Children's Home run by Momentum Residential Care Home Ltd in Essex

Inspection report for children's home: 2621215 1 Registered provider: Momentum Residential Care Home Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for 3 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2621215 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/05/2023 Full Inadequate 12/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/04/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2621215 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, one child has left the home. One child currently lives at the home. The child has lived there for just over a year and is making some progress.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff are not yet providing a consistently good service. Although there are positives, there are also several shortfalls that need to be addressed. These include sharing information about potential safeguarding concerns, ensuring that the home environment is safe and monitoring by managers.

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improvement to be good

The child is in full-time education, making progress and starting to enjoy boarding at school for one day a week. This gives the child social opportunities. This is in line with the child’s wishes. Staff make sure children are provided with appropriate education in line with their needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff and the child spend time in the small rear garden growing plants and herbs. The child has been developing an automatic watering device that supports their interest in plumbing. This supports the child’s expression and creativity. The child’s gardening interests have given them a sense of responsibility and purpose.

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improvement to be good

Staff enjoy taking the child out on planned and unplanned activities, including going to animal sanctuaries, trainspotting and to petting zoos. The staff have worked hard to respond positively to supporting the child’s hobbies and interests.

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improvement to be good

The home is nicely furnished, with a summer house outside for children to play and relax in, with a guitar, keyboard, sofa and garden toys. The manager has made best use of this space for the child to have somewhere to relax.

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improvement to be good

When the child has made comments that could be interpreted as allegations against the staff, safeguarding procedures are not always followed to ensure that the information is shared with external professionals. Incidents that were the subject of potential allegations have not had enough scrutiny to ensure that the child is safe. However, when the child has raised serious concerns about staff, these have led to further action being taken. The manager has taken appropriate steps to keep the child safe by sharing information and following the safeguarding procedures. This led to clear actions and changes to staffing.

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improvement to be good

The actions highlighted on the fire risk assessment were carried out three months outside the required timeframe. This meant there were long delays in making sure areas of the home were safe in the event of a fire. Inspection report for children's home: 2621215 4 Staff manage behavioural incidents well. They use de-escalation strategies and debriefs effectively. The staff use a therapeutic approach when supporting children who are experiencing difficult emotions. The manager has oversight of these incidents and takes appropriate steps to ensure the child and staff are spoken to after the event.

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improvement to be good

The child does not go missing from the home. Staff are aware of the child’s vulnerabilities and they minimise the risk of harm to the child.

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improvement to be good

There has been a reduction in incidents of self-harm when the child is struggling emotionally. Strong relationships enable the staff to connect with the child to help reduce the risks of self-harm. The management team responds quickly to any bullying concerns. When the child has shared concerns about bullying at school, the manager has taken the necessary steps to ensure the child feels safe.

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improvement to be good

The child’s social worker said, ‘I have no concerns. Incidents are dealt with quickly and sensitively.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and currently working towards a level 5 diploma. The manager has close support from the deputy manager and the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The monitoring by managers is not currently good enough. Information relating to children’s risk assessments is not given enough scrutiny. This means that staff could be using guidance that is no longer relevant.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has not yet established clear protocols for sharing concerns regarding the use of language that could be interpreted as an allegation against the staff. This means that there has not been a joined-up approach to manage situations and ensure the child is safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has failed to ensure that necessary maintenance works are carried out without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

All staff have had mandatory and specific training that equips them to meet the child’s individual complex needs. The manager ensures that the team is provided with opportunities to strengthen their skills and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff supervision sessions are frequent and cover a range of topics to support the staff in understanding their roles. The manager has systems in place to address staff performance and support their progress. The manager has regular supervision sessions and support from senior managers. Inspection report for children's home: 2621215 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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 30 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)) 30 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 30 May 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2621215 6 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all risk assessments are kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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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: 2621215 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Momentum Residential Care Home Ltd

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Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2621215 8 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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