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 requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of changes at the home since the last inspection. The registered manager left in August 2016 and a new manager is in post. He has made an application to Ofsted to become the registered manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, managers and staff have made significant improvements to the service offered to young people. Improvements have been made to the organisation of the service, the team and the property itself. The home is undergoing refurbishment, including being repainted, and many areas, including young people’s bedrooms, have been refurnished. The home is a warm, welcoming and homely environment. A young person commented, ‘I am thinking about how I want this room to look, and am choosing the colours.’ Young people develop a sense of belonging and ownership, and are involved in the day-to-day life of their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a new young person has joined the home. He said, ’It is amazing here, because staff have made me feel so welcome.’ His social worker commented positively about the support that the young person receives, ‘Staff are beginning to learn about his behaviours and how best they can manage these, without causing him to escalate his behaviours to a higher level.’ Young people’s safety is improved, as staff are attentive and diligent in working with them and manage young people’s behaviour appropriately.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are positive about the changes to the service and reflect on the helpful impact that these have had on young people living at the home. One said, ‘New routines have really helped the young people with their education, and we have seen a reduction in incidents. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have good relationships with staff. Staff continue to help young people to keep themselves safe by identifying any problems early on and stepping in to prevent escalation. Consequently, the use of physical intervention is low, and young people benefit from a calm and welcoming feel at the home. Managers have responded positively to the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Refurbishment of the home is ongoing. Managers and staff prioritise education and most young people attend school. A college placement is identified for the young person who has recently moved in. This promotes young people’s chances to learn, develop and move to adulthood with qualifications, skills and abilities for the workplace. Monitoring and review systems have significantly improved and managers have introduced new ways of making information more streamlined and easily accessible. The home’s location risk

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assessment has been reviewed and outlines the potential risks in the locality in relation to young people living at the home. However, it does not stress that managers and staff will review this assessment each time a new young person joins the home, or if staff receive updated information from the police, for example about new risks in the community. These actions will continue to reinforce young people’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s files now contain all the information necessary to help staff to understand their backgrounds and ongoing needs. When they read their files, young people will see that staff have taken every care to gain as much information as possible to help them to enjoy a productive life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff training has improved. Training specific to young people’s needs is planned, including supporting young people who self-harm. Most staff have the diploma level 3 in residential childcare, and if this has not been gained they are enrolled on the course. All staff now receive regular supervision in line with organisational requirements. Improvements in training and supervision ensure that staff have the support, skills and abilities to meet young people’s comprehensive needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff continue to work effectively with other professionals to promote the welfare of each young person. For example, a local police officer visits the home regularly and talks to young people and staff. Meetings with professionals are arranged if there are concerns about young people’s progress at school. This means that any concerns are appropriately dealt with and young people’s outcomes improve.

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Information about this children’s home

This 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 01/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 21/12/2015 Interim Declined effectiveness 26/05/2015 Full Good 09/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home are reviewed at least every year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. In particular when new young people arrive, and upon receipt of information from police or other agencies. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64 paragraph 15.1)

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

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

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