Children's home run by BKY Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 1 Registered provider: BKY Care Limited

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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. No children were living at the home at the time of this visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant. A new manager is in post, and they plan to submit their registration application.

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This monitoring visit

On 17 and 18 September 2024, a full inspection of the home was carried out. The home was judged to be inadequate. There were significant shortfalls regarding the leadership and management of the home and safeguarding practices.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the seriousness of the concerns identified, Ofsted made the decision to urgently suspend the registration of the home to keep children safe. Subsequent information received from leaders demonstrated their commitment to make improvements. As a result, the suspension of the home’s registration was lifted on 17 October 2024. That means the home can admit children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager’s registration with Ofsted was also urgently suspended following the inspection. Their suspension remains in place and is currently under review.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice was issued in relation to Regulation 13, to drive and focus improvement activities. This monitoring visit was carried out to assess whether the provider has taken all the actions required to satisfy the steps in the compliance notice for Regulation 13 within the specified time frame. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 2 Support has been provided to leaders by an external social care consultant. The interim manager spoke positively about this support, which has helped to strengthen managerial oversight.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has a good knowledge of the home because she has worked within the organisation for several months. She feels supported and is confident that they are ready to welcome new children. The responsible individual plans to increase the frequency of his visits to support staff and the manager when children move in.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have created a range of new auditing and monitoring tools that include a monthly evaluative review of what has been happening in the home. While the tools have not yet been tested in practice, the manager is confident the tools will help her to track children’s experiences and progress effectively. She explained how the new tools will support continual improvement to benefit children.

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This monitoring visit

Some existing monitoring tools have been enhanced. Both the manager and the responsible individual plan to review and evaluate any incidents that may occur. They have added this layer of quality assurance to identify shortfalls and address them and gaps in staff knowledge in a timely way to ensure that children receive good-quality, safe care.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has analysed all the incidents that have happened in the home. Their analysis did not identify any safeguarding concerns. However, it highlighted that the quality of recording was below the provider’s expectations, and the language used by staff was not always supportive to children. In addition, some staff had not supported children effectively during incidents. As a result, staff have received further training to increase their skills and confidence in preparation for caring for children again.

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This monitoring visit

The skills and experience of all staff working at the home have been evaluated. Staff contributed to the evaluation, which has helped the manager to understand the strengths and weaknesses of her team. As a result, a detailed workforce development plan is in place. The plan will be reviewed monthly to make sure the home has the workforce it needs to care for children in line with the home’s statement of purpose. In addition, two new staff members are due to start work at the home in the next couple of weeks. It is hoped that their previous experience of working with children will further strengthen the staff team.

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This monitoring visit

All unqualified staff have been enrolled and are working towards completing an accredited residential childcare qualification . The manager is proactive and has requested progress updates from the training provider to assure herself that staff are gaining the necessary knowledge to care for children well.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have assured themselves that staff have the skills and knowledge to keep children safe and meet their needs. Staff have completed some further training courses, including a therapeutic parenting course, to improve their practice. Staff will Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 3 complete more training to ensure that the individual needs of children who move into the home are understood and met. The responsible individual plans to revisit their training needs and said, ‘Learning is a never-ending process.’ This shows their willingness to continually learn.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have opportunities to discuss and reflect on their training. Their newly learned knowledge is tested during supervision and team meetings to help embed good practice. Steps in the compliance notice under Regulation 13, in relation to the leadership and management of the home, have been met. The other requirements raised at the last inspection were not reviewed during this visit and will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Inadequate 13/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 5

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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 each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staffing changes at the home do not have an impact on children’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 October 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.

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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

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; 28 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 6 have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that risks associated with children’s care are assessed. Guidance must be in place for staff to follow to keep children safe, in line with their plans.

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Requirement Due date

Also, staff must understand their responsibilities to protect children. They must work in line with safeguarding policies and prompt action must be taken to escalate concerns to safeguarding authorities when children are at risk of harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that when the statement of purpose is revised, it is shared with Ofsted within 28 days. 28 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 7 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualifications and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must demonstrate they have to appropriate skills to lead and manage the home effectively.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that their staff are appraised annually. Also, records of the manager’s supervisions must be kept and made available for review.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— 28 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 8 the name of the child;

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is

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Requirement Due date

authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children who are restrained by staff have the opportunity to talk about their experience following incidents. Also, debriefs with staff must take place to provide the opportunity for reflection and to improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 9 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 October 2024

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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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: 2742899 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Fairlawns, Sutton Coldfield B76 1PQ

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Inspectors

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Alison Cooper, Social Care Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2742899 11 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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