Children's Home run by Accalia Care Services Ltd in Sandwell

Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 1 Registered provider: Accalia Care Services Ltd

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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 a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a suitably experienced manager who registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2025 Full Good 28/06/2023 Full Good 01/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 3

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improvement to be good

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection. All children were present and spoken to.

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improvement to be good

Children have made some progress since the last inspection. However, some safeguarding arrangements and management systems require improvement. Consequently, shortfalls in these systems have had an impact on children’s overall experiences of living in the home.

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improvement to be good

The home environment is welcoming and homely. There are areas for children to relax and enjoy, including a ‘movie room’ and gym equipment set up in the garden. Children are supported to personalise their bedrooms to their individual tastes.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in, and one child has left the home. The child who left the home did so in an unplanned way. However, staff made an effort to support the child and remain in contact after they moved out. The child who moved into the home experienced a quick transition due to urgent circumstances. This limited their opportunity to get to know and adjust to their new environment.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has turned 18. The company has agreed for them to remain living in the home until accommodation in their preferred location becomes available. Staff are supporting the young person to prepare for moving on to independence, for example acquiring furniture and tinned foods. This has provided continuity and stability for the young person.

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improvement to be good

Children’s progress in education is mixed. One child is doing well at college and was supported by staff to change course when they experienced doubts about the course they were taking. Another child has been out of education for several years and continues to have no educational placement. The home has provided educational activities for the child. However, this lacks structure and is not informed by the child’s specific educational needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children’s health needs well. They encourage children to attend appointments. Medication is stored safely, and meticulous records are kept on the administration of medicines.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to spend time with their families and access independent advocates. This provides them with opportunities to share their wishes and feelings. Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 4

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improvement to be good

Staff’s understanding of safeguarding processes and responsibilities is poor. Response to child protection concerns is not quick, and senior members of staff have failed to share information with the local authority. Shortfalls identified have had an impact on children’s experiences. Children who have made allegations about staff have not received effective responses. Information has not been recorded or reported to safeguarding agencies in a timely manner. This has resulted in children being left unsupported and unprotected.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of poor staff practice are not recorded. When two staff were involved in a minor car collision, during which a child was in the car, no record of the event was made. This prevents an accurate understanding of children’s experiences and reduces the quality of risk assessment and understanding of how risks are managed.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the risk that using the internet poses to children. Phone checks are undertaken in accordance with children’s risk assessments, which are reviewed regularly. Conversations with children about online safety help them to understand the risks and support them to learn how to keep themselves safe.

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improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from home, and physical restraint has not been used since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified to lead the home. She is supported by an experienced responsible individual. Both demonstrate a strong commitment to the home and to the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

However, leaders and managers have not taken sufficient action to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the individual needs of children. One child had a diagnosed condition that staff had received limited training on, despite the manager recognising the need to upskill staff soon after the child moved in. Furthermore, information from a specialist assessment that provided insight into the child’s needs and the care they required has not been shared among the team, including senior staff. This has impacted the quality of care the child has received, as staff have not had the opportunity to understand the child’s needs and learn meaningful strategies to enhance the care they provide. This has led to the child having a poor experience of living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Monitoring and oversight of the home are poor. A failure to record incidents has impacted the leaders’ and managers’ understanding of the home, including their capacity to identify risk, respond to children’s identified needs and support staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision. However, practice-related discussion during this time is limited. Supervision records are frequently repetitive and do not evidence meaningful Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 5 discussion about how to support children. This hinders staff development and does not seek to explore how to improve the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from professionals and family members about the home is mixed. One parent reported that staff communicate regularly, and they are pleased with the support their child receives. However, one social worker detailed an incident whereby a staff member did not remain present for a supervised arrangement when a child spent time with their family. This did not follow the child’s care plan and compromised their safety. This incident was not recorded by the manager, which impacts monitoring and oversight of staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose has not been updated to reflect staffing changes and the fact that there is a young adult living in the home. This impacts stakeholders’ understanding of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. Staff enjoy this time to come together as a team. They find it useful to share updates and discuss the needs of the children living in the home. Staff feel supported in their role and speak positively about the home. Recruitment practice is safe and ensures that only suitable staff are appointed to work in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 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 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; and

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 30 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

engage with them; and 30 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 7 take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 30 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 8 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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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

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received.

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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. 30 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 9 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they keep under review a statement of purpose (regulation 16 and schedule 1). The home’s statement of purpose should be child focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care to the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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: 2494873 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Accalia Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bransons Cross Farm, Beoley Lane, Beoley, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 9DP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leaford Williams

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Inspector

Becky Rutter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2494873 11 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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