Children's home run by Solve Housing Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2774066 1 Solve Housing 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 registered with Ofsted in February 2024 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this visit, two children were living in the home. The children were not spoken to during the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is registered to manage two homes.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted on 22 July 2024. The concerns relate to two staff members working at the home. Ofsted is aware that safeguarding investigations are ongoing.

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This monitoring visit

The visit took place to specifically review the recruitment practice at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have failed to ensure that staff working at the home are recruited safely in line with regulatory requirements. This means that children are at risk of receiving their care from unsafe adults.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has not taken sufficient action to ensure the safety of children from unsuitable adults. She has not been professionally curious in gathering additional information from safeguarding agencies when she has been made aware of concerns in relation to a staff member working in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The manager received concerning information about a member of staff working at the home on 10 July. A risk assessment to assess potential risks is in place. However, the risk assessment has not been reviewed or updated following receipt of the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2774066 2 information. Additionally, staff left in charge of the home, in the manager’s absence, are not aware of the risks relating to another member of staff. This lack of action has put children at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Furthermore, information is not available in staff recruitment records held at the home to demonstrate that the required checks have been carried out during their recruitment. One member of staff’s recruitment file does not contain employment references or evidence to confirm that their identity has been checked to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. The manager gave assurance that the checks had been completed.

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This monitoring visit

The regulator has not been informed about serious concerns regarding staff.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2774066 3

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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 with 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 requires the registered person to ensure—

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must demonstrate that they understand their responsibilities to protect children and keep them safe. 23 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2774066 4 In addition, they must identify risks and take prompt and effective action to protect children, specifically the risks posed by unsuitable adults working in the home.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(a)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home operates in accordance with the approach detailed in its statement of purpose, specifically that children are cared for by suitable adults.

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Requirement Due date

They must also demonstrate that information received from the police about adults working in the home is used to improve children’s care in line with safeguarding policies. 23 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— 23 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2774066 5 employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that adults working with children are of good character. In addition, information in relation to Schedule 2 checks must be obtained and be available for review.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must notify HMCI of all serious events. 23 August 2024

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to review specific concerns.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2774066 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solve Housing Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3000, 123 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3ND

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Inspectors

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Nick Bennison, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2774066 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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