Children's Home run by SOLID GLOBAL LIMITED in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 1 Registered provider: Solid Global Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a privately owned limited company. It provides care for up to two children with mental health needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. Both children spent time with the inspectors and shared their views about their experiences of living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager, who registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/06/2025 Full Good 09/04/2024 Full Good 25/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/06/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children report feeling listened to. They feel safe living at the home but weaknesses in safeguarding and leadership affect the quality of care they receive. Staff know children well and positive relationships are established. However, staff do not always maintain boundaries or respond effectively during periods of crisis, which negatively impacts on children’s experiences. Children are making progress from their starting points, and staff and leaders are committed to supporting them. Despite this commitment there are shortfalls in leaders’ oversight of care. Monitoring systems and leaders’ analyses of incidents lack depth, with limited reflection on wider themes and patterns to identify and make improvements.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are making progress from their individual starting points. However, shortfalls in how they are helped and protected alongside weaknesses in leadership and management mean that children’s experiences, safety and overall progress are hindered.

p.3

improvement to be good

Care planning is child centred and children’s moves into the home are well planned, helping to provide stability and continuity of care. One child has lived at the home for some time and has benefited from this stability. Another child moved out of the home after a significant period living in the home as staff were no longer able to safely meet their needs. This decision was made in the child’s best interests to ensure their safety.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children value their relationships with staff and speak positively about them. Staff support children to take pride in their appearance and develop age-appropriate self-care skills. Staff assist children with styling their hair, which promotes their identity, confidence and self-esteem.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are not consistently met. Staff support has contributed to improvements in one child’s health, and the child is proud of their progress. However, staff are not yet able to effectively encourage and support positive health choices for all children so they can achieve and maintain good health.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children enjoy positive experiences that support their development and confidence. Staff encourage children to pursue their interests and recognise their achievements. One child spoke happily about performing on stage in a recent stage production. The child appreciated staff attending the performance, reflecting the supportive relationships they share with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Children report feeling safe in the home. Staff know the children well, understand their individual vulnerabilities and complex life experiences, and are aware of the actions needed to promote children’s safety and wellbeing.

p.4

improvement to be good

However, there have been times when staff have been unable to effectively support children during periods of distress, including when children have barricaded themselves inside rooms. Staff do not always respond confidently to escalating situations or maintain boundaries. Police assistance has been required on several occasions to manage incidents within the home, but leaders’ reviews of incidents indicate that some of this police involvement was avoidable. During some of these incidents, children received police cautions, and on one occasion, a child was arrested. This has contributed to the criminalisation of children and impacts negatively on children’s wellbeing.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff and leaders always lock external doors, and the kitchen door is locked at night, which restricts children’s access and freedom. These restrictions have not been formally agreed and are not subject to regular review to ensure they remain necessary and proportionate. In addition, the fire risk assessment for the home is not adhered to because suitable locks are not fitted to external doors to enable a safe exit in an emergency. Leaders committed to reviewing these arrangements.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff do not complete sufficient records when children are restrained. Records do not consistently include the events leading up to the restraint, and the manager does not always speak with children afterwards to understand their experience. These shortfalls reduce opportunities to evaluate staff practice and identify learning to ensure that children’s welfare is promoted.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children are supported to manage their emotions. Children talk openly to staff about their feelings and worries, which is a testament to the positive relationships that they share. These discussions help children to better understand their feelings and develop coping strategies, which has a positive impact on their emotional wellbeing.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff take concerns that children make about other staff seriously and appropriately share them with safeguarding partners. This provides an important safeguard for children and demonstrates to them that their concerns are acted on. Children are kept informed of the outcomes of investigations, receive support to help them understand decisions that are made and, where appropriate, rebuild relationships with staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is committed to achieving positive outcomes for children. They speak proudly of children’s progress and have high aspirations for their futures. However, they do not always provide sufficient challenge to external professionals. This means that opportunities to advocate for one child’s needs were not progressed. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 5 Managers’ oversight of children’s care is inconsistent. Their analysis following significant incidents is weak with insufficient reflection to contextualise these within wider themes and patterns. For example, when children have barricaded themselves inside rooms and staff were unable to gain access, the suitability of the doors was not reviewed and plans to access rooms where children could barricade the doors were not put in place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager’s quality of care review lacks sufficient analysis and does not provide a clear picture of children’s experiences and progress. This has been noted as a shortfall previously. In addition, the independent person’s monitoring is not always rigorous and has failed to identify some significant incidents. Together, these weaknesses reduce the effectiveness of monitoring systems and limits opportunities for improvement.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff enjoy spending time with the children and feel supported by leaders. Induction arrangements for new staff are effective, helping them understand their roles and the expectations of the home. Regular supervision, team meetings and reflective practice sessions promote learning, which supports staff development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff who have worked at the home for more than 12 months have their performance and fitness to carry out their role appraised by managers. However, appraisals do not include the views of children or relevant professionals, limiting the overall assessment of staff performance.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and the manager have not ensured that all staff have completed the required qualification within the mandatory timescale. This shortfall was identified at the last inspection and has not been addressed.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s statement of purpose does not contain all required information. This reduces transparency for children, families, professionals and the regulator about who is providing care and support within the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 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

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(a)(f)(g)(i)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that monitoring systems are effective and promote continuous improvement. IN addition, leaders and managers must ensure that in their analysis they identify themes and patterns to ensure staff have the skills and experience to meet children’s needs and promote 18 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 7 their safety and welfare in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

p.7

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.7

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The relevant date is in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff achieve appropriate childcare qualification within timescales. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 18 September 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; 18 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 8 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and wellbeing; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

children are helped to live healthy lifestyles.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c) 2(a)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff effectively encourage and support positive health choices for all children so they can achieve and maintain good health.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that —

p.8

Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy to access to any areas of the home’s premises—

p.8

Requirement Due date

Is intended to safeguard each child in the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that, if doors are kept locked, the restrictions are formally agreed and regularly reviewed to ensure they remain necessary and proportionate. 18 September 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must and must ensure that staff 18 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 9 Seek to involve each child’s placing authority in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.8

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 relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(c))

p.9

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.9

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.9

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.9

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; 18 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 10 and 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.10

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.10

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.10

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2) (a)(c))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 18 September 2026

p.10

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.

p.10

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it;

p.10

Requirement Due date

and 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))

p.10

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose contains up-to-date and accurate information regarding all staff working in the home. 18 September 2026

p.10

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals are informed, where possible, by the views of colleagues and other professionals who have worked alongside the staff member. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 11  The registered person should ensure that the suitable locks are fitted to external doors to enable a safe exit in an emergency to ensure that the home meets the needs of the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person’s monitoring is rigorous to ensure any shortfalls are identified to promote continual improvements in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

p.10

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: 1259178 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solid Global Limited

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Astor House, 282 Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield B74 2UG

p.12

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Octovus Muchemenye

p.12

Inspectors

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1259178 13 regulates 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.

p.12

Inspectors

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.13

Inspectors

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

p.13

Inspectors

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

p.13