Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children's home: 1240936 1 Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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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 operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have experienced childhood trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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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: 1240936 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Good 10/10/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good 05/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1240936 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home and shared their views about their experiences with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, five children have moved out of the home and five children have moved in. All moves were well planned to take account of children’s individual needs. One child wrote to the staff thanking them for the love and care they had received during the four years they had lived in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff have good relationships. There is warmth and interest shown by staff. Achievements are celebrated, and skills are learned through daily interactions with staff. Direct work is purposeful and researched, taking into consideration individual need and understanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are not in formal education, the manager and staff work hard with professionals to ensure that a school is quickly identified. While children wait for a school place to be found, staff provide structure, routine and educational activities to ensure children are prepared for school. Children who have left school are supported to look at future options. This helps to prepare children for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence plans are realistic for children. Staff have clear plans in place to support children in developing their independence skills. Staff are helping children to develop the skills they will need when they leave the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their family and friends. Staff encourage social interactions and offer ideas for the time that children spend with those people who are significant to them. Family and friends are also welcome to spend time at the home. During a recent visit, one parent cooked Spanish food for the children and staff, which enhances the sense of community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children need to take regular medication. There have been two medication errors since the last inspection. While there has been no physical or emotional impact on the children, it has highlighted the need for better auditing and training for staff. Leaders had identified this issue before the inspection and are in the process of embedding safer procedures, further training for staff and more effective management oversight.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities well. Children’s individual risks are reviewed and plans updated as needed. Staff talk regularly with children about any safeguarding concerns and risky behaviours, which helps children to understand how to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children's home: 1240936 4 Staff are skilled in managing children’s anxieties. This means that staff do not hold children to keep them safe. Staff are trained in techniques to hold children safely as a last resort should the situation require it.

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

On occasions, there have been incidents relating to children’s self-injurious behaviour. Staff respond quickly and appropriately to manage these risks and remove any items that children could use to harm themselves. Staff are helping children to understand difficult emotions and are working with them to develop positive strategies to manage them. Staff carry out searches of children’s bedrooms when needed.

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

Safeguarding incidents are managed effectively and reported without delay where required. Multi-agency working means there are effective responses to safeguarding events. Professionals said that communication with staff has helped support children in reducing their exposure to risks.

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

Children are supported to take age-appropriate risks, which assists them to develop independence. When concerns about children being exploited have emerged, staff have worked effectively with multi-agency partners to safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is committed and leads by example. She seeks support and guidance from senior leaders when needed and is open to receiving constructive feedback to ensure that she is able to consistently meet the needs of the children and staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in the staff team since the last inspection. These have been managed sensitively to reduce the impact on the children. Safer recruitment practice is in place, and when concerns have arisen relating to staff practice, these have been acted on in a timely manner to prioritise children’s well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff appreciate the manager’s constructive approach. The manager has a calm and nurturing approach, which promotes a trusting environment where staff feel they can learn, develop and improve. The manager has forged excellent relationships with the children, often spending quality time with them. Children seek the manager out for advice or simply to share their experiences from the day.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are well attended, and staff value their importance. They provide staff with opportunities to discuss children and reflect on their care. This helps them to think about how best to support them. Staff also receive input from the in-house therapist to support reflection and therapeutic practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff receive regular supervision sessions which allow them to reflect on and develop their practice. However, some staff in their probation period are not receiving supervision as set out in the home’s policy and statement of purpose. This limits the manager’s ability to consistently support new staff in their role. Inspection report for children's home: 1240936 5 Leaders and managers are in the process of consistently embedding a range of systems to monitor the quality of care given to the children. However, while the quality of care has been monitored since the last inspection, it has not been consistently recorded. This impacts on the manager’s ability to fully identify the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The home’s statement of purpose has been reviewed and updated. However, it has not been sent to Ofsted within the required time frame, which reduces Ofsted’s oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak highly of the support offered to children, directly attributing this to strong leadership and a capable staff team. Information relating to children’s events and progress is kept up to date through consistent communication. Inspection report for children's home: 1240936 6

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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 make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that regular audits take place and that staff receive the necessary refresher training in relation to managing medication. 10 September 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 10 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 10 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 1240936 7 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. In particular, ensure that supervision is prioritised during staff’s probation period. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 1240936 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale OL12 9EN

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Inspector

Kate Savage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1240936 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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