Children's Home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2507724 1 Registered provider: Coventry City Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed since the last inspection, however, they have yet to register with Ofsted. The new manager holds a level 5 leadership and management qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the monitoring visit. One child has recently moved on from the home. One child spoke with the inspector as part of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 26 and 27 February 2025. The home was judged to be inadequate as significant shortfalls were identified relating to the help and protection of children. As a result, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation and a compliance notice under regulation 12 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of the visit was to review adherence with the restriction of accommodation notice and assess progress the provider has made towards meeting the steps in the compliance notice and the requirements made at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has adhered to the restriction notice, as no new children have moved into the home. Additionally, the provider has taken sufficient action to address the steps outlined in the compliance notice and has met one of the requirements. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2507724 2 There has been a period of reflection across the organisation since the last inspection. Senior managers have carried out reviews of shortfalls identified and acknowledged areas of improvement required. There has been a commitment to ensure immediate improvements are made but also to longer-term improvements to practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have ensured improvements have been made to children’s plans in relation to exploitation risks. Control measures have been added, which are clear and provide guidance for staff. Plans are now updated following incidents and relevant information is added and shared with staff, collectively and individually. Furthermore, new recording and reporting systems have been implemented, and staff have received additional training to refresh their knowledge and understanding.

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This monitoring visit

There has been effective multi-agency working with safeguarding agencies since the last inspection. Staff have ensured they maintain clear lines of communication with professionals to share key information when children have been in potentially risky situations. This approach has meant safeguarding practice has improved and has helped children be safe.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken appropriate action to ensure staff are professionally curious about children’s experiences. There has been a significant amount of learning by managers and staff to build knowledge and develop practice to ensure they are curious in every situation. Further training is also scheduled to build on knowledge further and embed the approach in practice.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s missing-from-care protocols have been reviewed. Plans now contain up- to-date information and clear guidance for staff to ensure a consistent approach when children are missing. Additionally, senior managers have completed reviews of the missing-from-care policy to ensure this aligns with children’s plans. Staff are now fully aware of the protocols and the standards expected by managers. Children are also confident what action staff will take if they are missing.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers now have systems in place to appropriately assess risks that the people children spend time with may pose. Greater curiosity is being shown in relation to who children spend time with, including discussions of risks with external professionals. The manager and staff understand the new procedures to follow before children meet up with people in the community. There has also been recognition of concerns posed to children online. Control measures have been put in place and children are now handing phones in and engaging with safety checks. Phones have also been removed from children when significant concerns have arisen.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have improved their oversight of risks posed to children and incidents children are involved in. Senior managers have added a second tier of oversight to ensure managers are not missing crucial or important information. Any shortfalls identified are now being addressed promptly. This approach ensures more Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2507724 3 effective oversight and provides learning and development opportunities for managers and staff to continuously develop safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

There have been improvements made to the home environment. Areas of the home have been redecorated and new carpets and flooring fitted throughout. This makes the home more comfortable for children. However, some areas of the home require further improvements. Plans to address this are in place and work is ongoing. Therefore, the requirement relating to this remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

Staffing sufficiency has not been fully addressed. The home remains understaffed, although one new staff member has started work since the last inspection. Relief staff and staff from other homes continue to be used to cover any shortfalls. As a result, the requirement relating to this remains in place.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2025 Full Inadequate 01/08/2023 Full Good 11/05/2022 Full Good 26/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2507724 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 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;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last full inspection and is restated. 24 April 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

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)(c)(i)(ii)) 24 April 2025 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2507724 5 In particular, the manager should ensure the environment is homely and comfortable for children and any improvements required are made without delay.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last full inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure effective relationships are maintained with professionals in the best interests of supporting children. Additionally, the manager should take steps to escalate concerns and make continuous challenge to agencies and professionals if they feel decisions are not being made in the best interests of the child.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last full inspection and is restated. 24 April 2025

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2507724 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Coventry City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coventry City Council, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2507724 7 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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