Children's Home run by Chamberlain Residential Care LTD in Dudley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 1 Registered provider: Chamberlain Residential Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 15 July 2024 and has not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2023

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are widespread failures in safeguarding and in the leadership and management of the home which have hindered children’s experiences and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. All the children were seen and spoken to by the inspector. Since the last inspection, no children have moved into, and no children have moved out of, the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not supported to have a positive experience while living in the home. Two children (who are siblings) are due to move out in line with their care plan. Their social worker was spoken to and noted a marked decline in the quality of care the children receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The two children who are moving feel anxious about their move. Staff have not supported or encouraged them to help alleviate this anxiety. Poor responses by staff have exacerbated the children’s feelings of uncertainty. This has a detrimental effect on their emotional well-being. The new manager has now arranged for a celebratory event to take place before the children leave.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Managers and staff fail to provide good care to children and meet their health needs. One child, who has a long-term health condition, has an alarm to alert staff if the child needs support. This connects to an alarm staff should keep with them. During the inspection, this alarm was found in a cupboard under the stairs. Managers and staff were unaware of whether this alarm was in use, and there was no clear guidance in the child’s care plan in relation to the use of the alarm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some staff have formed positive relationships with the children. However, since the last inspection, nine staff (including the previous manager and deputy manager) no longer work in the home. Some staff have left without saying goodbye to children. Despite significant changes to the cohort of staff caring for the children, the children have not been supported to process this loss. The impact on the children’s emotional stability and their ability to trust is profound. One child said they have been left wondering whether the previous manager will be returning. They also said they do not like the new managers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not provide children with structure and routine. There is no structure to mealtimes and one child said they do not have lunch. Meal plans for children do not promote healthy eating. They are repetitive and do not show that children receive a well- balanced diet. Staff do not help children to develop healthy lifestyles. One child drinks energy drinks and vapes and there are no clear plans in place to encourage them to make healthier choices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 4 Children worry about the cost of caring for them. One child went to school with no PE uniform and equipment. They were worried about the financial implications for staff purchasing this. Children’s wishes and feelings are not considered or respected. One child has been asking for school dinners, but staff continue to send them to school with a packed lunch. The child’s social worker said that the school used their ‘hardship fund’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

to pay for the child to have school dinners instead. One child visited their new foster carer in footwear that was too small for them. Their new foster carer purchased new trainers for them during the visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some staff do not maintain appropriate professional boundaries. Staff have occasionally shared too much personal information with children. Additionally, staff do not protect children’s privacy. Children are present when staff are talking to other children about their needs. During the inspection, there was an incident during which a child became distressed. They walked out of the home and were followed by staff. During this time, another child also followed and witnessed the incident. Other staff did not intervene to distract and engage the child to prevent them from witnessing the other child’s distress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home environment is clean and furnished to a good standard. However, some parts of the home have an institutional feel. An overflow of children’s snacks are kept in a locked cupboard, and the sugar jar is kept in the office. This is because staff do not have the skills to instil consistent boundaries around children’s snacking.

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

Children’s risk assessments are inaccurate and out of date. They do not contain sufficient information about the risks posed to children. Neither do they outline the actions staff should take to support the children’s safety. Staff do not consistently follow the guidance that is contained in risk assessments.

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

Children who have risks relating to self-injurious behaviours are able to access items which they have used to harm themselves. One staff member gave a child an item which was a known risk. One child’s self-injurious behaviour has recently increased. Another child has begun to cause injuries to themself since they have lived at the home.

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

Staff do not support children to manage and respond to their feelings safely. During the inspection, two children walked out of the home several times. This was because they felt unhappy. One child said they have not felt happy living in the home since they moved in. They also stated, ‘It would not bother me if I had to move.’

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

Staff do not always follow the home’s safeguarding reporting procedures. There is often delay in reporting incidents, which affects the managerial oversight of children’s safety.

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

Complaints and allegations are not responded to consistently. The recording of discussions with children and staff are not clear. On one occasion, the manager asked staff to write a statement and send it over a social media platform, which is not a secure, or appropriate, way to share important information. This was in relation to an allegation made by a child about a staff member. It is not always clear who has spoken Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 5 to children or staff when complaints and allegations are made. This reduces the effectiveness of an investigation. Responses to children when they have complained or made an allegation are not child focused.

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

Staff do not all have the skills to respond to children’s behaviours safely. When incidents have occurred, staff have blocked children’s movements or used physical intervention. This is not always proportionate. As a result, this has antagonised children and left them feeling frustrated.

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

Staff undertake daily checks on children’s mobile phones. Staff undertake work with children about being safe online. However, this is not creative, age appropriate or educational. It does not prevent or minimise the risks posed to children when using social media. The home has systems in place which provide filters on the internet. However, these are not effective, because one child has received indecent images on social media.

