Children's Home run by MGM Care Services Ltd in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children's home: SC438427 1 SC438427 Registered provider: MGM Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is a small, privately run home looking after up to two children with complex emotional and behavioural needs, which may include autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in December 2011 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID 19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC438427 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2019 Full Good 07/08/2018 Full Good 13/07/2017 Full Good 29/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC438427 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are sensitive and caring in supporting children who are new to the home. When children move in at short notice and with little known history, the registered manager proactively contacts other professionals who know the children to gather information about them. Staff use the information gathered and discussions with the children to assess risks, create care plans and set targets for the children. As a result, staff know the children well and children settle quickly into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans are tailored around the needs of individual children. This helps children to make progress. For example, good routines are helping to promote children’s health and well-being, with their diet, sleep patterns, continence and personal hygiene improving significantly. Staff are proud of the children’s progress and praise their achievements. This builds the children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, the two children were not in formal education. As an interim measure, the home’s staff have implemented educational and independence plans. This is ensuring that the children are experiencing a range of alternative learning opportunities to prepare them for future schooling and vocational work. The registered manager is a strong advocate for the children. He has sourced independent education advocates to ensure that the children are provided with the support they need to access educational placements. Progress has been made and further meetings are planned with a view to educational and vocational placements starting in February 2022 for both children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in developing their life skills. This is because staff talk to the children about what they want to achieve. As a result, children are cooking their favourite meals, such as stir-fries and curries, washing their own clothes and, where appropriate, going out in the local community independently. Successfully learning these new skills has resulted in the children being aspirational about their futures. Future learning has been planned to support them to achieve their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to explore their identities and develop their interests. The registered manager and staff promote discussions on areas such as religion and cultural heritage. Children feel safe to express themselves, and this has resulted in the staff planning events creatively. For example, Eid and Christmas have been celebrated in a different way for each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager continues to develop the home environment. However, the decor in children’s bedrooms is tired and has not been personalised. This shortfall detracts from the children having a homely environment to live in and to enjoy. Inspection report for children's home: SC438427 4

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

Staff promote the safety and well-being of children. They have a good understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures through induction, training and supervisions. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. They adopt a multi-agency approach to ensuring that children are helped and protected.

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

Staff develop nurturing and trusting relationships with the children. Children feel able to talk to staff if they have any worries. This enables the children to feel safe and that they are listened to.

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

Since September 2021, there have been no complaints from children, parents or professionals. There have been no significant safeguarding incidents. There have been no physical restraints, sanctions or missing-from-care incidents.

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

The registered manager and staff ensure that appropriate actions are taken quickly to keep children safe. To inform the safeguarding arrangements for the children currently living in the home, the registered manager contacted their consultant paediatrician to gather information and seek advice. This consultation is ongoing and informs staff’s approach to behaviour management and the planning for activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager promotes and encourages the development of staff. Most staff are suitably qualified. One member of staff has not completed the required qualification. However, the registered manager is monitoring their progress through their personal development plan and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff members’ mandatory training is up to date. However, when face-to-face training has been affected by COVID-19 restrictions, the registered manager has made alternative arrangements and training is now scheduled. This ensures that all staff have the up-to-date skills and knowledge they require to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive regular supervision and appraisals and attend team meetings. New workers feel welcomed to the home. They describe a supportive induction. Staff comment that the registered manager is approachable and accessible. As a result, staff feel that their views are listened to and valued. This ensures that the children benefit from a team approach that is consistent and regularly reviewed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff have a clear understanding of the progress that the children make. This is supported by internal and external monitoring, which show that the children make good progress over a sustained period in most areas of their lives. The registered manager is confident to challenge partnership agencies. His actions ensure that shortfalls are addressed and progress is made to meet the children’s needs . Inspection report for children's home: SC438427 5

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii)) 28 February 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of children and is homely. This specifically relates to the decoration and personalisation of children’s bedrooms. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children's home: SC438427 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: MGM Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Mathew Varughese

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Inspector

Dawn Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC438427 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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