Children's home run by South West Childcare Services

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1248071 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider and registered to provide care for up to two children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A qualified registered manager has been in post since February 2021.

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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 inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: 1248071 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The three children who have lived in the home since the last full inspection have had different experiences and outcomes, with varying amounts of progress. ‘Staff supported one child to move to a new home within the same organisation that better met the child’s needs. For another child, staff were unable to keep them and others safe. As a result, notice was served and this child had to move to a new home. Staff support the third child well and help them to make positive progress. They attend school, enjoy social and recreational activities and have not been involved in any adverse incidents since moving into the home.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last full inspection leaders and managers had not ensured that all members of staff working with children had completed their mandatory safeguarding training. All staff have now completed this. Meaning all staff now have the additional knowledge and skills to help keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Managerial oversight of incidents including those of a serious nature continues to be ineffective. Areas where lessons could be learned, or improvements need to be made have not been identified to help minimise the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future. Poor staff practice has gone unchallenged meaning staff have not been supported or encouraged to improve and develop in their roles.

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Findings from the inspection

Restraint has been used infrequently to prevent children from harming themselves or others, with the last incident being September 2024. R ecords do not sufficiently detail what techniques staff used to try to and de-escalate the incident to evidence that restraint is always used as a last resort. Leader’s and manager’s evaluation failed to identify this and assure themselves that restraint was necessary and proportionate.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff have worked hard to form positive relationships with all three children and support them to have their needs met. The in-house therapies team delivered bespoke training to staff to give them the knowledge and additional skills that they required to help better support children’s individual needs. In addition, they provided advice and support to help staff with their wellbeing. A member of staff welcomed this help and support and felt that the whole team were stronger as a result. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1248071 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/05/2023 Full Good 19/07/2022 Full Good 29/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1248071 4

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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

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; .

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the homes 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)(v)(vi)(vii) (e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff understand plans to keep each child safe, and take appropriate action in response to risk. 02/06/2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 02/06/2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1248071 5 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(g)(i)(ii) (h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is robust oversight of the care provided to include effective policies; in addition the registered person should ensure that systems in place to monitor and improve practice. Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that in practice and in recorded evidence all restraint is necessary, proportionate and used as a last resort. 02/06/2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1248071 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Gary Turney, Social Care Inspector Polly Soper, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1248071 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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