Children's home run by Motivations Activity Projects Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 1 SC470284 Registered provider: Motivations Activity Projects Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns the home. It provides care for three children who have experienced childhood trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/02/2022 Full Good 25/11/2019 Full Good 03/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 3

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or out of the home. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Two of the children have lived at the home for over four years, and one child has lived there for eight months. All of the children are flourishing and are making significant and sustained progress in all areas of their lives.

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outstanding

The quality of the relationships between the carers and children is exceptional. The registered manager and staff provide children with an extremely welcoming, warm and nurturing home environment. Staff speak about the children with warmth and enthusiasm. They demonstrate unwavering commitment to them. Children are also incredibly positive about the care that they receive, informing the inspectors that they feel confident to talk to staff members about anything. One child told the inspector, ‘I love it here. I’m never going to leave.’

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outstanding

Staff pay extremely high regard to children’s education. They motivate children to learn. As a result, children make exceptional progress in line with their education plans. All children are now in full-time, mainstream education. For one child, their attendance and behaviour at school have significantly improved. Consequently, they are now enjoying school more and have better relationships with their school friends. The communication between staff and children’s education provisions is highly effective. This ensures that children receive consistency in their care and education.

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outstanding

Staff encourage children to develop their independence skills and, when the time is right, to seek work experience and spend time with friends in the community. One child has recently spent time in a training flat, in preparation for moving to independence. These opportunities give children confidence in their abilities and a sense of pride in their achievements. One social worker commented on how supportive staff have been in teaching children invaluable life skills, such as cooking, budgeting and independent travel. In addition, staff have also developed an innovative careers booklet that helps children with topics such as how to write a curriculum vitae, interview questions and how to apply for a job online. As a result, children have greater understanding and higher aspirations for their futures. Consequently, children’s life chances are significantly improved.

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outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to ensure that children have positive experiences and try new things. For example, children have enjoyed the school summer holiday packed with activities and adventure, including kayaking, horse-riding, roller-skating, a walk with a tiger and a holiday by the coast. Staff also ensure that children are supported to develop their own hobbies and interests. One child attends several community clubs, including Sea Cadets, drama club, a youth club and Girl Guides. These Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 4 opportunities give children the chance to have fun, make friends and build their confidence and self-esteem. The child is flourishing and really enjoying these experiences.

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outstanding

Children enjoy good health. Staff understand the children’s individual healthcare needs well and support children sensitively with their health and well-being. Staff motivate children and encourage a healthy lifestyle. They will seek specialist help when necessary. Managers’ challenged health professionals when they were concerned about one of the children and felt that they were not getting the help and support they needed. This robust multi-team approach means that children’s health needs are promoted effectively.

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outstanding

Managers and staff are enormously committed to making sure that children get the best from the time they spend with their families and friends. The support is exceptional and has helped children to have improved relationships with their families. As a result, two of the children have enjoyed holidays with their families. An inclusive approach supports children to maintain positive relationships with their families and people who are important to them. One professional told the inspector, ‘The managers and staff are warm and caring. They are compassionate and work really well with the family.’

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outstanding

Staff carry out high-quality reflective and purposeful work to ensure that each child’s voice is heard. Through informal conversations, house meetings, key-work and consultation sessions, staff sensitively help children to be open and talk about their wishes, feelings and concerns. Staff celebrate all the children’s achievements, inviting family and friends to join in celebrations. The inspector observed warm, reciprocal and very natural interactions between staff and children.

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outstanding

Safeguarding practices in the home are highly effective. Children enjoy very trusting relationships with staff. The registered manager and staff support children with a consistent, reliable daily routine. Children enjoy this. Staff provide emotional warmth and understanding. This supports children to feel protected and secure. As a result, of staff’s professional practice, there has been sustained improvement to the lives of all the children. Incidents in the home are now extremely rare. There have been no incidents of children going missing from care, no physical intervention, and no allegations since the last inspection. Children are safer, because of living in this home.

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outstanding

Children say that they feel happy and safe living at the home. Children’s views about the home and their care are always listened to and acted on. This helps children to feel valued and know that their views are taken seriously. It also contributes to them feeling safe and well looked after. One child has recently entered into a relationship with another child. Staff have been proactive. They have had conversations and met Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 5 with the child’s family to enable both children to experience an age-appropriate relationship safely and happily.

