Children's home run by A&M Care Solutions Limited – trading as Metropolitan Care Solutions

Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 1 Registered provider: A&M Care Solutions Limited - T/a Metropolitan Care Solutions Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider and offers care for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: 24 January 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Outstanding 11/01/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 3

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outstanding

Children have made excellent progress in this home because managers and staff are highly ambitious for them. Managers and staff have high but realistic expectations of children taking into account their individual learning and disability needs.

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outstanding

Considering children’s starting points when first moving to the home, children are making significant progress in their health, emotional and psychological development, and well-being. One child’s progress has been remarkable in that they have been able to begin to communicate verbally for the first time.

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outstanding

Professionals and parents said that staff are open, friendly and communicate well with them. One parent described the care as ‘brilliant’. An external professional said that a child has been able to maintain their school place because of support and ‘exceptional care’ provided by staff. The highly effective partnership working with health and education professionals promotes further progress and makes a positive difference to children’s lives.

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outstanding

Children are very well supported by staff to develop their independence. They have excellent relationships with the staff and appeared comfortable and relaxed in the care of staff. Children respond well to the way that staff care for them. Staff use a wide range of creative methods to ensure that children are supported to express their views, wishes and feelings. Effective communication systems are used to very good effect. As a result, children fully participate in planning for their day-to-day lives. Staff provide a variety opportunities and experiences to enrich children’s lives, which helps children to flourish developmentally and with their confidence.

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outstanding

Children’s complex health needs and disabilities are managed positively and creatively. As a result, children are provided with a wide range of opportunities to take part in everyday activities that enhance their lives. A child who was previously unable to be with their peers has been successfully supported to now engage positively and join in group activities.

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outstanding

Staff are very supportive with the arrangements for children to maintain their relationships with their family. Children’s families are welcomed into the home. This ensures that children maintain their sense of identity and the crucial relationships with the people who matter to them.

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outstanding

Children enjoy a comfortable and relaxed home environment. The home is well presented. The manager and staff ensure that the environment is safe, with measures taken to ensure that children are supported to be independent considering their impairments, sensory and learning needs. The children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their personalities and interests. They are suitably furnished with space for children to relax and play. Additionally, the conversion of the garage Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 4 has provided two additional rooms that will provide sensory and ‘chill-out’ spaces for children to use for socialisation or privacy.

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outstanding

Staff are extremely knowledgeable and have very good relationships with the children. Children are seen as individuals. Assessments of children’s needs are comprehensive and inform the care, guidance and support children receive. Staff are imaginative in their approach and seek to research and consult with other organisations to enhance children’s care. Recently, the colour decor in the home has been changed following consultation with a national charity that supports visually impaired people. This has significantly helped children to be increasingly independent and to move around the home more easily.

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outstanding

Children’s vulnerabilities are considered very well and are truly understood by staff. All the children have highly detailed and meticulous individual risk assessments, which are updated regularly. These include information regarding risks to their health and development needs and the risks to them as looked after children with learning disabilities and impairments.

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outstanding

Staff are talented in their work with children and use their understanding of children’s individual communication methods and complex needs. They are highly attuned to children’s worries or concerns whatever their disabilities.

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outstanding

Staff have a clear understanding of risk and potential impact for children. Staff use this knowledge to support children to understand everyday risks. Children’s use of verbal communication is variable. However, their interactions with staff and their demeanour indicate that they feel safe with staff. Staff and children have very good and nurturing relationships.

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outstanding

Safeguarding arrangements are rigorous and notifications concerning serious incidents are rare. Staff receive regular safeguarding training that is specific for children with complex needs, alongside mandatory training, and they understand their responsibility to always safeguard the children.

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outstanding

If children’s behaviour deteriorates, this is managed very well by staff through playful methods of interaction and distraction. Staff do not resort to holding children to manage behaviour because children are supported through the trusted relationships they have with staff.

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outstanding

Due to children’s complex needs, they are always supervised by the staff at home and out in the community. Children are not able to access the community alone, which reduces the risk of them going missing from care or getting involved in worrying behaviours in the community. Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This home continues to go from strength-to-strength. The manager is highly committed, dedicated and ambitious for the outcomes of children and the development of the staff. He is supported by an equally committed assistant manager and responsible individual. Together, they work to ensure that children are provided with a family home and experience and excellent care that helps them make progress in all areas of their lives. As a result, children are provided with opportunities and live a full life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is confident and leads by example. He is knowledgeable about the children and promotes a warm family environment, paying particular attention to ensuring that the fabric of the home caters for the children’s sensory and emotional needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has successfully maintained a consistent staff team and has high expectations of staff to work in a manner that supports the ethos and philosophy of the home. He ensures that opportunities are provided for staff’s continued professional development. When required, bespoke training relating to the specific needs of the children is swiftly provided. Managers and leaders ensure that robust processes are in place for the safe recruitment of staff. Staff’s suitability to work with children is monitored regularly and prompt action is taken where required to ensure that the high standards of care do not deteriorate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has been successful in creating a culture of high aspiration for the care and support the children receive. As a result, children are making exceptional progress with their health, development, independence and social skills. A child’s physical growth since living in the home has led to a safe medical professional-led reduction in medication which has improved the quality of their life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is proactive in research and makes effective links with specific organisations who specialise in complex health and disability to ensure children’s care meets their current and developing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and effective one-to-one supervision and attend monthly team meetings. Staff say that supervision sessions and team meetings are of good quality and provide a platform for them to contribute openly. Staff are provided with learning opportunities during their supervision sessions and team meetings. This includes outcomes from the manager’s monitoring and oversight of the home. Staff are provided with opportunities for career progression. The manager is supportive of staff developing within the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses in the care provided. He has a systematic approach to quality assurance. Information gathered has detailed evidence. Managers analyse this information to make any improvements where required. As a result, managers and staff know the areas that are working well and Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 6 the areas for development. They celebrate children’s and staff’s achievements. Managers and staff are proud and committed to continuing this practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 7

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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: 2589579 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A&M Care Solutions Limited - T/a Metropolitan Care Solutions

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 Regent Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG1 5BQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Katherine Adkins

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Inspector

Angela Duffus-Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2589579 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 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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