Children's Home run by Midas Manors Ltd in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 1 Registered provider: Midas Manors Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home is registered to care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. There is currently one child living at the home on a solo basis.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager have been registered with Ofsted since 12 September 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 8 November 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the last full inspection, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 3

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improvement to be good

At the previous inspection, the home was judged to be inadequate. Ofsted raised two requirements and a compliance notice under regulation 12. Serious concerns were raised over the protection and safeguarding of the child.

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improvement to be good

The registered provider has worked hard to address the compliance notice, which was monitored as part of this full inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff work more cohesively and consistently, which gives the child clearer expectations from the staff who are providing care. However, there has been one occasion when the child’s required staffing ratio was not met while out of the home.

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improvement to be good

The child likes living at the home and describes the staff as kind, friendly and jovial. Staff have positive relationships with the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff involve the child in consultation about the day-to-day running of the home. The child is involved in choosing their own meals and how to decorate their bedroom. This builds the child’s confidence and self-esteem as they know that their wishes and feelings are being listened to.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys a variety of activities and has been to the cinema and trampoline park and enjoys pampering sessions. Staff give positive praise and encouragement, which raises the child’s self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Regular family time supports the child to keep in touch with people who are important to them. A relationship with one family member has significantly improved. One family member spoke positively about the change in the child since they have lived in this home. Positive relationships with family members increase the child’s security and well-being.

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improvement to be good

The child is registered with health services and engages with specialist support to help with their emotional and physical well-being. Staff have positive relationships with the specialist health services, which they can access on weekends and out of hours for support and guidance for the child if this is needed.

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improvement to be good

Meaningful conversations about the importance of education take place with the child, and there has been an improvement in the child’s commitment to wanting to pursue an education. The manager has sourced a tutor for the child, and the child is now engaging in their leaning and has aims and aspirations for the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 4

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improvement to be good

There is a court order that allows staff to use increased measures to keep the child safe. Staff understand the measures they can use to keep the child protected from harm, and the high levels of supervision help to keep the child safe.

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improvement to be good

The child’s missing-from-home protocol is understood by staff, and they know what action to take if the child was to go missing. The manager has worked with the local missing-from-home coordinator and has shared the protocol with them. There have been no concerns in relation to the child going missing from the home.

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improvement to be good

The home environment has been risk assessed to reduce the risk of the child self- harming, including the risk from ligatures. Staff undertake regular checks of any potential hazards and remove any dangerous objects. Comprehensive records of sharp objects, wires and cables are kept, which reduces the risk of the child having access to these items.

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improvement to be good

The child’s risk assessment documents are comprehensive and include clear guidance for staff about how to reduce risk levels. Since the last inspection, there has been a reduction in the child’s risk-taking behaviours. The child is developing an understanding of their behaviours and the impact they have on themselves and others.

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improvement to be good

After the last inspection, staff were provided with additional training about the safe handling and administration of medication. However, there continues to be some poor practice in relation to recording the arrangements for the safe handling and administration of medication. For example, staff have administered medication without signing to state which member of staff was involved.

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improvement to be good

Gaps in staff’s understanding of the safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures expose children to the risk of harm. The manager has taken action in referring children’s allegations about staff to statutory agencies. However, not all concerns about staff have been escalated to the manager. This does not meet the requirement for timely investigations.

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improvement to be good

Serious incidents are not consistently reported. A child who had self-harmed required hospital treatment. The managers failed to notify Ofsted of this serious incident. This prevented the regulator from having oversight of the incident and reviewing the actions taken by staff and whether these were effective.

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improvement to be good

Staff have used physical intervention to support the child to manage their behaviours. The records relating to the holds used vary in quality, and the times and dates of the child being debriefed are not always noted. One record highlighted a lack of management oversight of the staff debrief. A requirement made at the last inspection has been reissued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Ineffective monitoring means that the manager has not identified and acted on all the shortfalls to improve the child’s safety, progress and experience. The manager has not recognised all the weaknesses of the home that have been identified at this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staffing shortages have led to some staff working long hours to cover shortfalls in the rota. A reliance on the manager plugging the shortfalls in the rota has had a significant impact on their ability to lead and manage the home safely. This includes the manager not checking the skills and qualifications of the agency staff member who was involved in a physical intervention. They had not been trained in the intervention model used at the home, which is identified in the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The supervision of staff is inconsistent, as is the quality of the records. This does not allow for staff to have an opportunity to discuss their concerns and reflect on their practice, or for the manager to address any practice concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff have completed their induction workbooks, despite approaching the end of their probationary period. This does not allow the staff members’ progress or competency to be assessed to determine if they have the required skills and knowledge to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has established good links and relationships with professionals. Meetings take place regularly to discuss the child’s needs and what support staff need to continue to have a positive impact on the child’s life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff told the inspector that they enjoy working at this home. The staff and manager place the well-being of the child at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges the child presents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand the whistle- blowing procedures and apply them when there are concerns about their peers. 8 February 2023

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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)(b)(2)(c)(d)(h)) 8 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. 8 February 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should ensure that records are signed to verify their involvement with the administration of medication.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)) 8 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records are clearly written and state the dates when the debriefs have taken place. 8 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 8 February 2023

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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: 2693113 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Midas Manors Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 10 Joseph Street, Holme Lane, Bradford BD4 0PT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Alison Serefoglou

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Inspector

Aasia Hussain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2693113 9 inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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