Children's Home run by Momentum Residential Care Home Ltd in Essex

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 1 Registered provider: Momentum Residential Care Home Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who may have experienced trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since September 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. There are two children living at the home.

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The care of children

The staff understand the importance of children’s education. One child successfully moved to a local school before the end of the summer term. This was following a long gap in their formal education. Another child is planning to return to school in September 2022 after making positive progress with a home tutor. The staff have worked with school staff to ensure that introductions for children are planned and meet their needs. Positive routines are maintained in readiness for children’s reintroduction to school.

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The care of children

During the summer holidays, children have enjoyed a good range of activities that meet their interests and support their hobbies. These include paddleboarding, kayaking, trips to theme parks and a recent visit to London. Children provided positive feedback about how these experiences support their well-being.

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The care of children

The staff focus on meeting the children’s primary health needs. The staff work effectively with specialist mental health teams when necessary to meet the children’s additional needs.

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The care of children

Children’s views contribute to the everyday running of the home. House meetings and one-to-one sessions are responsive to the individual needs of each child. The children’s guide has recently been improved and adapted with the input from children. As a result, day-to-day routines are clearer and children’s views and are better represented.

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The care of children

The house needs maintenance and cleaning. Damage to the staircase banister has not been repaired promptly. Hallways have not been painted to a good standard and cleaning routines are not good enough. These detract from what is otherwise a pleasant home.

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The safety of children

Risk management plans refer to known and emerging risks for children and are now routinely updated. This increases staff awareness and improves the management of risk. The staff are more consistent in their responses to risks and this keeps children safer. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 3 There have been two physical interventions since the last inspection. The staff use interventions proportionately and these are appropriately recorded. The restraint policy has recently been reviewed and provides more accurate guidance for staff to implement safer practices.

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The safety of children

Recruitment processes for staff have improved and now include full employment history and any explanation of gaps in previous employment. This reduces the potential for unsuitable people to work at the home.

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The safety of children

The manager’s responses to safeguarding concerns continue to be poor. A recent allegation made by a child against a staff member was referred to the local authority designated officer. An internal investigation was implemented with an unsubstantiated outcome. However, the quality of the investigation is poor, one staff member’s account of the concern was not checked, and the incident record and investigation report are incomplete. It is unclear which member of the management team did the investigation. These shortfalls reduce the reliability of the decision- making and lessons learned processes. This has the potential to place children and staff at risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been no registered manager since September 2021. The deputy manager has recently been appointed to manage the home and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The quality of staff supervisions has improved. This includes good well-being support for staff and reflection on their development objectives. However, two staff have not had supervision at the frequency outlined in the home’s policy. This does not ensure that these staff have the necessary support and guidance that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff have completed a range of training courses identified to meet children’s individual needs. The management team has booked a managing self-harm risks course for staff in September 2022. This was identified as an area for improvement at the last inspection and has not yet taken place. Therefore, this has been restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The managerial monitoring systems need development. The planning and recording of petty cash and food budgets are not effective. This information is disorganised and does not contribute to effective auditing, thus increasing the potential risk of exploitation. Additionally, the manager has failed to identify that children’s missing from care profiles contain outdated information. This has not led to increased risk for children, but has the likelihood to do so if left unchecked.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Systems for notifying Ofsted are in place. However, the information contained in notifications is unclear and overlooks important details. Failure to provide detailed and accurate notifications prevents Ofsted from having a reliable view of how well children are safeguarded. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 4 The management team has addressed the five requirements and one recommendation from the previous inspection. Three requirements and one additional recommendation have been raised at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/04/2022 Full Inadequate 20/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that internal investigations following safeguarding concerns are thorough and that the records are clear and complete. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 30 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 7 A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 30 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a consistently good level throughout the accommodation. In particular, ensure that damage is repaired promptly and cleaning is maintained to a high standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that all staff can access suitable resources to support their training needs. In particular, ensure that staff attend good-quality training in reducing self-harm risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that staff supervision is delivered in line with the home’s policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Momentum Residential Care Home Limited, 68 Surig Road, Canvey Island SS8 9AG

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2621215 9 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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