Children's Home run by Motivations Activity Projects Ltd in Sandwell

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457013 1 SC457013

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Registered provider: Motivations Activity Projects Ltd

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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 privately owned. At the time of this visit, no children were living in the home. The home is registered to provide care for three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager, who is suitably qualified and experienced, has been appointed since the last inspection. They registered with Ofsted in May 2023, and they are registered to manage two homes.

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This monitoring visit

No children have lived at the home since September 2021. The provider temporarily ceased operating the home in October 2021 due to staffing issues. As a result, Ofsted imposed a three-month condition on the provider’s registration in February 2022. This meant that the provider must inform Ofsted of its intention to admit children three months before a child will commence living at the home. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to establish if the home has made suitable arrangements for the home to resume operating.

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This monitoring visit

The appropriateness and suitability of the home have been reviewed in consultation with external professionals, such as the police, to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

A new staff team, to care for the children, has been recruited safely. Leaders have provided assurance that the staff have received a thorough induction, and they have completed the training they need to provide safe, quality care to children. Staff’s individual personal development plans support their continual development. Regular supervision provides opportunities for reflective practice.

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This monitoring visit

The home is warm and welcoming. It is furnished and decorated to a high standard. The manager has plans for children to personalise their bedrooms by picking the paint colours for the walls and choosing soft furnishings of their choice. This will help Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457013 2 children to settle and create a sense of security and belonging. In addition, the decoration and use of the garden annex will be guided by children’s wishes.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have a clear plan for how children’s transitions to the home will be well managed. Thorough assessments of children’s needs will take place, and their risks and vulnerabilities will be assessed. Children will be invited to visit the home to meet the staff to help them decide if they want to move in.

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This monitoring visit

The manager says they have positive relationships with neighbours. They hope that any children who live at the home will benefit from living in a friendly community.

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This monitoring visit

A decision has been made for the three-month condition to be lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Two statutory requirements made at the last inspection have been met. One requirement and three recommendations are reinstated. They will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457013 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2019 Full Good 29/08/2018 Full Good 22/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457013 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that —

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises —

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv)) 30 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees —

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to maintaining a record of supervision for all staff. 30 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457013 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that adults balance the wishes of the child against what they judge to be in the best interests of the child and reach a reasonable view about the best way forward in the interests of all. The reasons for reaching any decision will need to be carefully explained to and understood by the child or children concerned. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality

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Recommendations

standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. This is in relation to ensuring that consequences are reviewed for their effectiveness. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457013 6

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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

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457013 7 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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