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

When children go missing from care, staff follow procedures to locate them quickly. However, staff do not always follow guidance. For example, they allow children to go for a walk ‘around the block’ as a strategy for managing their feelings, which is not a strategy agreed with children’s social workers.

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

The new responsible individual has not been recruited safely. There is no evidence that a reference has been requested from one previous employer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is not being led or managed effectively. The home has not had a registered manager since October 2023. The deputy manager who was overseeing the home no longer works for the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children do not receive continuity of care. Several staff have left. There are insufficient staff to care for the number of children the home is registered for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not feel supported by managers. The staff team is fractured, and morale is low. This does not create a pleasant and comfortable environment for children to live in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers do not ensure that staff are meeting children’s needs in line with their care plans. Neither do they ensure they have accurate information to guarantee effective care planning. It has recently been identified that one child may have learning difficulties. This information has been known for at least three months. However, the child’s care plan has not been reviewed with the child’s placing authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and manager’s oversight and monitoring of the home is poor and ineffective. Their monitoring systems have failed to identify shortfalls in children’s care. When shortfalls have been identified, they have failed to take effective action. There has been a lack of senior management presence in the home. Intervention to rectify shortfalls has been weak and ineffective. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 6 Some staff do not have the skills to meet children’s needs. This is because they do not receive adequate training to keep their skills up to date. Some staff have not received training to help and support children’s behavioural needs, online safety and caring for children with learning difficulties.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s records contain numerous errors as well as using language which could be stigmatising.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home now has a new responsible individual and a new manager. They are aware of the shortfalls in the care children receive. They have a plan in place to address the shortfalls and improve the quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 7

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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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(viii)(ix)) 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 8 In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with adequate clothing, footwear and necessary personal items to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that staff protect children’s privacy and that maintain confidentiality in regard to children’s personal information.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s health and emotional well-being are promoted. Children must be supported to develop healthy lifestyles. Their placement plans should reflect this, and they should be regularly reviewed.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 24 November 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. 22 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) 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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must review the risks posed to all children living in the home. This includes liaising with the children’s placing authorities.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments set out a clear, accurate and current reflection of all risks posed to children and the action staff should take to reduce risk. They must ensure that staff implement the actions identified in children’s risk assessments, to protect children from harm.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the home’s safeguarding policy. This must include reviewing the approach to children’s complaints and allegations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 10 The registered person must review the systems they have in place to ensure safe use of the internet and social media for children. They must also ensure that work completed with children about online safety is routine, creative, age appropriate and tailored to their learning needs.

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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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and 22 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 11 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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the new manager receives a planned and thorough induction into their role.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there is effective management oversight of the home. They must ensure that the quality of care children receive is continuously monitored. This includes senior oversight of children’s care plans and how they are being implemented and monitored by the manager and staff. Care plans must consider children’s learning needs and health needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must develop effective monitoring and review systems. They must ensure that staff understand both the quality of care to be provided to children and their experiences, and that they take swift action to address any identified shortfalls.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff receive adequate training which equips them with the skills to meet the needs of the children they care for. They must ensure that the effectiveness of training in staff practice is monitored and evaluated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must address the impact of fractured staff/manager relationships and low staff morale on children’s experiences of living in the home.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

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; 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 12 that arrangements are in place to—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(d)(f)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must seek to review children’s needs in conjunction with their placing authority, when concerns arise in respect of placement suitability. They must also take into account the needs of all children living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children receive appropriate clothing, items and equipment in line with their wishes and feelings. They should also be helped to understand decisions made in their best interests.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff support children’s emotional well-being appropriately during their transition from the home. They must ensure that staff understand that they must not approach this in any way which could cause children unnecessary anxiety.

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a home with another individual or other individuals, otherwise than in a partnership, if that individual and each other individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

A partnership may only carry on a home if each partner satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5). 24 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 13 An organisation may only carry on a home if—

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Requirement Due date

each director of the organisation, except for a director who is the responsible individual, who is involved in the carrying on of a home by that organisation satisfies the requirements in paragraph (6); and

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1)(2)(3)(4)(i)(5)(a)(7)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must appoint a suitably experienced and qualified person to manage the home. They must also ensure that the appointed responsible individual has been safely recruited, has adequate oversight of the home and the skills to take effective action to improve the quality of care children receive.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Managers and staff should ensure that information about children is always recorded in a way that will be helpful to them and is non stigmatising. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4).

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 14 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: 2721038 15

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Chamberlain Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 109 Sledmore Road, Dudley DY2 8DZ

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2721038 16 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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