Children's home branded inadequate after knife find

Charity St Christopher's, who run the Sandwell children's home in question, say they are disappointed by Ofsted's report highlighting what the inspector calls 'widespread failures' in the protection of the young residents.

Amongst the most concerning aspects of the findings, was the description of an incident involving a knife. In his report, inspector Mark Fitzgerald said: "Hazardous situations are not dealt with effectively. This failure places young people and staff at risk. For example, a young person was able to remove a kitchen knife from a cupboard that managers and staff believed was secure.

"Once the knife was retrieved, it was put back into the same insecure cupboard. The same young person was subsequently able to remove the same knife from the same cupboard the following day. The lack of learning from the original incident meant that the police were required to intervene to resolve the matter."

Another incident was described by the inspector, which also contributed to the home receiving the 'inadequate' rating.

"Recording of critical incidents does not reflect the true seriousness of the situation. For example, one young person punched another twice in the face. The staff described this as 'play fighting'," said Mr Fitzgerald. In addition he expressed concern that the vulnerable youngsters were able to lock themselves in the bathroom.

Mr Fitzgerald also noted that one of the residents' school attendance records for the academic year was 33 per cent.

"Staff do not rigorously encourage school attendance and where there are delays in school transport, this goes unchallenged," he said. Other criticisms included an 'over-reliance on agency staff' and the state of the home in which the children are housed, with the report making reference to stained carpets, poor paintwork and mould in the bathroom. The exact location of the home, which provides accommodation for up to four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties, has been kept confidential by St Christopher's and Ofsted due to safeguarding reasons.

The report's conclusions have been challenged by St Christopher's, who provide care and support services for vulnerable young people in the West Midlands and elsewhere in the UK, not only in the form of children's homes but also through fostering, accommodation for care leavers and homeless young people aged over 16, and runaway services.

Speaking to the Express & Star about the Ofsted report, Ron Giddens, director of operations at St Christopher's, said: "It was unexpected and clearly very disappointing. We have been running children's homes for many years.

"The young people we care for are making good progress and have a very good relationship with staff. Those in care often come from difficult backgrounds, but we have been able to help many of them get into college, university and jobs."

Mr Giddens added that criticisms such as on the staffing situation had come as a surprise, given that they had the same number employed during this inspection as during previous ones when they were rated as 'good'.

He also reiterated that the incident described between two teenage residents was 'play-fighting' and that no complaints had been made by either party. In relation to the knife, he said that this was a domestic kitchen blade which was now safely locked away along with others.

"We have taken steps in response to this report, which was disappointing, and are expecting Ofsted to return soon for another inspection," Mr Giddens added.