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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC457013 1 SC457013 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 owned by a private company. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023 and is suitably qualified. He is also registered to manage another of the organisation’s children’s homes.

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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: 18 November 2019

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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: SC457013 2

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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: SC457013 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the home has welcomed two children. One child remains living in the home and was present during the inspection. They are making progress from their starting point and improvements can be seen in all aspects of their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The other child moved out of the home, this move was not positive. The manager and staff said that they were no longer able to keep the child safe. This resulted in the child’s sudden move from the home, without preparation and without all their belongings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is promoted. Children are registered with local services and are supported by staff to make and attend appointments. When health concerns are identified, staff are quick to follow up with health professionals for further advice and support. This ensures that children receive the right healthcare at the right time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to follow their hobbies and interests. Children have different passions, which are supported by the staff team. The manager identifies a range of clubs and activities for children to attend and ensures that children lead an active lifestyle. One child is supported to attend the gym and sports clubs, and a room in the home has been converted to support their interest in beauty. Encouraging activities that are important to children helps them to build on their experiences, discover new interests and thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children work towards independence. There is an emphasis on education around healthy meal choices, independent life skills and how to maintain a home. This ensures that children are prepared when they move on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and provides a safe space for children to live. Children’s bedrooms are ready for them when they arrive, including stocked toiletry baskets, which contributes to a warm welcome into the home. However, when children graffiti their walls, this is not cleaned, resulting in a daily reminder of shame for children. This detracts from a nurturing environment.

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

When children raise concerns, they are comforted and supported by the manager and staff. Children are kept up to date about investigations, with regular discussions taking place. Records are detailed, with a clear chronology of events. Effective management oversight and a coordinated response means that children are helped and protected.

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

Staff use safe physical intervention practice. When restrictive physical intervention is used, this is only to prevent children harming themselves or others and only as a last resort. Children and staff are given the opportunity to reflect on incidents and provided with aftercare. All interventions are reviewed by the manager and risk management Inspection report for children’s home: SC457013 4 plans are updated. Discussions and consultations take place with children to support their understanding of risk, to reduce unwanted behaviours and to avoid incidents from happening again.

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

Staff support children to understand and take age-appropriate risks. Children have detailed individualised in-house placement plans and risk management plans that are kept under regular review. Staff work well with children to help them to understand risk and to make decisions about their safety. As a result, some risk-taking behaviours have reduced.

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

Effective behaviour management systems are in place. Since the last inspection, there have been few consequences used due to inappropriate behaviours. Consequences to address poor behaviour are proportionate and are restorative in nature. These help children to recognise the impact of their actions on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a confident, ambitious and inspirational leader. He is enthusiastic and child-focused. Children are at the centre of everything he does. The manager makes a point of spending time with the children and the children have good relationships with him.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a role model for staff. He leads by example and has been a source of support when there have been challenges in the home. Staff receive regular supervision to reflect on their practice. Staff speak fondly about the manager and their experiences in the home. One member of staff said the manager has ‘created a safe and friendly atmosphere for all the team members to learn and thrive’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by an experienced responsible individual and development manager. Together, they review, audit and monitor the home. This level of oversight ensures children receive a high level of care and areas for improvement can be identified quickly. The deputy manager role is vacant, and steps are being taken to fill the post. This aims to alleviate some pressures on the manager, who is also responsible for another home in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited new staff using effective systems to reduce the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable adults. Vulnerable children require carers with expertise in caring for children with adverse experiences. New staff have some transferable skills but several staff do not have experience in caring for children who have had adverse experiences. To mitigate this, staff are supported to learn, offered training and learning opportunities and supported by experienced staff from other homes and the management team. This ensures staff can meet the specific needs of the children they are caring for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains good partnerships with external professionals to ensure that children benefit from effective help and support. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457013 5 Recording systems in the home are strong. The daily records for children are well organised, with chronologies providing a thorough account of their well-being, routines, medication management, educational activities and appointments. Regular updates by managers ensure accuracy and relevance, enhancing communication between staff in the home and supporting each child’s unique needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safeguarding notifications have not always been submitted to Ofsted. Significant information not being shared with Ofsted reduces the regulator’s oversight of children’s safety. Inspection report for children’s home: SC457013 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraphs 14.10 and 14.13)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home provides a nurturing, supportive and homely environment that meets the needs of the children. This specifically relates to ensuring that damage to children’s bedroom walls following an incident is repaired or painted over. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s move from the home is planned, to help children to prepare for leaving, both

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Recommendations

practically and emotionally. The home has an important role in supporting each child leaving the home in the period immediately before their departure, even when these moves are sudden. This is to try to reduce the impact of rejection experienced by a child when they move out unexpectedly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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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: SC457013 7

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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

Tonia Dubidat, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC457013 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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