Children's Home run by Motivations Activity Projects Ltd in Sandwell

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people progress in all areas of their development.  They have good relationships with staff.  There is a harmonious atmosphere in the home and young people have a good quality day to day life.  Young people are well protected at the home. They are supported by staff who understand their needs.  Individualised care planning is in place.  Staff work well together to support young people’s behaviour.  Young people learn age appropriate independence skills.  Young people’s views and wishes are welcomed in planning the daily life of the home.  The Registered Manager is a strong and committed leader who ensures that practice focuses on the need of individual young people.  There are a few shortfalls in area of practice including staff undertaking training, some areas of the home would benefit from attention to ensure high standards are maintained, and key documents are missing from one young person’s case records.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered provider must ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to

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Requirement Due date

(i) meet the needs of each child. 01/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 01/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 01/09/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 62 paragraph 14.4).

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Recommendations

 Ensure the Children's Guide is updated to include details of how to contact the Office of the Children's Commissioner (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 24, paragraph 4.22).

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Information about this children's home

The service is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 3 young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/02/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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good

Young people develop warm and nurturing relationships with staff. They say, ‘This is the best home I have lived in. Staff here have been fantastic.’ Social Workers say,’ I have nothing but praise for this home’.

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good

Young people make good progress across all areas of their development as a result of living at the home. Their self-esteem and confidence increases due to the positive relationships they develop with staff. They feel valued and express a sense of belonging to the home, and feeling important to others. Young people know that staff care about them, one said,’ All the staff are really nice, but my key worker is the best!’

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good

Young people have a good quality day to day life. They are relaxed and comfortable in the company of staff. They enjoy activities in the home and going out in the community. Staff work with young people to maximise their opportunities and enhance the quality of their lives. Good memories are forged, and records kept so that young people can reflect on events in the future.

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good

Young people have a healthy lifestyle. They have access to all relevant services to meet their needs. Young people’s health has improved. For example, one young person has increased the range of food he will try since living at the home and finds it easier to sit with others at meals and enjoy a social occasion. Where young people need specialist help, they attend meetings with the support of staff. This ensures that they get the help they need.

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good

Age appropriate skills are developed as young people get older. For example, keeping their rooms clean and tidy, sorting laundry and learning to cook. One young person is keen to help staff round the home and values the time spent with staff. Staff support young people’s enthusiasm to progress in their lives and offer practical support. For example, one young person sent a business proposal to the organisation relating to cleaning company cars.

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good

All young people attend full time education. One education worker said,’ the level of communication with staff is very good’ another said, ’he has made excellent progress since living at the home. We have seen a difference’. Young people have seamless care as staff liaise closely with education providers. Educational opportunities are maximised as young people are supported with homework, and staff attend parent’s evenings to ensure that they have all the relevant information about young people’s progress. Young people are confident that staff listen to their needs. They attend regular young people’s meetings and express their views about practical matters in the home which include menu choices as well as discussing any difficulties they have with other young people or staff. Where there are personal issues, one to one key work sessions enable young people to talk to adults. One young person said, ‘Staff

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good

give me the answers about things I have asked for’.

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good

Where appropriate, young people are supported to retain contact with their family. They retain connections with important people in their lives enhancing their understanding of their identities.

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good

Young people feel safe at the home. They are protected from harm as staff understand their needs and have strategies in place to ensure their well-being. Individualised care planning means that risks are identified, assessed and reviewed regularly. Young people’s changing needs are reflected in staff practice. Young people say,’ I feel comfortable here and safe’.

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good

Staff work well together to support young people’s behaviour. Although there are incidents of challenging behaviour, staff anticipate and de-escalate situations. There have been no incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection as the ethos of the home, reflecting the home’s statement of purpose, is one of supporting and rewarding positive behaviour. An effective incentive scheme is in place which rewards positive behaviour. Young people say that they enjoy completing reward charts, devised to reflect their interests. Young people’s behavioural incidents have decreased as they learn to self-regulate their behaviour. A calmer atmosphere results and is enjoyed by all.

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good

Young people say that they can talk to staff if they have any difficulties. They say that staff listen to them and take their views seriously. Incidents of bullying are rare. There have been no episodes of young people going missing from care or unauthorised absences since the last inspection.

