Children's Home run by Motherwell Care Ltd in Croydon

Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 1 Registered provider: Motherwell Care Ltd

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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 up to four children who have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 7 July 2023. There have been multiple changes in the leadership and management team since registration. There is currently no registered manager and Ofsted is in the process of reviewing the suitability of the new responsible individual.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. One child spoke to the inspector.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2024 Full Good 23/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child gave positive feedback about the home. They said that they are now attending school, and they feel safe and supported by staff. The child said that before they moved into this home they did not feel confident to go out, but since living here they have been supported by staff and have experienced new things, for example, exploring London and trying food from different cultures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children who have left the home described having positive and trusting relationships with staff, which they are maintaining. One child explained that they achieved their personal goals more quickly than they expected and attributed this to the encouragement and guidance of staff. Both children have chosen to remain in contact with staff in the home, demonstrating the strength of the relationships built.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy activities such as bowling, day trips to the beach and trips into central London. Children also go to the gym, karaoke rooms and local restaurants. Children help to plan the activities. Staff ensure that children are made to feel special by celebrating birthdays or when children leave the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to learn new skills, such as cooking, hoovering, doing their own laundry and other household chores. To support children to develop these skills, they are given incentives that they choose, which encourages them to participate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are progressing from their starting points in education. One child who had not been in school for a significant period of time is now attending school. Another child was supported to attend an alternative school and is now enrolled at college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children see their families often. Staff welcome family members when they visit the home. Staff also work alongside parents to achieve better outcomes for children.

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improvement to be good

As part of a harm-reduction plan for a child heavily addicted to vapes and other nicotine substitutes, staff have been involved in purchasing vapes for the child. While the process involved in the harm reduction plan raises some questions, such as the involvement and agreement of other agencies, the impact and outcomes for the child have been excellent leading to a total abstinence and a return home.

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improvement to be good

Not all staff have completed safeguarding, physical intervention and first-aid training, despite having a detailed induction that stipulates when training should be completed. This means there are potentially gaps in staff’s knowledge of safeguarding practice, which limits their ability to respond appropriately to concerns. Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 4 Children make good progress and the outcomes for some have improved. This is seen in a reduction in missing behaviours for some. When children have been missing, staff have responded by following and searching for them and alerting professionals appropriately. However, some staff do not always follow appropriate missing procedures when children are away from the home. Feedback from police highlights that staff are not reporting missing incidents accurately or following missing protocols, despite having received training. This indicates that leaders and managers are not

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improvement to be good

effectively overseeing records or ensuring that training is embedded in practice.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are met. Staff are proactive in seeking specialist support and advice when needed. Staff ensure that children register with the relevant health professionals and support children to attend their appointments.

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improvement to be good

Some children’s risks reduce while living in the home. Children are less isolated, are more settled and make better choices around their health, for example, reducing the amount of energy drinks they consume. Staff have conversations with children about their specific needs, to help them learn how to keep themselves safe.

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good

Leadership and management of the home have been unstable. The last registered manager left the service in September 2024. The responsible individual also left in the same month. The director intends to become the responsible individual and has now submitted the required information to Ofsted.

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good

The home has had two managers since September 2024. One manager applied to register with Ofsted, however, their application was incomplete. They recently resigned and have left the home. The deputy manager has been managing the home since the previous manager left.

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good

As a result of multiple changes and instability, there has been a lack of consistent and effective management oversight. This is evident in the lack of oversight of incidents and concerns, inconsistent record-keeping and staff practice.

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good

New staff have been recruited since the last inspection and the use of agency staff is reducing. This is positive, as one child previously said that the home had lots of staff who ‘come and go’.

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good

Staff say that they enjoy working at the home, they have regular supervision and feel supported and valued by current managers.

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good

Social workers and health professionals say staff communicate effectively with the professional network. They said that staff have built positive and caring relationships with children. As a result, children are achieving and making progress. Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff adhere to safeguarding procedures and fulfil their legal responsibilities at all times. Staff must not engage in practice that places children at risk of harm and compromises their well- being, such as purchasing and allowing children to use vapes. Leaders and managers must ensure that all staff consistently follow good practice and model safe and professional behaviour. 29 September 2025

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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. 29 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff are sufficiently skilled and experienced to promote the well-being and safety of children living in the home, that children experience consistency in managers and staff and that managers monitor all incidents, exercising professional curiosity. Additionally, leaders and managers must take effective action when there are shortfalls in children’s care and safety that are identified in the independent person’s reports.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— 29 September 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 7 the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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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: 2689061 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Motherwell Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 21-23 Croydon Road, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6PA

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Inspector

Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2689061 9 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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