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 make progress in all areas of their development . They benefit from being cared for by staff who know them well.  Young people feel cared for and nurtured.  Young people are well protected at this home. Staff respond robustly and promptly to any potential issues of harm and ensure young people’s safety.  Staff advocate on behalf of young people to promote their views and wishes.  Individualised care planning is in place.  There is a calm and welcoming atmosphere in the home.  Young people enjoy a variety of activities relevant to their age and interests. Staff plan shifts well and involve young people in planning and reflect their wishes and views about daily events where possible.  The Registered Manager is a strong and committed leader who ensures that practice remains focussed on the needs of individual young people.  There are shortfalls in a few areas of practice, for example recording,

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The children's home provision is good because:

staffing levels, and training. The location risk assessment is also incomplete.

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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

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children's home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c)(the protection of children standard (Regulation 46(1)) 01/08/2015

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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 that staff include detail about efforts made to de-escalate incidents to avoid the use of physical intervention. The Guide, page 49, paragraph 9.59  ensure that sufficient staff are on duty to meet the needs of young people particularly during school holiday periods and evenings. The Guide page 54, paragraph 10.15.  ensure that staff receive appropriate training to ensure that they are ale to meet the needs of young people. Specifically, in understanding the needs of young people with autistic spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is privately owned. Care is provided for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/02/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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good

Young people develop positive, warm and nurturing relationships with staff. They say,’ I am happy here. I have changed. They are my family’. Social Workers say, ‘Staff go above and beyond. They have worked hard with my young person’.

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good

The quality of individualised care provided for young people is good. Taking into account their starting points, young people make progress in all areas of their development. Positive relationships between young people and staff are a foundation for ensuring young people’s progress. Staff encourage positive behaviour. This approach is reinforced through key work sessions and young people’s meetings. Young people understand how negative behaviour impacts on their well-being.

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good

Most young people attend education full time. Where they have difficulty in engaging with education, staff are robust in supporting young people’s choices and assist them with considering alternative provision. Young people’s enthusiasm to learn is captured by staff, and their aspirations acted upon. For example, young people seek voluntary work, learn life skills such as baking and undertake charity work. There are good relationships between staff and local schools and education providers. Staff monitor young people’s progress through regular dialogue with education staff. Young people maximise their learning opportunities and a high priority is placed on learning and education as reflected in positive attendance records.

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good

Young people’s health needs are met including accessing all primary health care services. Young people eat healthily, and contribute to menu planning. They take regular exercise and understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Young people’s psychological and emotional healthcare is supported through partnership working between young people, staff and specialist agencies. Young people learn to engage with services, and trust is developed with professionals. Consequently, where young people have a history of self-harm for example, incidents have reduced.

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good

Young people are encouraged to acquire practical life skills. They assist with chores, learn to cook and maintain their rooms. Their self-confidence and self- esteem is increased. Young people benefit from personalised independent living plans supporting their transition to adulthood. These plans are reviewed amongst staff and with young people. Consequently, young people develop appropriate skills relevant to their needs. Where young people express a wish to develop additional life skills, for example finding a part time job, or volunteering, staff are prompt to meet these requests. This enables young people to develop and enhance their skills and in turn this gives them a sense of belonging and involvement in society.

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good

Staff promote an environment where individuality is respected and valued. Young people learn to understand differences and begin to develop skills in managing conflict with others. They learn about living in a diverse society and understand that others have different views and beliefs. This contributes to their understanding of living in a diverse society.

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good

Young people are assisted to understand their rights and responsibilities, including how to make complaints about life in the home and with external agencies. They have access to independent advocates and use this external support so that their views matter. Young people participate in weekly meetings where they share their views and wishes with staff about their care at the home. Suggestions made by young people are discussed at staff meetings and they receive swift responses back. This helps them to know their views and opinions matter.

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good

Young people participate in a wide range of social, educational and recreational activities inside and outside the home. For example, going to the cinema and watching or playing sport. These activities are planned at the beginning of each shift and young people have a copy of the shift plan so that they are aware of and involved in the structure of the day.

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good

Young people maintain contact with their family and friends wherever possible. This includes face to face and telephone contact. This helps maintain the continuity of relationships and promotes young people’s sense of self and identity.

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good

Young people say they feel safe at the home. One young person said, ’It has made a difference to my life. I can talk to staff and I know that they will help me’.

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good

Staff are responsive to young people’s safety. They ensure that speedy and appropriate steps are taken whenever young people’s safety is compromised. For example, where concerns are raised about child sexual exploitation, staff ensure that prompt and effective multi-agency response minimises these risks. The swift response means young people’s safety and security is quickly enhanced and presenting risks reduced.

