Children's Home run by MGM Care Services Ltd in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 1 SC438427 Registered provider: MGM Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is a small, privately run home for two children with social and emotional difficulties which may include autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2011.

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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

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Good 05/01/2022 Full Good 23/05/2019 Full Good 07/08/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, no children were living at the home. The previous child moved out in July following a planned moved to a semi-independence home due to reaching adult age. During this period, the registered person has taken this time to pause the service to improve the home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, one child lived in the home. This child made good progress in all areas in line with their care plan. For example, the child was able to complete daily tasks unaided, which has enhanced the child’s daily life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s education. As a result, the child’s progress from their starting points is good. Staff are creative in supporting children’s learning, for example through culture event nights. This encourages children to explore and enjoy a varied range of cultures, which expands their understanding and knowledge and provides new experiences to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are prioritised. Staff encourage children to attend regular health appointments and supported a child to manage a lifelong condition, working with local health services and specialist services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the child well; they listen to them, invest time and promote their welfare. This has enabled the child to form positive trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. The staff team continues to receive regular contact from the child, which demonstrates trusting and supporting relationships have been achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s move-on plan from the home was thoughtful, well planned and managed. The child completed visits to the new home before moving. This supported the child to become familiar with their new surroundings and enabled them to start to form new relationships with the new care staff. The child is now closer to family and is doing well. Feedback from a professional said, ‘[Name of child]’s confidence and self-esteem has grown.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s living space is newly decorated and is clean and homely. Children’s bedrooms are decorated with a neutral colour, which will allow children who are moving in to personalise their space. However, the home’s rear garden is unkept, and old garden items need to be replaced before children can enjoy this space.

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

Staff understand the child’s needs and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed to promote the welfare of the child. This has meant there have not been any significant incidents in the home. Staff complete direct work sessions with the child to support them to understand risks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 4 The staff team is creative and supports the child to complete daily tasks in a safe way. This is in the form of symbol step-by-step instructions, in line with the child’s cognitive learning level. This has enabled the child to successfully complete tasks without any accidents.

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

The staff team and manager are clear about the procedures to follow if there is a concern about the safety of a child. The manager has created clear guidance for staff to follow if incidents occur.

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

The staff team values the home. It continues to maintain the health and safety of the home while the service is paused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced and suitably qualified registered manager runs the home. He is dedicated and passionate about providing good care to children. He leads by example and is a strong advocate for children, not only within the home but with external partnership agencies, to promote effective wraparound care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is small and promotes a family environment for children. The manager is actively recruiting more suitable staff. One member of staff said, ‘I enjoy working in the home, and I’m looking forward to returning back to work fully, when children move in.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision by the registered manager, and, if required, they also receive clinical supervision by an external professional. This has been implemented by the manager to ensure that staff are supported in their role effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff are up to date with their mandatory training. Additional training is provided to help staff understand and meet children’s individual needs. However, the manager has not ensured that one member of staff has enrolled on the relevant qualification needed within their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings provide staff with the opportunity to discuss children’s progress and needs. These meetings are well attended and child-focused.However, the records of these meetings are difficult to understand as they are handwritten. The manager has a plan to improve recordings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has internal monitoring systems to track children’s progress. This helps to identify strengths and areas for further development. However, the registered manager has not obtained some of the child’s key documents following care planning reviews.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has not undertaken a recent quality of care review. This shortfall impacts on the manager’s ability to reflect, use learning and improve Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 5 experiences and care to children going forward. In addition, the registered manager has not ensured that an independent person visits the home monthly. Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 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, The 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 ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that independent regulation 44 visits are carried out at least once per month, and that reports are completed and submitted to Ofsted within required timeframes. 9 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 7 The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children at least once every six months. They must produce a report which includes the actions that the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review. 24 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities to support their training needs, and they should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff are enrolled onto the relevant qualification diploma following a successful probation period. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records are up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. The registered person should ensure that children’s key care planning documents are obtained following reviews. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: SC438427 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: MGM Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Mathew Varughese

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Inspector

Joanne Humphreys, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC438427 10 regulates and 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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