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outstanding

There is an abundance of comprehensive written plans for each child, including a placement, risk management, health, and education plan. These are updated monthly, and changes are discussed in team meetings, ensuring that staff have up- to-date guidance on how to care for children, mitigate risk and keep children safe. Staff’s knowledge of the children is embedded in their day-to-day work, which reduces and minimises the risks for children effectively. For children, there is an easy-to-read, child-friendly placement plan. The manager has developed a progress tracker, to help children and staff realise their progress. Children participate in regular reviews of their progress. These practices have made an exceptional difference to the lives of children. As they help children to understand their care plan, risks, targets and progress. It also promotes feelings of self-worth and contributes to their overall progress.

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outstanding

The manager has highly effective system in place for recording, reporting and monitoring safeguarding concerns. Communication with professionals, such as the local authority the designated officer and social workers, is effective. The manager shares information with them swiftly to avoid delay and ensure that children are protected from harm. The manager takes guidance from these professionals, and they work together to ensure that children are safe. Safeguarding records are comprehensive.

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outstanding

Children are supported to understand the consequences of their actions using a restorative approach. For example, when children are unkind to each other, staff encourage them to talk to each other about how this has made them feel. Local police have also been into the home to talk to the children about the impact of bullying. These initiatives have helped the children to understand how their behaviour has an impact on others and what the repercussions could be if the behaviour continues. This helps children to develop socially acceptable behaviour and improves relationships with peers and in school which has positively impacted on their progress in education. Children’s life chances are significantly improved.

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outstanding

Staff receive training to raise their knowledge and awareness of how best to safeguard children. They are committed to training because the manager makes sure that this is a priority. Staff implement this learning in their day-to-day practice. They have received specialised training to help them to know how to respond to incidents of self-harm and children going missing from care, and how to talk to children sensitively about their relationships. This promotes children’s safety and ensures that the risks for the children who live at the home are fully considered. As a result, children have trusting relationships with staff. They will share any worries or concerns they have with staff, helping to keep children safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 6 The manager is a confident, ambitious and inspirational leader. He leads by example, providing highly effective leadership. An equally conscientious and influential deputy manager supports him. Together they have formed a formidable management team that is ambitious and has high expectations and aspirations for the home, the children and the staff. This leadership inspires staff to provide exceptional care. Managers have created an open and inclusive culture that places children at the centre of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have excellent relationships with the children. They go above and beyond to spend time with children and are avid advocates for them when needed. They have exceptional knowledge of the children’s starting points and what they have accomplished since living in the home. Managers listen and respond to children’s views on the home’s development and their own goals and progress. They place the children at the front and centre of the home. They strive to provide outstanding outcomes for children and improve the operation of the home. This ethos is shared by a highly motivated and enthusiastic staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership, management and staff cohesion are clear strengths of the home and ensure the safety and welfare of children. Strategic reviews of incidents at the home provide constant evaluation of staff practice and highlight children’s changing needs. Staff supervision and focused team meetings are highly effective management tools and address areas for development to ensure effective staff practice. These processes ensure that staff provide care that consistently exceeds good for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager takes responsibility for his own learning and development, including keeping up to date with new initiatives and research specific to the children’s individualised needs. He is creative in his thinking and is constantly looking for new creative ways to support staff, to sustain the highest quality if care for children. For example, he has implemented specialist training, such as Talk relationships and ‘Shame’ training. He also regularly shares podcasts and films in team meetings about children in care. This strengthens staff’s understanding of the children’s needs and how to support children. This has been particularly useful for staff, when dealing with teenage girls, who are experiencing their first relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff have extremely effective working relationships with external agencies and schools, to ensure the best possible care, experiences and futures for children. Social workers speak very highly of the quality of care provided and the standards of communication maintained by staff. One professional said, ‘I have seen such a huge difference in [name of child]. The home is such a warm environment. Staff communicate well with me. They are proactive and safe.’ Another said, [Name of child] has lovely relationships with the staff and they have gone above and beyond to help her to feel settled.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Two staff have not completed their level 3 qualification within the timescales stipulated in regulation 32. The manager is aware and is monitoring this monthly to ensure that the staff complete this as soon as possible. While this is a shortfall, it has not had an impact on the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 7 The remarkably strong leadership of the home and the excellent quality of care create an environment where staff are proud to work and where children are proud to live. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 8

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have the level 3 diploma or equivalent qualification within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.12)

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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: SC470284 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Motivations Activity Projects Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Matthews Business Centre, Duddeston Manor Road, Birmingham B7 4LZ

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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC470284 10 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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