Children's Home run by SOLID GLOBAL LIMITED in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259178 1 Registered provider: Solid Global 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 is run by a privately owned limited company. It provides care for up to two children. The home specialises in providing therapeutic care for children with mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a suitably experienced manager who registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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Inspection date: 13 August 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: 1259178 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

This inspection was undertaken due to an increased number of notifications to the regulator of serious incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this visit, two children were living at the home. Since the last inspection one child has moved into the home and no children have moved out.

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Findings from the inspection

Moves into the home are well planned. The manager has considered the timing and needs of any new children and taken into consideration the views of the child already living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite careful planning, the arrival of a child new to the home has resulted in increased anxiety for the child already living there. Staff know this child well and have been careful to keep the impact to a minimum, encouraging their routine and engagement in regular activities.

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Findings from the inspection

Plans for children are child-focused and individual. Staff regularly update plans with new and emerging risks, along with new strategies to help children when they are struggling with their emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are starting to form positive relationships with the new child. The child said they liked the home and staff, and they were able to name staff they liked and could talk to, including the manager.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are subject to restrictions which help keep them safe. Despite this, staff are creative in helping children enjoy activities as any other child would. Staff take children shopping, for walks, on trips to the park, to funfairs, swimming, the gym, indoor climbing and ice skating.

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Findings from the inspection

Most areas of the home are homely and personalised to children’s tastes. However, one child’s bedroom did not have a covering on the window. This does not create a welcoming space for the child and means they do not have the privacy they need.

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Findings from the inspection

External professionals and children’s families are complimentary about the home, the manager and staff. They said that staff work hard to help the children progress and keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has systems to monitor the progress of children. However, he has not identified gaps in the home’s logbook and children’s daily record books. This means details of what is happening at the home and with children are unclear. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259178 3 The manager has worked hard to meet the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. All the requirements and two recommendations were met. One of the recommendations could not be assessed at this inspection and will be considered at the next inspection. Two new recommendations are made.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/04/2024 Full Good 25/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/06/2023 Full Inadequate 10/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259178 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice and ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. Specifically, that there is a record of how staff have been assessed as suitable at the end of their probation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, children’s daily logbooks and the home’s handover book should be completed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing, homely and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children.

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Recommendations

Specifically, that if children are unable to have curtains at their bedroom windows, an alternative is found so that their privacy can be maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259178 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solid Global Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Astor House, 282 Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield B74 2UG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Octovus Muchemenye

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Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1259178 6 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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