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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement and three recommendations were made at the full inspection on 26 May 2015. The home now has a safe area risk assessment meaning that young people’s safeguarding has improved as staff identify potential risks in the locality, and have appropriate strategies in place to address these. Physical intervention records now include clear details about efforts made by staff to de-escalate incidents. This in turn is helping young people who choose to examine their records to better understand why an incident escalated into a physical restraint. Suitable and committed staff continue to support young people through their placements. Additional staff have started working at the home and young people are now looked after by a sufficient number of staff which ensures their safety and well-being. A number of shifts are covered by a small group of agency staff. Consequently, changes in the personnel working with young people is minimised

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and most young people form relationships with a stable group of staff. Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in the number of missing from care incidents. Staff have liaised closely with police, family and other professionals to safeguard young people and promote their safety. Young people are supported as staff work with them to highlight risks and dangers associated with going missing. Where young people may be resistant to changing their behaviour or not accepting help and advice, staff are persistent and take every opportunity to strengthen relationships and facilitate change for young people’s benefit. Most young people have strong relationships with staff. Staff are caring and nurturing and most young people say that staff help them and look after them well. They say that staff listen to them. Staff continue to support young people to semi-independence through their independence plans. Young people say they learn to cook and budget and learn

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

valuable skills in their journey to adult life. Social Workers are complimentary about the quality and frequency of contact with staff and say they are kept informed about young people’s progress. The home continues to be led by an experienced and committed registered manager. The registered manager is well established and has a good understanding of the strengths and development needs of the home. A number of new shortfalls are identified at this inspection. Not all areas of the home are maintained to a good standard. This includes shortfalls in the shower area, bathroom and one of the young people’s bedrooms. These shortfalls mean that young people do not reside in a well maintained home or one which promotes their self-esteem and self-respect. Not all young people are receiving an education, and plans for reintroducing one young person to education remain unclear. In addition, alternative arrangements

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to support young people’s education whilst they are out of school are not in place. Young people’s progress is compromised due to poor access to alternative educational provision and a lack of clarity about future education placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are not always updated in line with organisational policy. For example, following an incident of self-harming, a risk assessment was not updated. Consequently, young people are cared for by staff who are not always fully briefed about their current circumstances and the appropriate steps to ensure their well- being. Young people live in an environment which is not reviewed and monitored with sufficient rigour and attention as specified by organisational policy. This in turn is compromising their safety and welfare. Not all staff receive training about the specific needs of young people. At the last inspection, this was the subject of a recommendation. This leaves young people not being cared for by staff who fully understand their diagnosis or presentation.

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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 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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, with particular reference to the decoration and maintenance of the home, the registered provider must -

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Requirement Due Date

(2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child 29 Jan 2016

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Requirement Due Date

In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure that staff -

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Requirement Due Date

(2)(a)(i) help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans

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Requirement Due Date

(2)(a)(vii) help a child who is not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and return to school as quickly as possible 29 Jan 2016

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Requirement Due Date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered provider must ensure -

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Requirement Due Date

(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 29 Jan 2016 13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due Date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must -

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Requirement Due Date

(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care in the home. 29 Jan 2016

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Requirement Due Date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate professional development (Regulation 33(4)(a). 29 Jan 2016

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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