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

Assurance visit report: SC470284 1 SC470284

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 25 November 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC470284 2

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The care of children

The same young people have remained living in the home since the last inspection in November 2019. Young people like the staff team and are able to talk to them. As a result, staff have positive relationships with young people and know them very well. All three young people told the inspector that they feel supported and are settled in the home.

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The care of children

Young people have been supported by staff to understand the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications for them. Staff supported young people to keep in touch with family and friends when face-to-face visits could not take place due to restrictions. All three young people have plans with family to look forward to over the Christmas period.

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The care of children

Managers and staff seek the views of young people via children’s chats, consultations and key-working sessions. Staff have created memory books for young people that record all the activities and trips that the young people have enjoyed. This provides young people with a sense of belonging.

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The care of children

Managers and staff have worked hard to ensure young people remain at school wherever possible during the national restrictions. This has been successful and all three young people are attending full-time education.

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The care of children

Managers and staff ensure that young people’s care plans are updated regularly. This means that progress and areas to work on are clearly recorded and the young person’s journey can be easily seen.

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The safety of children

On occasion, there is conflict between young people. Staff address this quickly and take proactive steps to address behaviour within the home.

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The safety of children

Staff understand the effects of being confined indoors during restrictions on young people’s behaviour. Staff have dealt effectively with the few incidents of challenging behaviours that have occurred. Managers’ oversight of physical intervention records has not, on occasion, ensured that full details have been recorded.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are in place and up to date. They provide staff with clear guidance on how to keep young people safe. Young people told the inspector that they feel safe.

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The safety of children

On occasion, young people have made allegations against members of staff. Although young people have retracted these allegations, this information was not shared with the designated safeguarding officer. This has had no detrimental impact on young people as staff have ensured that young people are safe and allegations have been shared with social workers. Assurance visit report: SC470284 3

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Leaders and managers

There have been significant changes to the staff team over the past six months. An interim manager is leading the team while the registered manager is on maternity leave. Several staff members have left to explore other career options. Managers have ensured that a small core team of staff provides consistent care for young people as new staff have been introduced to the home. Staff have worked additional shifts and bank staff have been used to provide stability.

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Leaders and managers

Staff feel supported by managers and are passionate about their jobs and making a positive difference to young people in their care. Managers ensure that staff receive training in key areas. Managers have been proactive in identifying new training for staff to enable them to meet the changing needs of the young people they look after.

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Leaders and managers

Managers are not routinely sharing with Ofsted the home’s statement of purpose following updates. This does not ensure the regulator has oversight of changes in the home.

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Leaders and managers

The one requirement raised at the last inspection has been met. Two new requirements have been raised following this visit.

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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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers updating and providing HMCI with the revised copy of the statement of purpose within required timeframes. 30/01/2021 Assurance visit report: SC470284 4 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to managers informing the designated safeguarding officer of any allegations that children make against staff, even if the allegation is subsequently retracted. 30/01/2021

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Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

Managers must ensure that physical intervention paperwork contains a full and detailed account of the incident.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Motivations Activity Projects Ltd

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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 Assurance visit report: SC470284 5 to 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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