Children's Home run by Young Birch Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Young Birch Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in April 2021 and is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently absent from work and the interim manager has applied to register with Ofsted in April 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home. The inspectors spoke with both children.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Summary of findings

Children are settled in the home and benefit from trusting relationships with staff. Progress in children’s education has been mixed; however, staff work proactively with the professional network to support improvement. The home environment has improved.

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Summary of findings

There has been a reduction in incidents. This progress is supported by staff using curiosity and reflection to develop a better understanding of children’s needs. Medication errors have been responded to appropriately, and recruitment processes are carried out safely.

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Summary of findings

The effect of changes in leadership and management has been minimised through effective planning. Staffing levels are sufficient, and the team is stable. Regular team meetings and supervision strengthen consistency in practice and continuity of care for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home, and one child has moved out. The child who moved in was welcomed with sensitivity and warmth, which supported them to settle quickly and develop positive relationships with staff and their peer. In contrast, the child who moved out did so at short notice. This poorly planned move did not allow sufficient time for preparation and resulted in a negative experience for the child. Leaders and the manager appropriately raised concerns with the placing authority regarding the impact of this experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been clear improvements to the home environment. New carpets and redecoration have refreshed the property, further enhanced by photos of children enjoying activities. However, this progress has not extended to the garden. Further attention is required to improve its maintenance and overall presentation so that it becomes a usable and welcoming space for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in the home and benefit from meaningful relationships with staff who know them well and are committed to their care. Staff take time to listen to children and provide regular opportunities to capture their wishes and feelings. As a result, children feel safe and are increasingly able to express their views and concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made mixed progress in education. One child has excellent attendance and benefits from a clear, well-structured routine implemented by staff, which supports their engagement in learning. However, this has not yet been achieved for the other child, who continues to spend significant time out of education. Staff are working proactively with the wider professional network to address this challenge. However, there have been occasions when earlier escalation would have strengthened the response and supported more timely progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to access a range of new experiences, including visits to Blackpool, birthday celebrations, and activities such as laser tag and cinema outings. These experiences contribute to children’s developing sense of self-esteem and belonging.

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

There has been a significant reduction in incidents in the home, particularly for one child. This progress has been supported by staff adopting a curious and reflective approach to understanding the child, including gaining insight into his friendships, whereabouts and influences. For example, staff have proactively developed relationships with the parents of the child’s friends. This has contributed to improved stability for the child.

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

When incidents occur, staff take appropriate action to ensure children’s safety and make timely contact with relevant safeguarding agencies.

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

Two medication errors have occurred. On both occasions, leaders and managers responded proactively. Appropriate action has been taken to strengthen staff understanding of medication procedures, including additional training and increased oversight to ensure that staff are competent and safe when administering medication. This remains an area for continued development.

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

Complaints and allegations are taken seriously and responded to appropriately. Learning from incidents is used to inform care planning and improve practice in the home.

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

Recruitment processes are robust. Where concerns have been identified in references, they have been thoroughly explored and risk assessed to ensure that only suitable staff are employed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in leadership and management since the last inspection. However, effective planning has ensured that these changes have had minimal effect on children and staff. For example, increased availability of the responsible individual has strengthened support and continuity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well supported in their roles and can access guidance from senior staff when needed. The team is stable and sufficient in number to meet the needs of the children living in the home. Since Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection, no staff have left the service, reflecting stability and continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training to support their professional development and ensure that they have the necessary skills to meet children’s needs. While staff responses to children have not been identified as a shortfall, further developing their understanding of children’s experiences of care, including the effect of trauma, would enhance their ability to respond more effectively to children’s behaviours and emotional needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings provide staff with opportunities to share information, reflect on incidents and discuss the individual needs of the children. These meetings promote consistency in practice and encourage meaningful professional discussion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, practice-related supervision, which is an improvement since the last inspection. Supervision is reflective and tailored to individual staff members, with opportunities to consider incidents and learning needs. For example, medication errors have been explored during supervision to support improved practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Positive feedback from a range of professionals and family members highlights a consistent theme of effective communication by staff and strong engagement with the wider professional network. Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 25 September 2026

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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—

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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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii)) 25 September 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. In most cases, children’s homes should be homely, domestic environments. This specifically relates to ensuring that the garden is well maintained and safe, including any outbuildings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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: 2618755 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Becky Rutter, Social Care Inspector Salma Ahmed, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2618755 9 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspectors

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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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