Children's Home run by Hand In Hand Childcare in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2808172 1 Registered provider: Hand In Hand Childcare

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in December 2024. This was the home’s first inspection. The register manager’s post has been vacant since April 2024. There is an acting manager in post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2808172 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated, warm and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are spacious and personalised in line with their wishes, with photos of family members on display. Space within the home supports children to spend time with each other, and those that care for them. There is also space to support them to have privacy and time alone if they wish. This helps children to feel both connected and respected, supporting positive relationships.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with staff. They are encouraged to take part in hobbies and activities. One child said: ‘I like all the staff; they support me and take me places.’ One child enjoys dancing and trampolining and has recently joined a local gym. The other child enjoys football, pool and boxing. These opportunities support the children’s social development and build positive self-esteem.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff value education. However, educational outcomes are mixed. Since moving into the home, one child has made excellent educational progress but one child remains out of education. The manager has escalated this, but progress has been slow. This is due to lack of clarity regarding the child’s education, health and care plan (EHC plan) and the admission process that relates to this. A tutor has now been identified and an urgent EHC plan review arranged. Supporting children’s education and career goals gives them a sense of purpose and helps them to have control over their future.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their families and understand how important this is. Staff show insight and understanding into the effect that separation and loss have on the children and their presenting behaviour. They show patience, care, empathy and compassion and this helps children to process grief, trauma and loss.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to share their views through weekly meetings, direct work and general conversations with staff. As a result, staff know the children well and respond effectively to their individual needs. Staff understand children’s care plans and ensure that direct work completed with children is meaningful and relevant to their experiences. However, care planning is not always clearly recorded, nor regularly updated. This has the potential to affect the consistency and continuity of care.

p.2

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

Children have individual behaviour support plans. These consider each child’s associated risks, behaviours and support needs. Children’s views are clear within these plans. Children tell staff what they want from them, and what they like and dislike. This helps children to feel listened to and ensures that support is tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808172 3 Staff understand risks to children and their vulnerabilities. They work well with other professionals to ensure children are safeguarded. There have been some incidents of children being missing from home. When this occurs, staff follow the children’s plans and work with parents and professionals to ensure that the child returns home safely. When children do return, they are warmly welcomed. This offers reassurance and helps children to feel valued and cared for.

p.2

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

Children say that they feel safe, can speak to staff about their worries and know how to complain. Children say that staff listen and act on their wishes and views. This helps build trust and emotional security, empowering children and reinforcing their rights.

p.3

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

Staff receive training to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the children’s needs. Training covers a range of key areas and is adapted to reflect the individual needs and experiences of children living in the home. For example, this includes training around the home’s therapeutic model of care, self-harm and children going missing from home. This supports consistent, emotionally attuned care that is tailored to each child’s needs and designed to keep them safe.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left their role in April 2024, which prompted the inspection. The home is led by an acting manager who was known to the children in her previous role as the deputy manager. This has supported a smooth transition for both children and staff. The manager is calm and conscientious and wants the very best for the children. She is supported by senior leaders on a day-to-day basis.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is diverse. Staff clearly enjoy working at the home and say that they feel supported by the manager and leaders. One staff member said: ‘Everyone is so knowledgeable and approachable, and the manager is always available. It’s a very supportive place to work.’

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and supervision sessions take place regularly. They are used as time for staff to reflect and learn. Children’s plans are discussed alongside the day-to-day running of the home. Staff training and development is also an area of focus and discussion during this time. One staff member said: ‘I feel confident I will be supported to progress.’ Creating an environment for staff to grow and develop supports staff stability, and helps provide consistency of care for the children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and staff are supported by a psychologist linked to the home. Assessments are undertaken to ensure children have access to services that are best suited to their needs. This informs staff’s practice and support and identifies services and provision from partner agencies if required. Identifying appropriate and meaningful support helps improve children’s overall development, well-being and long-term outcomes.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and leaders have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. The recent addition of a deputy manager and team leader has Inspection report for children’s home: 2808172 4 strengthened the staff team. The operations manager has a clear development plan to use this experience to improve practice and promote ongoing development. There has also been additional training sourced to develop knowledge and understanding in relation to a child’s emerging behaviour. This actively improves both the quality of care and experiences for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808172 5

p.3

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that all the children have a plan that staff can work to, to ensure children are helped and protected, and that their welfare is promoted at all times. 9 May 2025

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets and their next steps for learning. If a child’s progress is not in line with their agreed targets or next steps, staff should seek expert advice from education professionals. In particular, the registered manager should ensure that the child’s EHC plan is reviewed without delay to enable staff to understand the child’s educational support needs and targets. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.11)

p.5

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: 2808172 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hand In Hand Childcare

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wallace Crooke, 20 Birmingham Road, Walsall WS1 2LT

p.6

Inspector

Mandy Wake, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2808172 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7