Children's home run by YCPG Services Ltd in Walsall

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC392492 1 SC392492

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care for four children who have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Two children spoke with the inspector to share their experiences.

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This monitoring visit

On 18 March 2025, Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection of the home. Serious concerns were identified in relation to the home environment, care planning and the leadership and management of the home. Ofsted made the decision to restrict the admission of children into the home. In addition, three compliance notices were issued under regulation 12, regulation 13, and regulation 14.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to assess the provider’s adherence to the restriction of accommodation and the progress made by managers in meeting the steps in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The environment has undergone significant refurbishment in a short space of time. The home is clean, bright and welcoming, with redecoration to a high standard throughout. The previously broken furniture is replaced, and children’s bedrooms have newly fitted carpets. The rear garden is safer for children because new fence panels are fitted. Children like the changes and they were involved in the refurbishment process. One child jet washed the driveway and chose paint colours for the walls. Children are taking greater care of their bedrooms, and their treasured items are on display, which promotes a sense of belonging.

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This monitoring visit

Daily and weekly monitoring checks to make sure that the home remains clean and safe are proving to be effective. The checks highlight issues such as holes in the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC392492 2 walls. The escalation process to ensure that repairs are carried out quickly is understood by staff, and repairs are carried out promptly by the maintenance team. As a result, children live in a lovely, well-maintained and safe home.

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This monitoring visit

The approach to care planning is strengthened. The system to gather sufficient information about children to ensure that their needs can be met at the home is improved. While the system has not yet been tested in practice, the manager is confident that the risks and vulnerabilities of children will be fully considered and thoroughly assessed before they move in.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is reflective and has completed professional curiosity training, provided by a national children’s charity, to improve her practice. The new knowledge she has gained will help her to better explore and gain a deeper understanding of children’s holistic needs to support her decision-making. This will promote children’s safety and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have assured themselves that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of children and keep them safe. The manager analysed the training needs of the staff team to identify gaps in knowledge. Individual staff training plans have been created and completed. Training courses completed by staff include supporting children who display sexualised and unwanted behaviours. As a result, staff have a more in-depth understanding of children’s needs and their confidence to care for the children is increased.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s workforce development plan is also updated. It highlights further training required by staff to enable delivery of the home’s statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

Children feel safe and risk management is improved. Children’s life experiences, risks and vulnerabilities are understood. Detailed and accurate plans help staff to keep children safe. When children go missing from home, the manager uses the information from the children’s independent return home interviews to strengthen safety plans to protect children.

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This monitoring visit

The use of physical intervention in the home is rare. When children are held, the time of the restraint and the measure used are recorded as required by the regulations. This is an improved area of practice and helps the manager to determine whether the use of restraint is fair and proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has demonstrated that it has taken the necessary steps to meet the steps in the three compliance notices. The further two requirements raised are also met. The notice restricting accommodation is lifted. This means that children can be moved into the home when the home has capacity. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC392492 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2023 Full Good 08/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC392492 4

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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: SC392492 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: D M R Services, 102 Queslett Road, Streetley, Sutton Coldfield Birmingham B74 2EZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Joanna Mountford

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Inspector

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC392492 6 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 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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