Children's home run by Motivations Activity Projects Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC470284 1 SC470284 Registered provider: Motivations Activity Projects Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children. There is a registered manager who has been in post since July 2019 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 25 to 26 November 2019

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 3 December 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC470284 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 03/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC470284 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(3)(d)) 03/01/2020

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Recommendations

 The ethos of the home should support each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. The home must make available suitable facilities, equipment and resources for learning and ensure that the home’s routines do not form barriers to children wishing to use the home’s resources to study. Staff must support children with home study by encouraging them to learn independent study skills and helping them to practice those skills. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18) This is in regard to ensuring that, where children are not in full-time education, the home promotes and supports informal learning at home. Inspection report children’s home: SC470284 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a well-maintained and comfortable home. When young people arrive at the home, staff support them to personalise their bedrooms. This helps new young people to settle quickly and take pride in their rooms. Staff explain things to young people in ways that they understand. Consequently, young people comprehend why they are living here and learn about the routines and boundaries. Since the last inspection in December 2018, there are three new young people living in the home. Overall, young people are making good progress. Two of the three young people have excellent school attendance and are making good progress. They regularly receive certificates for their efforts at school. The third young person is currently not attending school; however, the manager is working closely with their placing authority to identify a new school provision. Staff support young people to attend activities outside of the home such as gymnastics

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

and cadets. Staff are exploring horse riding for the young person who most recently moved into the home. Young people get excited about new projects and activities. Staff encourage them to make plans for school holidays so that they have activities to look forward to. Staff help young people learn independence skills according to their ages and circumstances. Two young people attend specialist services for their emotional needs. As a result, young people develop new skills and gain in confidence. Staff understand the importance of having good relationships with the young people. Young people feel comfortable talking to the staff about their feelings. Visiting professionals consider that staff ‘work well with the young people’. They repeatedly note the ‘positive relationships’ in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All the young people told the inspector that they feel safe in the home and that serious incidents rarely occur. Staff achieve this by having a thorough understanding of each young person, adhering consistently to clear boundaries, and establishing meaningful relationships with young people. Staff encourage positive behaviour by celebrating young people’s successes, however small. Young people seldom go missing. Nevertheless, staff understand the relevant procedures and have good links with the local police. Staff use a wide variety of resources to help young people understand how to protect themselves from harm, for example using online material to help young people understand specific risks such as stranger danger. Team meetings and staff handovers are thorough. Staff use these to reflect on any incidents or changes in young people’s presentation. This means that staff understand Inspection report children’s home: SC470284 5

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

young people’s feelings and, therefore, their behaviour. Managers have not always completed all safer recruitment checks prior to new staff starting in post. On occasion, managers have failed to verify all previous posts where staff have worked with children or vulnerable adults. This means that managers cannot be certain that staff are safe to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Ofsted registered the manager in July 2019. Prior to stepping into the manager’s role, she was the deputy manager in the home so knows the systems and processes well. She leads the service by engaging staff, young people and professionals effectively. The manager regularly seeks feedback and uses this to make improvements to the home. The manager is keen to improve the home further and all staff take great pride in young people’s achievements. The staff write in young people’s records in a caring and supportive way. Reports and daily entries read like letters to the young people, with an emphasis on the positives whilst sensitively addressing areas of risk. Since the last full inspection, there have been a number of staff changes, with several staff in the home obtaining promotion. Staff changes have not impacted on the consistent care that young people receive. Young people benefit from a team that has a

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

mix of genders, ages and backgrounds. Staff members provide strong role models. Staff are positive about the service and the support that they receive and they raise no concerns. Staff complete a good range of training. Team meetings occur regularly, as does staff supervision. The manager ensures that children’s needs are central to the discussions. This practice means that staff feel supported in their roles and have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the young people living in the home.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC470284 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Motivations Activity Projects Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Matthews Business Centre, Duddeston Manor Road, Birmingham B7 4LZ

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC470284 7 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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