Children's Home run by Montage Services Limited in Hackney

Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 1 Registered provider: Montage Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home and the manager were registered with Ofsted in September 2021.

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Information about this children's home

Two children have lived at the home at different times since the assurance inspection in November 2022. A child moved out in December 2022 and another in August 2023. The home was preparing to welcome another child at the time of the inspection.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 2

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Inspection judgement

No serious or widespread concerns 01/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/02/2022 Interim Sustain effectiveness 15/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the times that children have lived at the home, all have made progress from their starting points. They were supported to develop skills to reflect on their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. This was aided by staff providing clear and consistent boundaries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a collaborative approach to meeting children’s needs. Communication with professionals and children’s professional networks were very good. For example, leaders and managers had weekly network meetings with social workers and the child and adolescent mental health service. This has aided children in getting the help they need when they need it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff worked very well with education providers to promote children’s education. Although one child did not attend school, staff acted creatively and proactively to provide educational activities in the home and the community. For example, staff worked hard to prepare a child to sit their GCSE exam and waited with them to encourage them to remain in the exam room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children contribute to their own care plans, highlighting what is important to them. Staff listen to children’s requests and enthusiastically involve them in activity and menu planning. Children take part in enjoyable experiences, which include swimming, cycling and visits to museums.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a safe environment. Extensive health and safety certificates confirm the safety of the home. In addition, staff carry out regular health and safety checks. The home is currently being renovated to prepare to welcome a new child.

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

Children build trusting relationships with staff. One child wrote to staff after they left and said, ‘I am just writing this email to thank you and the whole of [name of service] for all the opportunities you have given me.’

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

Effective safeguarding practice protected the children and promoted their welfare. Strong communication and joint working with the children’s social workers, mental health professionals and, at times, the police helped to reduce harm to the children.

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

Staff worked tirelessly and sensitively to protect children in the community and in the home from risks, such as self-harm, suicidal thoughts and being missing from home. Children’s risks were known and understood by staff. Risk assessments clearly identified risks and included clear guidance to help staff to manage the risk.

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

Staff only physically restrain children as a last resort to safeguard them. However, records of restraint do not always include details of debriefs or accurately describe Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 4 conversations with children following the incident. This compromises management oversight of restraint practice and staff development.

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

Allegations and serious incidents are managed well. However, Ofsted was not notified of two allegations and several serious incidents requiring the involvement of the police or emergency services. This compromises the oversight of the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from effective leaders and managers and an experienced, compassionate and diverse staff team. The deputy manager helps to strengthen the management structure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children receive care from a consistent and competent staff team. Staff take pride in children’s achievements, and they enjoy being a positive role model for them. Staff benefit from a wide range of training, reflective team meetings and clinical supervision. This has helped staff to deliver a consistent approach to children and improve the functioning of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Formal supervision is variable in its quality and frequency. For example, a new staff member had one formal supervision session in three months. This compromises management oversight of their development and individual support needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recruitment of staff is rigorous. Leaders and managers ensure that the staff recruited are suitable and there are no concerns about their ability to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers communicate daily and weekly with the professional network. However, written reports to the social worker have, at times, been delayed. 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

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

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)) 12 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 12 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that full and accurate records of restraint are kept, enabling the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline, and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly when any issues or trends of concern emerge. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's record-keeping policies and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. This relates to having full and detailed records of staff debriefs and ensuring that written reports to the professional network are timely. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2654620 6

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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

Jayshree Pillay, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 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 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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