Children's Home run by Montage Services Limited in Hackney

Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 1 Registered provider: Montage Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager were registered with Ofsted in September 2021. The registered manager is also the registered manager for a sister home.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children have lived at the home since the last inspection. Although the home can accommodate up to two children, only one child has been accommodated at any one time. The current child contributed to this inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/08/2023 Full Good 01/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care in this home is good. Staff know the current child well and talk with care and compassion. This has helped the child to settle into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Trusting relationships between the current child and staff are good. The child trusts the staff and will talk to them about their feelings, worries and concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are new to the home, the staff ensure that they are registered with the relevant health professionals and are supported to attend appointments. The diverse needs of the children have been met. This has included, where appropriate, helping children to access mental health services or specialised services such as substance misuse.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team works hard to establish a routine for the current child. They find activities that the child enjoys and ensures that the child benefits from a structured day. The child has been supported to do work experience several days a week. This helps the child to build their self-confidence and prepare them for school. However, the plan about how an educational provision will be secured is not clearly set out in the child’s plan. This makes it difficult to monitor progress and ensure that any delays are minimised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to spend time with their family and friends. The staff team works hard to ensure that they have a positive relationship with the child’s family and keeps them updated about the child’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home is spacious and comfortable and has a family home feel. When a child moves into the home, they are encouraged to personalise their bedroom. The current child has helped to choose the paint colour for the door frames, and they have been consulted on the furniture for the living room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some of the children’s placements have ended suddenly due to risks in the community that have been hard to manage. Those in the leadership and management team have been disappointed that they have not always been able to say goodbye to children in a planned way.

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

The registered manager and staff understand the current child’s needs, risks, strengths and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are clear. Staff use regular key-work sessions as an effective way of speaking with the child about risks. Staff plan these sessions well.

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

Staff have a good understanding of contextual safeguarding and the risks posed to children in the community. Staff are proactive when a child goes missing from the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 4 The staff team is in regular contact with the child. Staff are proactive in terms of going out into the community to look for the child. They establish good links with the child’s family and friends. This makes the child feel they are cared for and the risks are taken seriously.

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

Staff are suitably trained in the use of physical intervention. This is rarely used, and staff are skilled at deescalating situations of concern.

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

Reflective practice is a strength in the home. When there is an incident, staff and the child talk openly about how things could have been managed differently.

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

Health and safety checks take place regularly in the home. However, the child’s bedroom is not routinely checked. The guidance and practice regarding bedroom checks are not clear. For example, an electrical humidifier had been left on in the child’s bedroom, which could have been a hazard.

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

Safe recruitment and employment practices are followed, ensuring that only suitable staff are employed. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of whistle-blowing policies and safeguarding procedures. Concerns are shared with the relevant agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably experienced and qualified registered manager manages the home. The registered manager is ambitious for the home and the children in their care. He strives to create a culture where staff make a positive difference to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some recent changes in the staff team, and the management and leadership team is actively recruiting for two posts. There is a new experienced deputy manager and staff morale is positive. Staff feel valued and describe a culture of team working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and training, which considers and prioritises children’s needs and staff’s own personal development. Team meetings demonstrate that staff reflect on their practice and the needs of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a comprehensive induction and ongoing training to strengthen their knowledge and skills. The workforce development plan has not been updated and does not reflect the current staffing structure or training for bank staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is clear guidance for children and staff about health and safety checks for children’s bedrooms. 30 November 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff know, for every child in their care, what level of decision-making has been delegated to them in relation to the child’s education. These delegations should be recorded in the child’s placement plan and it is the joint responsibility of the registered person and the placing authority to agree this at the time of placement. Children’s home staff should act as effective advocates for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education or training matters including, but not limited to, attainment, admissions, attendance or behaviour, as a good parent would do. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ pages 27 & 28, paragraph 5.9 & 5.12)  The registered person should have an up-to-date workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs19 and 20)

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Recommendations

The plan should: detail the necessary management and staffing structure (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training. The registered manager should ensure that the staffing structure is set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 52 & 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 6

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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: 2654620 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Montage Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PN

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Inspectors

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Natalie Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2654620 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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