Children's home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 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 privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. The child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager is in post.

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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 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/05/2022 Full Good 26/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection two children have moved into the home and four children have moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like their home. The child living in the home said, ‘It feels like home. I really like the staff. Sometimes we play board games, sit in the garden, watch films or play Xbox.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are well planned and coordinated. Children are invited to visit the home before they move in to meet the other children and help them understand what living at the home would be like. Despite the manager’s best efforts, one child needed to move on more quickly than planned to keep them safe when risks increased.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves from the home are positive. Children who have left the home keep in touch and continue to visit. This is testament to the positive relationships that they share with staff and ensures that they continue to feel loved and supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop their independence skills to prepare them for adulthood, in line with their plans. The child said, ‘I am good at cooking, buying food, cleaning and have learned how to iron. I have become confident travelling independently too.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Consultation with children is strong. Children’s views and wishes are listened to. One child’s feedback resulted in an exercise bike being purchased. The child uses the bike daily, which supports them to live a healthy lifestyle and has a positive effect on their well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive behaviour is rewarded and celebrated. Children choose their rewards, for example, takeaway meals. Incentive charts support children to track their progress and achieve their individual aims, such as keeping their bedrooms tidy and answering their mobile phones when they spend time away from the home with their friends. This encourages good daily routines, which has a positive impact on children’s well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s talents are encouraged and celebrated. This increases children’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth. One child who recently moved on is a talented musician and recording equipment was purchased to enable them to record their songs at home. The child performed at a concert and the manager went to watch them sing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to attend school and make good progress. The child’s school attendance has improved and they recently completed their GCSE exams. They are looking forward to starting college in September. When children do not attend school, staff support them to learn at home and the manager advocates for their return to full- time education. Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 4 The home environment is bright, clean and welcoming. Photos of children are displayed in communal areas, which promotes a sense of belonging. However, a communal bathroom looks worn and needs to be refurbished and the glass in the kitchen window is misted and needs to be replaced. There are plans to make improvements, however, these areas detract from the otherwise nurturing environment.

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

Children feel safe at the home and have trusted adults they can talk to about any concerns they have. The child said, ‘I feel safe living here. I feel supported by staff and can talk about anything that is worrying me.’

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

Safeguarding practice at the home is robust. Staff understand their responsibilities to protect children, and children’s life experiences, risks and vulnerabilities are understood. Detailed and accurate plans help staff to keep children safe.

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

The use of physical intervention is rare. This is because staff are skilled in de-escalating incidents effectively. They respond to incidents quickly and appropriately. The manager scrutinises the incidents to ensure that the use of restraint is proportionate and necessary. The manager talks with staff and children to understand their experiences. Any learning is shared to improve practice.

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

Children who go missing from home are well supported. Clear safety plans and protocols protect children. Staff are proactive and tirelessly search for children when they do not know where they are, to bring them home safely. When they return, staff talk to them, and their safety plans are revised to improve safety. Effective working relationships and liaison with safeguarding authorities such as the police contribute to the children’s safety.

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

Children’s behaviour is managed well through a nurturing and therapeutic approach. A key strength of the home is the direct work staff complete with children to help them manage their feelings and emotions. These positive experiences build trust and give children the guidance that they need in their most vulnerable times. As a result, children are making some good life choices and are more aware of how their behaviours impact others.

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

Children complete training courses that are appropriate to their level of understanding, including around online safety and knife crime. This helps children to make good life choices and increases their awareness of personal safety.

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

Complaints and allegations children make about staff conduct are taken seriously and are responded to well. Prompt action was taken when a child complained about the boundaries in place at the home. This shows children are listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 5 Children are fond of the manager who leads the home. Her influence and approach create a nurturing and happy environment in which children make good progress. However, the manager has resigned from her role and is working her notice period. Leaders have plans and gave assurances that children and staff will be well supported through the upcoming change. A new manager is being recruited and will work alongside the current manager to ensure an effective handover takes place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious for children and knows them and their needs in detail. She has good oversight of all aspects of their care. The staff team shares her passion for child-focused care. There is a strong sense of togetherness and the stable and settled team means children receive care from staff they know and trust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team morale is good, and this creates a positive environment for children. A strong reflective learning culture firmly underpins staff practice. Staff receive frequent reflective supervision that provides them with time and space to reflect on their work. Regular team meetings take place and provide staff with opportunities to share important information with each other and generate new ideas. Staff who have worked at the home for over 12 months have had their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by their managers. The manager ensures that staff receive an effective induction and high-quality training. This supports staff to have an in-depth understanding of children and provides them with the skills and knowledge to care for children well. However, not all staff are suitably qualified to work with children. Currently, one staff member, who recently moved to the home from within the organisation, is out of timescale for completing a relevant qualification. Action is being taken to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management monitoring tools and reviewing systems are organised and effective. There is clear evidence of thorough management oversight across all areas of the home. This helps the manager to understand the strengths of the home and the areas for development and to continually learn. Sufficient action has been taken in response to the requirements made at the last inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 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, 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained-

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring staff working in a care role complete a relevant qualification within specified timescales. 4 October 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive. The first-floor bathroom needs to be refurbished and improved. In addition, the glass in the kitchen window needs to be replaced because Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 7 the glass is misted. This is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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 for children's home: 2546172 8

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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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Inspectors

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2546172 9 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

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