They have successfully supported the children to reintegrate into education despite them having a history of not attending. This helps children to maintain a daily routine that supports their academic needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Internal care planning processes are structured and recorded well. Staff complete internal placement plans to a high standard. These plans detail clear targets and enable staff to track children’s progress and achievements. Children’s internal care plans detail longer-term aims and mirror statutory care plans. This promotes good- quality and consistent care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to maintain regular contact with their families when this is safe and appropriate. They provide practical and emotional support to maintain and develop these key relationships. This means that children are not isolated from those who are important to them. Inspection report children's home: 2596121 4

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improvement to be good

There are clear risk assessments that provide good guidance to staff when children go missing from the home. Additionally, the manager keeps a thorough chronology of all incidents, which has supported to identify patterns and trends for each child. On two occasions managers and staff have not taken proactive action to bring about children's return to the home. Staff had a laxed response once children were reported missing to the police. This does not ensure that children’s welfare is safeguarded. For example, one child left the home stating they wanted to harm themself. After reporting the child to the police, minimal action was taken by staff for two consecutive periods until the child returned home. However, return home interviews are being completed after children go missing from home, this gives them the opportunity to speak to someone independent about any concerns they may have.

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improvement to be good

The manager has good systems in place for recording, reporting and monitoring safeguarding concerns. Communication with professionals, such as the local authority, the designated officer and social workers, is effective. The manager shares information with them swiftly to avoid delay and ensure that children are protected from harm. The manager takes guidance from these professionals, and they work together to ensure that children are safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff physically intervene when children become unsettled and show behaviours that place themselves or others at risk of harm. Staff understand the reasons behind behaviour and provide good support to children afterwards. This helps children to move on from the incident. The manager provides scrutiny of all incidents and measures of control to ensure that their use is fair and proportionate. Good management oversight and prompt action to address issues means that children are treated fairly and stay safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff educate children around risk. Children take part in link-work sessions and engage in meetings where safeguarding scenarios are discussed to address identified risks and raise their awareness about topics of concern. This direct work includes knife crime, online safety and safeguarding yourself. This positive work enhances children’s knowledge of risk and allows them to take the lead in their learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team, supported by a deputy manager. The manager keeps children at the heart of all she does. She is passionate and ambitious for the children and ensures that this ethos spreads through the staff team. Inspection report children's home: 2596121 5 The manager has good knowledge of children’s starting points and what they have accomplished since living at the home. She is fully involved in children’s lives. She is clear about the progress children are making and has high aspirations for what they can achieve. She is enthusiastic in her efforts to be trusted figures for children. This makes her a good role model for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers’ monitoring systems are embedded into practice, which ensures that they have a good oversight of the home and take action to address issues as they arise. This comprehensive oversight makes sure that all aspects of care and the running of the home are maintained to a good standard. This better assists the manager to identify concerns and make prompt changes to improve and maintain good standards of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, that addresses children’s care and any practice or performance concerns. Team meeting discussions are reflective and provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made by children. This allows all staff an opportunity to discuss children’s progress, generate ideas and have a consistent approach to the care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working at the home. The manager is well regarded, and she is nurturing towards the team. This means that staff work in an environment where they feel well supported. One staff member said: 'The manager is brilliant; I am confident she will always be there for me. She is so understanding and supportive'.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is a key strength of the home and supports the positive outcomes experienced by children. Staff work in conjunction with children, social workers and a range of education and health agencies to plan and support children’s current and future placements. Inspection report children's home: 2596121 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, 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 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— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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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)(a)(i)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that missing from home protocols are followed effectively when children go missing from home. 7 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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 children's home: 2596121 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care and Management Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Park business centre, Wood Lane, Birmingham B24 9QR

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Chrisoula Contoyiannis

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Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2596121 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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