Children's Home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671228 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

This home is run by a privately owned company. It provides care for one child who has had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The home had been without a registered manager since August 2023. A new manager has recently started but has not yet been registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 26 March 2024

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2023

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Inspection date: 26 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 26 March 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: 2671228 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

At the time of the previous inspection there was one child living at the home, who moved out very shortly afterwards. The child moved in a planned way and was complimentary about their experience while living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

No children have moved into the home since the last inspection. The provider decided to close the home temporarily to refurbish it and to recruit new staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Progress towards meeting the requirements and recommendation set at the previous inspection has been reviewed as part of this assurance inspection. The requirements were set under Regulation 5 relating to lack of challenge to other professionals when children have no education provision under Regulation 14 relating to children having positive transitions to and from the home; regulation 12, which related to children’s plans not being updated when risks changed and regulation 13 with regards to staff training. The home has not been able to demonstrate that it has met these requirements, as there have been no children living at the home since the last inspection. Although some reflection has occurred and reassurances given, it is not possible to ascertain whether the necessary improvements have been made. The requirements have therefore been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

One recommendation was made at the last inspection relating to the conditions of the home environment. Refurbishment work has been taking place while the home has not been operational. Most of the major internal work has now been completed, but the home is not currently furnished. Work on the garden is due to start shortly. The home is not currently in a condition to accept children. As a result, the recommendation has been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager at the time of the previous inspection resigned shortly afterwards. The home was without a manager from September 2023 until a new manager joined the home in February 2024. The staff employed at the time of the previous inspection have also now left and a new staff team is being recruited. The home has been closed during this time, so there has been no impact on any children. A new manager and deputy manager have already started, and additional staff are currently undergoing recruitment checks.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders are hopeful that a full staff team will be in position by the end of April 2024. However, at the current time there are insufficient staff for the home to reopen. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671228 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671228 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

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

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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(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children are provided with education that meets their needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 21 May 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. 21 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671228 5 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the home must have sufficient staff to fulfil the conditions of their registration. In addition, staff should receive training to support their understanding of the model of care outlined in the home’s statement of purpose and in response to children’s individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children experience both positive arrivals at and moves on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 21 May 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.

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 21 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671228 6 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

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)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s plans clearly identify all risks for children and that actions are taken to reduce the risk of harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home, particularly children’s bedroom and the rear garden, are kept clean and well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This recommendation has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671228 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 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: 2671228 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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