Children's home run by Nirmal Homes Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 1 Registered provider: Nirmal Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a small private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2024 Full Good 03/05/2023 Full Good 13/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was on holiday with staff at the time of the inspection. One child spoke to the inspector. The child spoke very positively about their life at the home. The child described the staff as being ‘like family’. They said they feel well cared for and that they do not feel like a child in care. The staff team is made up of people from various backgrounds, and the child enjoys trying foods from different parts of the world.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities that reflect their wishes and feelings. Staff plan activities with children, although they do not always choose to participate. Staff listen to children and support their interests. Staff assisted one child in obtaining a passport and participating in a trip to France that reflected their interests.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive behaviour and daily tasks are encouraged through a reward system. Children choose their rewards, which helps them stay motivated and engaged. This approach supports children in developing responsibility and making positive choices.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are helping one child to develop life skills, including cooking, personal care, and travelling independently. The child’s advocate said that this is helping the child prepare for adulthood.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress in education is carefully supported by staff, although this is not always linear. One child resumed education after a two-year gap. They faced challenges and possible undiagnosed needs. Despite this, they are now attending college full time, studying a course of their choice. Early indications show this placement is supporting positive engagement and progress. Staff have also supported the child in undergoing a formal assessment of their needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Another child did not make the expected progress on their previous course. Staff have now secured a suitable education placement for the current academic year. This placement will further support the child in developing independence skills. It also provides them the opportunity to achieve meaningful learning outcomes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to maintain contact with people who are important to them. Staff have supported one child in visiting people who live far from the home. This has involved staff staying overnight with the child. Staff assisted another child in travelling out of the area to visit people who are important to them. This helps children maintain relationships and supports their identity. One family member said that, despite the physical distance, they receive regular updates. This helps them know what is happening for the child and supports their relationship.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is generally clean and tidy. Children have been involved in choosing how their bedrooms are decorated. Some areas of the home require some maintenance. There is a Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 4 large tear in the living room carpet and black marks around the bath. This needs urgent attention, as it could be indicative of mould.

p.3

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

Incidents are well managed. Staff follow children’s care plans, which are regularly updated and provide clear directions for them to follow. Staff work well with other professionals to keep children safe. They report concerns to the police when required. Staff sought medical advice promptly when a child was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol. Managers review incidents and ensure that lessons are learned and follow-up actions are taken.

p.4

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

Following incidents, children participate in key-work sessions. These provide opportunities for children to reflect on what happened. Children also participate in regular planned key-work sessions. These cover topics such as keeping safe online, substance misuse, criminal activity, and how to make complaints. These sessions help children learn how to stay safe and make positive decisions. As a result, one child has demonstrated a reduction in self-injurious behaviours. They can reflect with staff on things that frustrate them and consider how to respond.

p.4

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

Staff follow clear missing-from-home protocols that reflect each child’s individual needs. These give staff clear instructions to follow when a child goes missing and include addresses and contacts to assist in locating children. This helps staff to respond quickly and keep children safe when they are missing.

p.4

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

Staff understand the risks of exploitation for children. Risk assessments and safety plans help mitigate these risks. External professionals said that staff respond promptly to emerging concerns. Staff demonstrate professional curiosity and explore concerns thoroughly. Staff introduced a child-safe smartphone for one child. This allows staff to closely monitor the child’s online activity. This has helped the child stay safe online.

p.4

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

Safer recruitment procedures are followed. Staff undergo the necessary checks before they work at the home. However, one staff member’s employment history has not been explored. Consequently, leaders and managers cannot be fully assured of the suitability of all staff working with children.

p.4

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

Staff have used consequences as part of their wider approach to manage behaviour. These are generally logical and restorative. However, it is not clear how managers oversee these measures, so there is no assurance that they are fair and proportionate.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and is working towards a relevant level 5 diploma. The manager takes pride in children’s achievements. The manager and staff are aspirational for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 5 Staff enjoy a positive team culture, which they say is like a family. They said that leaders and managers provide them with good levels of support. This helps staff feel valued and confident in their roles. This contributes to the stability of the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff have received up-to-date mandatory training. They also receive additional training that reflects children’s individual needs. This ensures that staff are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide effective care. This proactive approach improves staff practice and the quality of support offered to the child.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly and in line with policy. They are reflective and detailed. This gives staff the opportunity to discuss any concerns and receive constructive feedback. Appraisals are well structured and provide staff with clear short-, medium- and long-term goals. This supports staff development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are regular and well attended. This allows messages and information to be shared consistently across the team. Staff benefit from opportunities to reflect on practice. After an increase in incidents, one team meeting focused on resilience and decision-making. This allowed staff to consider the causes of children’s behaviours and how best to respond. This improved staff’s confidence and strengthened the quality of care provided.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals are positive about the home. They report good communication and timely updates. One child’s social worker said that staff helped them understand the child better. This meant that the social worker could build a positive relationship with the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 5 November 2025

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. In particular, ensure that repairs and general maintenance to the home are carried out promptly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained, as set out in Regulations 31 to 33. They must ensure that a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment is provided during recruitment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 7

p.6

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: 2565542 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nirmal Homes Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Francis Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 8SP

p.8

Inspector

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2565542 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

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 . 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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9