Children's Home run by Young Birch Ltd in Birmingham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 1 Registered provider: Young Birch Ltd

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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 owned and operated by a private provider. It was registered with Ofsted in April 2021. It can provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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Inspection date: 24 September 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 September 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 2

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children during this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out. Although the home had anticipated a planned transition, this did not occur, and the child was moved at short notice to their new placement. This was a poor experience for the child and did not allow sufficient time for them to prepare for the move. Leaders and managers have formally raised concerns with the placing authority regarding the impact of this experience on the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The child currently living in the home has made some progress. Staff have supported the child to attend health and education appointments. There has been a reduction in incidents, and the child is increasingly responsive to staff encouragement and communication. For example, during free time, the child now responds more consistently to welfare calls and shares details of their location. This reflects the development of positive relationships between the child and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The child continues to experience difficulties accessing education. Staff have worked collaboratively with the professional network to identify a suitable education provision, but one has not yet been secured. Delays in this process are having a negative impact on the child. The need to consider an assessment of the child’s education, health and care needs has been discussed at care planning meetings but remains unaddressed. The home has not escalated this matter, which further hinders the child’s access to appropriate education.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have addressed the shortfalls in recruitment practice identified at the last inspection. The recruitment of new staff has been thorough and has ensured the appointment of safe and suitable individuals.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received specific training to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to care for the children in the home. This has improved staff understanding of the risks children may face and how to respond effectively to behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Team meetings are held regularly; however, minutes do not consistently provide evidence of meaningful discussion. Staff are not yet receiving regular supervision, which limits opportunities for reflection, knowledge-building and skill development in caring for children.

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Findings from the inspection

The implementation of an electronic recording system has improved the organisation of records and key documents. However, the system is not being used consistently, and further support is required to ensure that staff are confident in its use. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 3 The home environment is mostly well presented, and children are supported to personalise their bedrooms. However, the flooring in some areas is in poor condition and requires repair.

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Findings from the inspection

Three of the requirements and the recommendation raised at the previous inspection have been met. Two requirements have been partially met and have therefore been raised again. One additional requirement and one new recommendation have also been raised. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/11/2024 Full Good 15/08/2023 Full Good 04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 5

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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; 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 need of each child;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff have opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge through regular supervision in order to promote the welfare of children. It also relates to ensuring that the monitoring systems are effective in quickly identifying shortcomings. 27 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 27 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that children moving into and out of the home have a well- planned transition and effective induction.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; 27 November 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 7 promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager challenging the local authority plan for a child’s education when they are not attending school, and to escalating the need for a further assessment of a child’s education needs when this has already been identified as required.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home has a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. This specifically relates to ensuring that internal carpets and flooring are well maintained in stairways, landings and bathrooms. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Young Birch Ltd, 4 Station Avenue, Tile Hill, Coventry CV4 9HS

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Inspector

Becky Rutter, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 9 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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Inspector

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