Children's Home run by Quest Children’s Home Limited in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2728028 1 Registered provider: Quest Children’s Home 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 owned by a private provider and provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who is registered with Ofsted. The manager is working towards obtaining a level 5 qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was not present during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: 2728028 2

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Findings from the inspection

No serious or widespread concerns were identified at this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. During the inspection, the inspector spoke to both children.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home. One child moved out of the home following an incident that required police involvement. The registered manager made a decision for the child not to return to the home as they felt unable to meet the child’s needs. As a result, the child moved on in an unplanned way and this did not enable them to have a positive ending.

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Findings from the inspection

Children who live at the home say that they have good relationships with staff. One child had a favourite staff member because they are the ‘best chef’ and their ‘meals are the best’. Another child said that they would not change anything about where they live. Staff talk warmly about the children and know them well, including understanding and supporting children’s hobbies, interests and religious views.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s bedrooms are personalised and staff support children to keep their rooms tidy and clean. However, one child’s bedroom did not have any curtains and they did not have suitable bedding. This does not provide children with privacy and an environment in which they feel valued. In addition, damage to the walls outside of a child’s bedroom had not been fully repaired. This detracts from a homely environment.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are attending school in line with their plans. When children are not able to attend school full time, staff work with children’s educational professionals to support children to slowly increase their time in the classroom. When children have not been in education, staff have provided alternative education to provide children with structure and continued opportunities to learn while they wait for an education placement.

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Findings from the inspection

Children told the inspector that they feel ’safe’ in their home. Staff understand children’s individual needs and know how to keep them safe. Children’s plans clearly set out children’s needs and support staff in how to respond to those needs. However, staff are not proactively working with children to educate them about risks and how to keep themselves safe.

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Findings from the inspection

When there are concerns about staff practice, information is shared with Ofsted and other agencies such as the local authority designated officer. The registered manager also ensures that procedures such as internal investigations are carried out to promote children’s safety.

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Findings from the inspection

In general, when children go missing from the home, staff respond in line with children’s missing-from-home protocols. However, the recording of information Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2728028 3 within some incident records is unclear and makes it difficult to identify what action staff took and when.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, the registered manager has begun addressing the shortfalls identified by the inspector in order to improve the quality of care children receive. This includes safer recruitment practice, notifications when a serious event has occurred and ensuring that children’s health needs are met.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual has continued to provide regular support to the registered manager. In addition to this, they have identified a new independent visitor for the home and external supervision for the registered manager to support the home in its improvement journey.

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Findings from the inspection

Shortfalls were identified in the quality of recording, specifically within children’s case records and the effectiveness of day-to-day work staff deliver to children to address risk. As a result, two repeat requirements were made. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2728028 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2728028 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 within the given timescales.

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

When there are known risks to children, staff must educate children about these risks and how to keep themselves safe. In addition, any work that is carried out must be clearly documented and recorded within children’s files. 3 rd March 2025

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; 3 rd March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2728028 6 provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(viii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children have access to basic items in order to meet their day-to-day needs, and any damage to the home must be fully repaired as soon as it is practically possible.

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that managers have robust systems in place when considering referrals. They should carry out a risk assessment and ensure that decisions are clearly recorded. In addition, that children leave the home in a planned way. 3 rd March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2728028 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quest Children’s Home Limited

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Inspector

Charlotte Love, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2728028 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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