Children's home run by Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

Inspection report for children’s home: 1273485 1 Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by Birmingham Children’s Trust and provides short breaks for up to seven children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

A new registered manager has been appointed since the last inspection. They are suitably experienced and hold a management qualification at level 5.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1273485 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/10/2023 Full Good 17/08/2022 Full Good 07/09/2021 Full Good 27/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1273485 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home was not operating at the time of this inspection. Since the last full inspection, 17 children have used the service, and the last child left the service in December 2024. The provider is currently applying to vary the home’s registration conditions, and all children have now been transferred to receive short breaks elsewhere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Well-planned introductions take place before children begin using the service. Discussions take place with children’s parents and social workers to ensure that staff have a thorough understanding of children’s needs. Children and parents have several visits to the home as part of the planning, and the visits progress at a pace that suits each child’s needs. Staff supported one child who struggled to settle with additional tea visits until they were ready to stay overnight.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities and experiences during their short breaks. Activities are based on children’s preferences and are assessed to ensure that they are safe. Children have enjoyed visits to the park and local shops, as well as sensory activities, playing in the garden, and listening to their favourite music. These activities promote children’s social and emotional development and help ensure that they enjoy their short breaks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have the skills and receive training to understand children’s various means of communication. Staff encourage children to choose their meals and snacks, and children frequently express their preferences to staff when they are unable to communicate verbally. Records sometimes fail to show how children are supported in expressing their views, and evidence of meaningful consultation could be improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children in understanding how to raise complaints. On one occasion, staff advocated for a child by making a complaint on their behalf when they were unable to do so themselves. The complaint was investigated and resolved, and the child was informed of the outcome through their preferred communication method. This helps children to challenge decisions, even when they are unable to do so independently.

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

Clear plans are in place to manage risk. One child was at high risk of absconding; therefore, a clear plan was put in place to determine which activities were safe and what level of support the child needed while in the community. When the child attempted to abscond, staff intervened by using physical intervention, which was the most appropriate and proportionate response.

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

Staff manage self-injurious behaviour effectively. There is good communication with schools and children’s families to keep everyone informed of any injuries that have Inspection report for children’s home: 1273485 4 occurred. While children receive the support they need, accident records do not always specify whether medical attention was required or provided.

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

Children’s medication is well managed. Before children arrive for their stay, medication is discussed with their parents so that any discrepancies can be addressed. Staff who administer medication have received appropriate training. On one occasion, a child was able to access a staff member’s medication due to a lack of supervision and processes not being followed. The manager took appropriate action to address the concerns; however, important discussions and decisions were not recorded. The medication did not cause the child any harm.

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

Staff recruitment is not always carried out safely. One of two files reviewed revealed a large gap in a staff member’s employment history that had not been explored, and neither file provided any evidence of attempts to verify the reasons why staff have left previous positions of trust. The manager lacks understanding of these necessary checks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change of manager since the last inspection. The home is now overseen by a suitably experienced and qualified manager. Over the last year, the responsible individual has changed several times, and there have been some delays in sending the information to Ofsted. The relevant application has recently been submitted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff recognise the value of working collaboratively. There is clear communication between the home, schools, social workers and parents to ensure that everyone is up to date with changes regarding the child. For example, when one child had a seizure during a stay, parents were quickly informed, and school staff were notified the following day so that they could continue to monitor the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication with parents is good. Parents gave positive feedback about the short- break service. They value the care and experiences that their child receives while away, as well as the break that it gives the family from their caring role. Some parents have expressed frustration regarding the home’s rules around medication, but they understand that they are in place to keep their child safe when away from home. Parents were consulted about the changes to the service and supported to be part of the transition to the new home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective support. They attend regular practice reflection sessions during which they discuss children’s needs in detail. They also receive regular supervision, which helps them to reflect on their practice. However, records of the meetings do not always include enough detail about important discussions following incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have failed to ensure that a workforce development plan is in place that outlines expectations for staff training, supervision and performance management. This shortfall was identified at the last inspection, but due to a lack of understanding of the regulations, sufficient action has not been taken to rectify it. Inspection report for children’s home: 1273485 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have a full employment history and that any gaps are thoroughly explored. It also relates to ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to verify the reason for staff leaving any past employment in a caring role. 1 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 1273485 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that is updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff, including the home’s manager. This recommendation is repeated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records are kept up to date and that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This specifically relates to ensuring that records relating to children’s accidents, staff supervision sessions, and children’s views are sufficiently detailed. It also relates to ensuring that important discussions and decisions are recorded for future reference. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1273485 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Birmingham Children’s Trust Community Interest Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Avenue Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 4DU

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Inspector

Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1273485 8 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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