Children's Home run by Serenity Specialist Care Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC471672 1 SC471672 Registered provider: Serenity Specialist Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2021 and is suitably qualified.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC471672 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Good 12/07/2022 Full Good 19/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 29/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC471672 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home spoke with the inspector during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and the child are warm, affectionate and loving. The child has built solid relationships with the staff who care for them. This helps the child to build trust and to feel safe and relaxed in their surroundings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that staff are skilled and equipped to meet all children’s needs. This enables the staff to prepare and support children well so that their moves into and out of the home are smooth and successful. One child successfully moved to live independently after over a year living in the home. This child has remained in touch with staff and has been a positive role model for the child currently living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff are committed to making sure that the child gets the best from the time they spend with their family. An inclusive approach supports the child to maintain positive relationships with their family and the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers understand the importance of education. The manager and staff are persistent in motivating the child to want to learn and finding new ways to engage them. They work in partnership with schools and the placing authority to find the child a suitable provision that accommodates their learning needs. They have successfully supported the child to reintegrate back into education despite them having a history of poor attendance. This helps the child to maintain a daily routine that supports their academic needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has a good understanding of the child’s health needs. The child now has a daily routine, which includes attending to their personal hygiene and eating at appropriate times throughout the day. Staff promote the child’s health needs by encouraging physical activities and providing freshly cooked meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a well-maintained, comfortable and homely environment. Staff work hard to create an atmosphere that is full of warmth and love. The child’s bedroom and the living areas of the home reflect the child’s individuality, achievements and special interests. Games, photos and certificates clearly reflect the child’s hobbies, interests and achievements. The decor, maintenance and organisation of the home suggest that those who live there are important, valued and respected . A pin code is required to exit the garden at the side of the property, in case of an emergency. Some staff do not know this code. It is also not clear whether this has been shared with the child. This restricts the child’s access around their home and impinges on their safety. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471672 4

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

Managers and staff demonstrate a great understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and potential risks posed to them. Clear guidance and strategies to follow are recorded in written risk assessments. This awareness is embedded in the staff’s day-to-day work, which reduces and minimises the risks effectively for the child. Staff are directed in how to manage and mitigate the risks identified for the child. Observations show that staff are highly skilled in diversion, distraction and de-escalation, which demonstrates that the strategies identified are being used and are effective. This helps to ensure that the child is protected from harm. As a result, incidents of restraint have considerably reduced in frequency from the child’s starting point.

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

Staff physically intervene when the child becomes unsettled and displays behaviours which place themselves or others at risk of harm. Staff understand the reasons behind behaviour and provide good support to the child afterwards. This helps the child to move on from the incident. The manager provides scrutiny of all incidents and measures of control to ensure that their use is fair and proportionate. Good management oversight and prompt action to address issues mean that the child is treated fairly and stays safe.

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

Staff are clear about their responsibilities to protect children. They understand the child protection policy and know how to report a safeguarding concern. The manager has an effective system for recording, reporting and monitoring safeguarding concerns. Liaison with professionals such as the local authority designated officer and social workers is effective. Information is shared swiftly with them to avoid delay and ensure that children are protected from harm. The manager takes guidance from these professionals, and they work together to ensure that children are safe. Safeguarding records are comprehensive. They detail the outcome of any concerns as well as further actions staff need to be aware of.

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

There is a huge focus on positive reinforcement for the child. This has supported them to recognise their own strengths. This also supports the staff to connect positively with the child and motivate them to grow as an individual. The manager has been creative in her thinking and is constantly exploring new ways to support staff to sustain good quality of care for the child. Additionally, when consequences are given, the manager monitors, reviews and evaluates these effectively. Consequences given are restorative in nature and in line with the home’s ethos and the child’s age and understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate about the service and advocating for children’s views. She keeps children at the heart of all she does. The manager models a nurturing and therapeutic approach to children’s care. She is clear about the progress children are making and has high aspirations for what they can achieve. The manager is enthusiastic in her efforts to be a trusted person for children. This makes her an excellent role model for staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471672 5 The manager has created an open and inclusive culture that places children at the centre of practice. She values and promotes good teamwork. She is ambitious for the children and ensures that this ethos spreads through the entire staff team. As a result, children build positive relationships with the staff, whose skilled and caring practice increases the bonds between them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership, management and staff cohesion are clear strengths and ensure the safety and welfare of children. Strategic reviews of incidents provide constant evaluation of staff practice and highlight children’s changing needs. Supervision sessions, reflective discussions and focused team meetings are highly effective management tools and address areas for development to ensure effective staff practice. These processes ensure that staff provide care that consistently exceeds good for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have extremely effective working relationships with external agencies, family members and schools to ensure the best possible care, experiences and future for children. Professionals and family members speak highly of the quality of care provided and the standards of communication maintained by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are happy to work in this home and feel supported. The manager is well regarded and is nurturing towards the team. This means that staff work in an environment where they feel well supported. The leadership and the quality of care create an environment where staff are proud to work and where children are proud to live. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471672 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children have access to all areas of the home when a deprivation of liberty order is not in place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.62)

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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: SC471672 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Serenity Specialist Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, Dominion Court, 43 Station Road, Solihull B91 3RT

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Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC471672 8 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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