Children's Home run by Natural Nurture Children’s Home Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 1 Registered provider: Natural Nurture Children’s Home Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in May 2023. It provides care for up to three children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and forms part of a small social care organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. No other children have lived in the home since it was registered. Staff know the child well and invest time in them. As a result, the child has built trusting and secure relationships with the staff who look after them. The child’s voice is at the centre of practice. The child said, ‘I like living here. I feel listened to, valued and safe.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress in line with their care plan. They are able to recognise and articulate their own progress. The child said they have improved relationships with family members. They have not gone missing from home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has a structured daily routine which works well for them, to support their understanding of the day’s events. This includes education, time with people who are important to them and enjoying leisure time with friends and staff. In addition, the staff team encourages and supports the child’s interests. For example, the child is a keen DJ. They have DJ equipment set up in their bedroom and go to a music studio regularly to make music.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s education. The child is in daily education. The manager has worked well with the relevant professionals to identify a suitable education provision. This is new for the child, and although they are currently on a reduced timetable this is progress from their starting point. As a result, the child is learning and making progress in preparing for their GCSEs by sitting mock exams.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager are ambitious for the child. They plan additional educational activities when the child returns home from school so they have a full day of educational activity. The child receives support from an allocated mentor from an external agency. As a result, the child’s educational needs are prioritised.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health outcomes have improved and staff support and encourage the child to attend regular health appointments. The child understands their own health needs and understands their medication. For example, the child was able to tell a health specialist they needed their medication altered to support their needs at school. This was agreed and actioned, which improved the child’s concentration in class. The manager’s arrangements for managing medication at the home are safe and effective.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is spacious. The child has personalised their room by painting it with the help of staff and adding personalised items. However, the manager needs to ensure that the decor in some areas of the home and in the child’s bedroom is maintained and any required repairs are carried out. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 3

p.2

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

Staff understand the child’s needs and vulnerabilities. They support and manage the child’s behaviours and feelings safely. They promote positive behaviour by using a nurturing approach. As a result, there have not been any significant incidents in the home. Staff complete direct-work sessions with the child to support them to understand risks and develop strategies to manage their emotions.

p.3

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

Risk assessments are in place and promote the welfare of the child. Staff understand the risks, such as criminal exploitation, that using the internet may pose for the child. They have developed effective systems and strategies to monitor the child’s mobile phone and online activity, based on the child’s vulnerabilities. This helps to protect the child from external risk factors.

p.3

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

There have been no missing-from-home incidents. This is significant progress for the child. Staff have a clear understanding of action to be taken in the event of the child going missing from home. Missing-from-care protocols are in place. However, these lack detail and some information contradicts that contained in other supporting documents. In addition, the manager has not updated the protocol to reflect the current practice.

p.3

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

The child knows how to make a complaint. When complaints have been made, these have been treated seriously and investigated promptly. A response is provided to the child following the outcome in a child-friendly format. This allows the child to understand what has happened as a result of their complaint. However, the manager has not clearly recorded the actions he took in the investigation, in line with the home’s complaints procedure.

p.3

good

The registered manager is experienced and is working towards a leadership and management qualification. He is passionate about the care that children receive. He understands the plans for the child and works with the child’s placing authority and other agencies to seek to build effective working relationships.

p.3

good

The home has an experienced, suitable and stable staff team. The staff team is small and promotes a family environment for the child. Safe recruitment processes and practices are adhered to when recruiting new staff. This ensures that only safe adults are employed to care for children.

p.3

good

Training and staff supervision are effective. The training ensures that staff can meet the specific needs of the child and develop in their roles. In addition, new staff have been enrolled on the relevant qualification.

p.3

good

When complaints have been made by nearby residents, the manager has not recorded this in line with the home’s internal complaints policy. As a result, it is not clear how these have been responded to and resolved. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 4 The manager does not actively review and regularly update the child’s plans and in- house documentation. Some statutory documentation is missing from the child’s files following their review. There is not a proactive approach to obtain missing documents.

p.3

good

The manager has not created clear guidance or an agreed procedure in the event that the child refuses to take their prescribed medication. The review of the child’s plans and key documents is cursory and ineffective. The manager does have plans to create a monitoring system to support his oversight to effectively identify shortfalls and improve practices. However, this is yet to be embedded.

p.4

good

When staff have used consequences following incidents of unacceptable behaviours, these have not been reviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of the measure applied. One consequence restricted the child’s time with friends for one month. This was extreme and not proportionate to the behaviour.

p.4

good

When the child raised concerns with their placing authority about their care, the manager did not follow this up, seek feedback or ensure an outcome was received. Without this information, the manager could not be assured that the child’s concerns were addressed.

p.4

good

The independent person visits the home each month and provides Ofsted with a report in a timely manner. However, the visit takes place when the child is not at home, so their views are not sought. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.5

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.5

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; (Regulation 5 (b)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that the child’s local authority care plan documentation is updated and kept on file in the home. This also relates to when concerns have been shared with the child’s allocated social worker by the manager. 7 April 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that the child’s records are reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current practices and that monitoring and reviewing systems are in place to make continuous improvements. 7 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 6 The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

p.5

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager reviewing consequences to review their effectiveness and ensuring any measures applied are proportionate. 7 April 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This is in relation to the registered manager ensuring that when external complaints are received they are recorded, along with actions taken and outcomes. This also relates to when complaints have been made by the child and an investigation has been completed, that the investigation report is fully completed, with all relevant actions. 7 April 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.6

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 7 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 7 This specifically relates to the independent person ensuring that children are consulted, by attending the home when children are likely to be there.

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the home environment is homely, welcoming and well maintained. In particular, the manager needs to ensure that repairs are carried out and the child’s bedroom remains homely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.7

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: 2691027 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Natural Nurture Children’s Home Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Lydia Stewart-Mais

p.8

Inspector

Joanne Humphreys, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2691027 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9