Children's Home run by High View Children's Services Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2655778 1 Registered provider: High View Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children who have learning disabilities. A private company runs the home. The home was registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed. He holds a level 5 qualification and is registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as requires improvement at the last full inspection, in May 2024. Leadership and management were judged inadequate. As a result of ongoing concerns about the leadership and management of the home, a compliance notice was issued in relation to regulation 13 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015. A subsequent assurance inspection took place in September 2024. The compliance notice in relation to regulation 13 was not met and this was issued for a second time.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of this visit, three children were living in the home. Children are experiencing an unsettled period because they are trying to process decisions being made about their future. Despite these challenges, staff have worked hard to keep children safer and have done this with empathy and care. Managers are good advocates for children and have challenged other professionals when children have not been given appropriate support.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed the quality of information contained in children’s plans and risk assessments. Overall, these documents provide clear guidance for staff on how to manage risks to children. This includes a more informed approach to safeguarding children who need support with their personal care. Additionally, managers have reviewed support for children who are developing increased independence and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2655778 2 preparing for their transition to adulthood. As a result, children now have clear plans about how they should be supported, and these are implemented.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, staff have received further training. This has included training in safeguarding practice and reporting and recording. All staff have now received training in neurodiversity. In addition, managers have completed a full audit of the training needs of the staff team. There is a three-month plan in place to address these training needs. This is all contributing to the development of staff skills and knowledge.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has identified gaps in the supervision and appraisal of staff. Action plans are being used to support progress in this area and to ensure that all staff have an annual appraisal. Staff said they had noticed an increased focus on staff development and that oversight and direction for staff had improved.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have developed monitoring tools to support oversight of the care provided to children. These include action plans, audit forms and other tools to support the manager to review children’s care and progress. This change has recently been implemented and the effectiveness and impact of this new practice will be considered at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

On the whole, records written about children are becoming more child-focused, however, there were some shortfalls in the quality of records. For example, records are not always clear or completed in full. A recommendation is made to support improvements in this area.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice in relation to regulation 13 is met. Three requirements from the previous inspection have been met, one has been restated and one new recommendation has been raised as a result of this visit.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/05/2023 Full Good 03/01/2023 Full Good 14/09/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2655778 3

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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 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)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff supervision sessions and ensuring they are reflective and have purpose. In addition, that yearly appraisals take place.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the previous inspection and is restated. 1 January 2025

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Recommendation

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

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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: 2655778 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: High View Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Azzurri House, Walsall Road, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 0RB

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Inspector

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2655778 5 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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