Children's home run by Solve Housing Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2774066 1 Registered provider: Solve Housing Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in February 2024. This is the home’s first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. They did not contribute to the inspection. Two children who have moved on from the home spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. She is registered to manage two homes.

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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

Date of last inspection: Not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Inspection report for children’s home: 2774066 2 On 23 July 2024, following a monitoring visit to the home, it was identified that children were at risk of harm. This was because safer recruitment checks were not robust. As a result, Ofsted suspended the home’s registration.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following a monitoring visit to another children’s home in the company on 30 July 2024, the suspension was lifted. This was because action had been taken to improve safer recruitment. A notice restricting accommodation was issued on 31 July 2024.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A further monitoring visit took place on 4 September 2024. During the visit, improvements were found. The four requirements raised at the last visit were met. The notice restricting accommodation was lifted. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774066 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves to the home are positive. Care planning is robust and child focused. This offers reassurance and comfort to children during times of change and uncertainty. Staff promote positive endings. Two children have returned to live with their families in line with their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their starting points. They receive good care from dedicated staff who talk fondly about them. One child said, ‘Staff were patient, they did not give up, they stuck by me. We got there in the end. I made progress, it was a journey.’ A social worker described the home as a ‘safe and nurturing environment’. They added, ‘I commend staff for their commitment, love and care.’ The family-like atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Children are supported to personalise their bedrooms. This creates a sense of permanence and belonging, which contributes to children feeling secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

While the educational progress of children is mixed, they are encouraged to access education and to make progress. When children do not attend school, staff encourage them to learn at home, and managers advocate for their return to full-time education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s family relationships and cultural identities are well supported. One child was supported to attend a family wedding in the Cayman Islands. They met many of their family members for the first time during their trip. The child described this as ‘brilliant’. Creating happy memories contributes to children’s life stories and has a positive effect on their well-being.

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

Two children who have moved on from the home said they always felt safe because staff did not give up on them when they were in crisis. One child said, ‘Staff would give me time to talk things through when I made silly decisions. I had no worries; I really felt safe, I trust the staff, they had my back.’

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

Safeguarding processes keep children safe. Managers and staff understand their responsibilities to protect children. Systems for reporting, escalating and recording safeguarding concerns are effective.

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

Partnership working with external professionals is a strength of the home. Managers share information promptly and take guidance from external professionals to adapt their approaches and revise safety plans to keep children safe. This is a good safety net for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774066 4 Children’s vulnerabilities and life experiences and the risks that they face are well known by the staff looking after them. Staff and managers are professionally curious, and work hard to look beyond children’s presenting behaviours to understand what causes them to make unsafe decisions. This approach supports children to be safer.

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

Staff provide safe care for children. Risk assessments and safety plans are kept under constant review and are updated. However, one child’s missing-from-home protocol lacks detail. This oversight does not compromise safety, and the manager gave assurance that she will rectify this.

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

Children who go missing from the home are well supported. One child talks openly with their peer mentor about their experiences when they are away from the home. These important discussions help the child to reflect and encourage them to make safer decisions. This is a positive area of practice. When children go missing from the home, staff work tirelessly to try to find them. This shows children they are loved and cared about.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children like the manager. One child said, ‘She is the best manager ever. She understands me, she listens.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has just returned to work following a planned absence. The home was led effectively by the operations manager, supported by the deputy manager, in her absence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are proud of the children, and they want the best outcomes for them. They are strong advocates and challenge decisions when they are not made in children’s best interests. This shows their commitment to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers’ monitoring systems are effective. The systems help them to have good oversight of the home and to identify and address any shortfalls quickly. This drives continuous improvement to benefit children and ensures that their care is provided in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by their managers. There is a strong sense of togetherness, and a stable and settled team means that children receive care from staff they know and trust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive monthly reflective supervision sessions that provide them with the time and space to reflect on their work. Staff who have worked at the home for more than 12 months have had their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills they need to meet children’s needs. Staff speak positively about their training, which includes supporting children Inspection report for children’s home: 2774066 5 who go missing and children who are risk of exploitation. This training helps staff to care for children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have developed positive and effective relationships with the children’s professional networks. Feedback from professionals is positive. Three social workers describe communication with the home as ‘good’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774066 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2774066 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solve Housing Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3000, 123 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3ND

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Inspector

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2774066 8 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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