Children's home run by Madiba Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 1 Registered provider: Madiba Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It was registered in July 2022 to provide care for up to four children with learning disabilities. One child moved in on a solo basis.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in December 2022. A new manager has started in post, and they have made an application to register.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 14 December 2022

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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: not applicable

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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: 2677465 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

In the three months since the last visit, the child who was living at the home has been discharged. The frequency and severity of incidents challenged the staff team’s ability to keep the child safe. Managers reluctantly gave notice on the placement and the child had a sensitively managed move.

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The care of children

Despite the untimely ending, the child experienced some positive moments and made measurable progress from their starting point. They developed a routine and some independence skills. Their speech and language improved. Staff built positive relationships with the child and provided compassionate care.

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The care of children

The child spent time engaged in education sessions at the home, which increased to 25 hours a week. Key-work and education sessions helped the child to learn about keeping themselves safe and a range of life lessons. Staff engaged the child in reading books in words and pictures that the child understood about their learning disability. This helped the child to embrace their identity.

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The care of children

There has been a further medication error since the last inspection. Appropriate checks were made to ensure the safety of the child. The changes that have been made strengthen the systems to prevent a further incident. Staff supported the child’s health and advocated for them, raising challenges to health and social care professionals when they did not feel heard.

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The care of children

Children benefit from internal and independent advocacy. This ensures that the child’s best interests are at the forefront of decision-making. When new staff have joined the team, staff have let the child know and the new worker has shared their profile to enable the child to read all about them. This respects the child and helps to minimise any disruption to their routine and sense of safety.

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The care of children

The staff ensure that children pursue their interests, such as playing board games, dancing, listening to music, pamper sessions and reading magazines.

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The care of children

One complaint made by a parent has been responded to in a timely manner by the provider. The feedback from professionals indicated that the staff team communicates with them effectively and maintains positive working relationships with them. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 3

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The safety of children

The staff team places a high priority on the safety of children. They understand the importance of following individual risk management plans to support the care of children. The child who lived at the home expressed feeling safe. They were not exposed to the risks associated with missing from care, drugs, alcohol and social media due to the close supervision from the staff.

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The safety of children

The increase and severity of incidents meant that the staff could not always prevent situations from escalating in a safe and effective manner. The practice of staff retreating from the child to avoid physical intervention and injury was reviewed. However, during one incident, staff retreated and the child was placed in an extremely unsafe position that the staff could not have predicted. The incident was resolved in a safe manner and the decision was made to serve notice on the placement. The provider acknowledged that they were unable to keep the child safe. Further incidents rendered the placement unsuitable due to the child’s deteriorating mental health. Leaders and managers have taken lessons from this serious incident. The practice of staff retreating as a behaviour management strategy is no longer allowed at the home.

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The safety of children

Physical intervention has been used only as a last resort to maintain the safety of the child and others. Management oversight ensures that the measures are safe and appropriate. Although body maps are completed, one did not include sufficient details about the injury on the child and the record does not include the date and time.

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The safety of children

An allegation against staff has been resolved in consultation with the local authority designated officer, the child’s social worker and advocate.

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The safety of children

Recruitment systems have been improved since the last inspection. This helps to minimise the opportunities for unsuitable adults to have access to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The stable staff team shows signs of resilience following a very challenging time. The six-to-one staffing ratio that was in place before the child left has been discontinued. Despite the difficulties and sadness felt about the child’s departure, the staff team remains motivated to achieving positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have reflected on the abrupt end of the child’s time at the home. Consequently, the leadership team conducted a learning review and the lessons learned are being implemented. The findings will be shared with the staff team imminently. Furthermore, the senior leaders have made representation through the relevant complaints procedure when they believe that other agencies have failed in their duties.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The experienced manager is providing a new perspective to the staff team as they settle into the day-to-day management of the home. They are making Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 4 improvements with the support of senior managers to ensure that the home runs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The management support is guiding and supporting the staff to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. As there are no children living at the home currently, managers have invested the time in staff development. Specifically, some staff have been working at other homes within the organisation, which gives them positive opportunities to learn and share practice. Training within the team promotes consistent practice. It also allows the staff to refresh their knowledge and learn bespoke skills to meet children’s needs before accepting them into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff feel supported by managers and their peers. One staff member described the support as ‘fantastic’ and said: ‘There is always someone to lean on.’ Staff supervisions, debriefs and team meetings support the staff and keep them informed of developments in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Action has been taken to meet most of the requirements and the two recommendations that were made at the last inspection. Among the improvements is an enhanced staff awareness of the statement of purpose, improved risk management, strengthened supervision arrangements for bank staff, and making sure that visitors have access to a working doorbell at the home and the telephone landline. The home has not yet been refurbished to an acceptable standard. This includes the children’s bedrooms, which are not suitable in their current state. Therefore, the requirement is repeated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The findings of internal and external monitoring are used by leaders and managers to improve children’s experiences and progress. Although a monitoring review report has been completed, there has been a delay in it being sent to Ofsted. This prevents Ofsted from having an oversight of the activities in the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that all of the children’s bedrooms are suitable and the premises are well maintained throughout.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 April 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

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— 28 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 7 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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that sufficient information is recorded to provide details of any injuries, and the date and time that the recording was made.

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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. (Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 28 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: One City West, Gelderd Road, Leeds LS12 6NJ

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Inspector

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2677465 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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