Children's Home run by Montage Services Limited in Hackney

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654620 1 Registered provider: Montage Services 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 two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 17 September 2021. The manager is suitably qualified for the role.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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 inspection, 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: 2654620 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

Staff provide children with effective care in line with their care plans. They understand the children and are able to meet their needs.

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The care of children

Staff are skilled at developing positive relationships with children. Staff sensitively guide children to make the right choices and help them to express their views, wishes and feelings. The child’s increased engagement with staff has enabled them to grow in confidence and have positive experiences.

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The care of children

The child has made excellent progress in many areas of their life, such as returning to school and re-engaging with their education, gaining employment over the summer holidays and developing life skills.

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The safety of children

Staff enable children to keep safe and well. With staff support, the child’s awareness of risk has increased and they are making safer decisions and choices. This is a great success for the child.

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The safety of children

Staff know how to respond appropriately when children go missing from home. Robust risk assessments and clear procedures are helping to safeguard children who have previously gone missing from home. There have been no missing-from-home incidents since the last inspection.

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The safety of children

Since the last inspection, behaviour-management practice has significantly improved. Staff promote and support positive behaviour by frequently praising the child. As a result, the home is a more positive living environment. There has been one behavioural incident, which resulted in the child being restrained. This incident is currently being investigated, with oversight from the local designated officer.

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The safety of children

Staff files contain all required information to evidence that they are suitable for their roles. However, there is a reference missing on the responsible individual’s recruitment file. Gaps in the vetting of all staff, including leaders and managers, undermine children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers take effective action to improve the home. The requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been satisfactorily addressed. The quality of care in the home has improved and children receive better support. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654620 3 The quality-of-care review report has not been provided to Ofsted as required. This undermines Ofsted’s regulatory oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Regular supervision provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practices, team-working and any challenges they experience in their work. Staff value the support and guidance they receive from the local child and adolescent mental health service, which is helping them to understand the child’s emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have not notified Ofsted of all serious events as required. This undermines Ofsted’s regulatory oversight. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654620 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654620 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

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 26 (5)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that two written references are available on the responsible individual’s recruitment file, as listed in Schedule 2. 8 December 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality-of-care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality-of-care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality-of- care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality-of-care review (“the quality-of-care review report”). 8 December 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654620 6 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality-of-care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality-of-care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality-of-care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should review the threshold for making notifications to Ofsted to include serious events relating to staff’s professional conduct. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.12) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654620 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Montage Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony McKenzie

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Inspector

Seka Graovac, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654620 8 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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Inspector

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