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good

Young people are helped to understand the risks posed by internet use through one to one sessions with staff and discussions at young people’s meetings. Individual risk assessments detail the supervision needed, time and venue of internet use for each young person. Risks from online bullying and grooming are minimised as surveillance and supervision maximises young people’s safety. Young people understand what bullying is and the different forms it takes. Citizenship is enhanced as young people listen to staff advice and support about treating each other with respect.

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good

Risk assessments are dynamic documents reflecting the changing needs of young people. Managerial oversight ensures that these are reviewed and that actions to reduce identified risks are implemented. For example, staff telephone one young person regularly when they are out in the community to monitor their well-being. Some recordings of incidents lack details about events that have occurred. This leaves staff and young people less clear about what happened during an incident and why a particular action was taken.

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good

Effective working partnerships with the police reinforce the strong network of support available to young people. Local police community support officers visit the home and young people become familiar with them. Police work with young people and staff to reinforce the importance of socially acceptable behaviour. Barriers are broken down, and young people become comfortable with the presence of the police. Their understanding of citizenship and responsibility is enhanced.

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good

The Registered Manager ensures that regular health and safety checks are undertaken. This means that any identified hazard is rectified promoting a safe environment for all. Young people participate in fire evacuations further enhancing their safety.

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good

Young people are protected from harm as the Registered Manager ensures that appropriate recruitment practices are in place. Staff recruitment files include all the necessary checks to assess the suitability of staff to work with young people.

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good

The registered manager has a Diploma level 5 in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services. He has been in post since October 2014. He has substantial experience in residential care and provides strong leadership in the home focussed on improving outcomes for young people.

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good

There have been staff changes since the last inspection, with staff leaving and new staff joining the team. Guidance and support for staff is consistent and effective. Staff supervision takes place monthly in line with the organisation policy. Targets for improving practice and extending skills means that staff receive support to understand all aspects of caring for young people. There is a shortfall in training provision as not all staff have training within the timescales set out in their organisational policy. Consequently, young people are cared for by staff who have not had the opportunity to update their knowledge and skills and put these into practice.

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good

Working relationships with professionals and families is very good. Professionals praise the quality of communication with staff at the home. A professional said, ‘The registered manager is excellent and he has been a great influence on the quality of care in the home. I am kept up to date and have good detailed reports from staff. I always know the important things’.

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good

The registered manager works within the principles of the home’s statement of purpose by understanding the impact on young people of deficits in their early life care. Young people receive supportive and nurturing care from staff. Young people make progress as staff understand their diverse needs and respect their individuality.

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good

Young people receive a young people’s guide when they move to the home. The guide is written in clear, accessible language and helps them understand how the home operates. However, the guide fails to inform the young people about how they can contact the Children’s Commissioner for advice or support. This leaves a missed opportunity for young people to seek support from an independent person.

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good

Independent monitoring visits take place monthly and the registered manager welcomes external scrutiny and oversight. These reports inform the registered manager and staff of progress and areas for development. In addition, the registered manager regularly self-scrutinises all aspects of the home’s running through self-monitoring reports. This ensures the service continues to evolve and develop to meet young people’s needs.

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good

There has been one complaint from a young person since the last inspection. The management team took prompt action to investigate this concern. This gives young people confidence that their complaints are taken seriously and investigated by adults.

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good

The registered manager sets high standards for the staff team. He drives forward the progress of young people by oversight of all areas of their development. The registered manager reviews the young people’s placement plans and individual assessments. However has failed to pick up a shortfall as key documents including the Looked After Children Review Minutes which are missing from one young person’s file. This means that the information staff have about young people is not always current. Staff cannot be confident that they are always planning effectively to achieve the outcomes for young people assigned by the Local Authority.

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good

The registered manager and senior staff take action to address any safeguarding concerns by effective liaison with young people and professionals. This ensures that the safety of young people is prioritised at all times.

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good

The home has recently been repainted enhancing the home’s environment. The garden area is empty with few facilities for young people to enjoy the outside space. The young people’s bathrooms require further improvement to ensure high standard living is secured for all.

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good

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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