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good

Staff reinforce boundaries clearly and young people are responsive to this ethos. Warm relationships between young people and staff promote a positive atmosphere in the home. There are few incidents of physical intervention. Where physical intervention is used, this is as a last resort. Staff promptly complete physical intervention records, although do not always capture the details of de- escalation techniques. This is a missed opportunity to enable staff to reflect of the effectiveness of any early intervention.

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good

Young people respond positively to an incentive scheme of rewards and praise for positive behaviour. They learn to self-regulate their behaviour, promoting self- esteem and security. Young people and staff frequently discuss behavioural expectations in young people’s meetings and in key work sessions. Young people understand expected boundaries and feel that these are fair.

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good

There have been no incidents of young people missing from care since the last inspection. Staff understand the policy in place should such incidents occur and what action they must take to protect young people.

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good

Effective working partnerships with the police mean that a strong network is available to young people. Police officers visit the home on an informal basis. This helps to lower the barriers as young people become more understanding of the supportive role the police play in keeping them safe.

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good

Room searches are rare. Where necessary these are undertaken to reinforce young people’s welfare and safety. The recording of these searches is clear. Young people’s views are recorded and ensure their involvement promotes understanding of these events.

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good

Young people’s safety is further promoted through the appropriate vetting of staff. There are effective and safe recruitment practices in place which mean young people are protected from adults who may wish to harm them. Young people benefit from living in a home that has a safe and secure environment. Regular safety checks ensure that the equipment works well and poses no risks to young people. Fire drills are regularly completed and fire equipment serviced to ensure that it functions properly. All staff and young people are conversant with the fire drills and the need for evacuations from time to time to maintain vigilance and safety for all. Judgement grade

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good

The Registered Manager has been in post since 2014. She has a Diploma Level 5 Children, Young people, Leadership and Management, obtained in 2014. She has over eight years’ experience working in residential care settings.

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good

The Registered Manager is an effective and strong leader. An experienced and able deputy manager and senior residential care workers support her. The Registered Manager ensures the focus of the home is on the needs of each young person and is tireless in promoting this. The Registered Manager has high standards and staff support these so that young people’s welfare is prioritised.

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good

Staff receive good management support. Regular supervision is undertaken with all staff monthly. This enables staff to reflect on the welfare of young people and to review their own professional development. Annual appraisals are completed for all staff and identify progress and areas for development through training. Consequently, staff are equipped with the skills necessary to meet young people’s needs. Staff meetings are used to positively discuss young people’s progress and area of need. This helps to ensure young people benefit from consistent team working from staff.

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good

The Registered Manager has clear and realistic understanding of the strengths of the service and areas for development because of regular monitoring and auditing. One area of development is the refurbishment of the home, a programme that is due to start. This will enhance the physical environment of the home, promoting young people’s self-esteem and self-worth.

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good

Young people benefit from a suitably qualified and mixed experienced staff team. Staff have a thorough induction and say that they feel prepared for working with young people. Where they do not have the necessary level 3 diploma qualification, plans are in place for this training to begin. This ensures that young people are supported by staff who have the skills, abilities and interest to meet their needs.

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good

There are a number of staff vacancies. Staff work additional shifts to maintain consistency of care for young people. Shortages of staff have reduced opportunities for young people to enjoy outings and events, particularly during school holidays and this is impacting on the quality of their free time.

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good

Independent monitoring visits occur monthly and the Registered Manager welcomes external scrutiny and oversight. This report provides scrutiny of all aspects of young people’s care. In addition, the Registered Manager regularly scrutinises all aspects of the home’s running. She prepares self-monitoring reports and submits these to Ofsted outlining patterns and trends and proposals to meet any deficits she has identified in the running of the home. This ensures the service continues to evolve and develop to meet young people’s needs.

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good

The Statement of Purpose states that the home provides support packages for young people with a variety of needs including those of young people with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Staff receive some training input in understanding the complex needs of young people with these diagnoses. To their credit, staff also undertake their own research to better understand young people’s needs. However, some gaps in knowledge remain.

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good

The Registered Manager has not ensured the home keeps a local area assessment up to date. This hinders the Registered Manager being sufficiently informed and potential risks from the location of the home.

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good

One recommendation made at the previous inspection has been met. This has meant young people’s views and wishes are better heard and acted upon. A requirement to improve the physical standards of the home is being addressed shortly with a redecorating and refurbishment programme due to start this month.

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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

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

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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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