Children's Home run by MAHG Children’s Services in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2852994 1 Registered provider: MAHG Children’s Services

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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 privately owned. It is registered to provide care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The child living in the home contributed their views during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2852994 2

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Summary of findings

The child has developed trusting relationships with staff and receives dedicated care from staff and leaders who are aspirational for them. There has been instability in management arrangements, however, any potential impact to the child has been mitigated by the presence of a strong and motivated responsible individual who has maintained robust oversight and supported staff. There is a particular emphasis from leaders on ensuring a transparent working culture where the interests of the child are prioritised and they are safeguarded effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well presented throughout and provides a clean and comfortable living space for the child, with areas for relaxation and play. The child’s bedroom is personalised, and staff support the child to maintain it to a good standard. There is a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which has helped the child to settle in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experienced a smooth and well-planned transition to the home. Leaders collated information from various sources, consulted with current and previous social workers, and visited the child before the move. Leaders analysed the information received and staff were consulted. This helped to ensure a robust risk assessment was completed and the home’s ability to meet the child’s needs was fully considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress since living at the home. Their care aligns with the home’s model of care, which emphasises a phased process of support. This has enabled the child to establish a secure base, through staff providing predictable care and routines and modelling self-regulation. The child has developed positive relationships with staff and incidents of going missing have significantly reduced. This is a positive indicator that the child feels safe and secure and trusts those who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are enthusiastic about their roles and aspirational for the child. They have conversations with the child about difficult and challenging issues, promoting reflection and thinking about the child’s future. One-to-one discussions take place with the child frequently. These are relevant and well planned. Staff also identify the right moments to weave these discussions into daily conversation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and staff demonstrate respect for the child, ensuring they are consulted and kept up to date about changes in the home, and their views are routinely sought. On one occasion, when the child raised a minor grumble, the responsible individual treated this as a complaint, to show the child what happens when they make a complaint and alleviate any hesitancy the child may have had about making a complaint.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In the short time the child has lived at the home, staff have worked hard to introduce routine and structure to their day. This has had a positive impact on the child’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2852994 3 motivation to participate in daily activities. The child’s engagement with a tutor is steadily improving and leaders and staff work closely with the child’s school, with the aim of reintegrating them into education. The child has also attended a health review with the local doctor, which is a significant step forward in view of the child’s longstanding disengagement from health services.

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

There is a strong multidisciplinary approach to safeguarding. Leaders ensure timely notifications are sent to relevant professionals when there are safeguarding incidents. New and emerging risks are subject to review and evaluation. Any new findings are shared with the team of professionals working with the child. This serves to promote a proactive response when vulnerabilities are identified. Leaders advocate for the child and ensure that decisions made about their care are child focused and in the best interests of the child.

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

The location risk assessment is a strong example of a holistic approach to safeguarding, with information provided by police and other organisations. This is evaluated alongside the child’s individual vulnerabilities, to inform safety planning. This is kept under regular review.

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

Staff understand the child’s risks very well. The child’s risk assessment is thorough and includes clear guidance for staff. It also highlights thresholds for protocols as well as known triggers for the child and what approach works best to help the child remain regulated. This is strengthened by individual risk assessments for various activities that the child takes part in. Behaviour chronologies are kept up to date and enable trends and patterns over time to be identified, to support staff to adjust their care practice.

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

Leaders and staff ensure an inclusive approach to keeping the child safe. The child has child-friendly versions of their care plan and risk assessment. The staff are open and honest with the child about what they are worried about. The child is aware of the actions that staff need to take if they are placing themselves or others at risk of harm. Risk reduction management plans are in place and versions of these are also shared with the child.

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

Physical interventions are used rarely and only as a last resort. All staff are suitably trained. Staff prioritise de-escalation and they are mindful of environmental factors that might be triggering for the child, for example, confined spaces. There has been a reduction in incidents requiring restraint since the child moved to the home, reflecting the emphasis on developing trusting relationships between the child and staff to prevent incidents occurring.

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

There has been a significant reduction in incidents of going missing from home since the child moved to this home. Staff follow protocols to report the child missing and are proactive in searching for them. Staff welcome the child when they return home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2852994 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has had instability in the management team since it was registered. The home is now being led by an acting manager who has applied to be registered. The changes resulted in some shortfalls in staff supervisions, managing rotas and recording practices. However, the impact of this on the child and staff has been mitigated by the presence of a stable and experienced responsible individual who has been a consistent presence in the home and maintained oversight. The issues identified have been addressed by 2 new deputy managers who have reinforced clear lines of accountability. Staff who have been at the home since it opened spoke very positively about their induction and the exceptional level of support provided by the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual has ensured a thorough and robust recruitment process, with high expectations of staff. There is a leadership plan which provides clarity around roles and responsibilities for the new management team. The new manager has taken time to immerse themselves in day-to-day life at the home, observing staff and getting to know the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have a strong focus on transparency, and they have developed an open working culture. Staff are encouraged to engage openly and honestly with the independent visitor to promote transparency. One staff member stated, ‘There is encouragement to professionally challenge each other in all manners of work where necessary, and support to overcome workplace challenges.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable team of core staff. When agency staff are used, they are additional to core staff and only used when increased staff ratios are required. There is a thorough risk assessment in place to consider the impact of agency staff use on the child. This clearly stipulates expectations around what responsibilities agency staff will take on and what responsibilities must lie with core staff. Where possible, the same agency staff are used, ensuring stability for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are purposeful and motivational. Key topics relating to the child are discussed and peer reflection is encouraged, promoting a shared learning environment. Staff have completed all mandatory training and are supported with professional development and qualifications. Some staff have not yet completed training they have been required to do. This is an area of oversight that needs to be strengthened by the new manager and deputies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervisions are now all up to date, including for temporary staff. Supervision sessions are child focused and provide a supportive environment for staff to reflect on their work and raise any concerns they may have. On staff member said, ‘The management genuinely cares for the wellbeing of staff and offers support beyond the workplace, considering each worker’s own personal circumstances, giving workers the strength to fully focus on the house and the young person.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No statutory requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2852994 5

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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: 2852994 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: MAHG Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 16, Bridge House, Derby Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire NG10 1NL

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Inspector

Jenna Allen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2852994 7 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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