Children's home run by MSPC Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 1 Registered provider: MSPC Limited

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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 run by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children with learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children were consulted as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who is registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Date of last inspection: 15 October 2024

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that the home is clean and tidy and has ample toys and activities for children. Children enjoy spending time with staff playing board games or listening to music. Not all staff encourage conversations with children, to help develop their social skills. However, staff have encouraged children to attend youth clubs to broaden their sense of community.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children in using their chosen communication aids. This helps children to communicate what they would like to do and to express their views. One child has become more confident in saying if they do not wish to do something or see someone. This is further supported by children having access to an independent advocate.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported by staff to participate in education. One tutor praised staff’s approach, saying that staff work well as a team and provide a consistent approach to care. The manager advocates for children’s educational needs. For one child, access to education is still very limited. Staff seek external support for children, such as art therapy and education on understanding hazards to their health.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff team regularly consult with children’s families and the key professionals in their lives. This supports children to frequently see their families and continue positive relationships. However, when parents take children to health appointments, the manager does not ensure that all information is communicated. This results in the manager not being sure about the outcome or how best to advocate for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Although the manager has implemented a new medication protocol, medication errors are not always identified in a timely manner. The manager reflected on this and recognised a need for further development of the staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager’s oversight does not always identify the need for improvement in staff’s written records. For example, he does not ensure that staff fully describe attempts made to de-escalate children’s responses. He also does not ensure that staff record the duration of physical holds when they are used. Such measures are, however, only used as a last resort and, on the whole, staff are able to divert children’s attention if they become upset. Management oversight of written records also does not assess the impact of language used, to ensure it is non-blaming.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection, three requirements were raised. Two of the requirements have been met. The requirement in relation to regulation 5 has been restated. Three of the previous recommendations have been met and one has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child;

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that systems in place ensure that medication is administered correctly and that any errors are recognised and rectified in a timely manner. 5 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the registered person is fully participation in the monitoring and review of children’s physical and mental healthcare and treatment. 5 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 5 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff document the duration of the measure used, and that staff clearly record methods used to avoid physical holds of children. 5 February 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that those responsible for the day-to-day running of the home play a key role in enabling the registered person to fulfil the requirements of the leadership and management standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.2)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should be mindful of the language used in records and information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  Regulation 11(2) sets out the expectations on staff in building a positive relationship with each child and helping the child develop skills to have positive relationships with others. ‘Others’ includes individuals at the home such as staff.

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Recommendations

The registered person should encourage staff to engage in natural conversations Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 6 with children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.6) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 18, Corby Business Centre, Corby NN18 8QN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Primrose Murefu-Muzondo

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Inspector

Ellen Monk, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2775110 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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