Children's Home run by First 4 Care Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 1 SC390293 Registered provider: First 4 Care 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 children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered by Ofsted in December 2018. She has a level 5 qualification in leadership and management and has the relevant experience and knowledge for the role.

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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 children’s home: SC390293 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2019 Full Good 07/02/2018 Full Good 07/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 3

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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

Specifically, repair all the damage and wear and tear throughout the home. 31/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that fire extinguishers can be easily accessed by all staff in the event of an emergency, and that the staff have a clear understanding of arrangements should any fire equipment be relocated within the home. 31/01/2020

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Specifically, ensure that all incident records are evaluated for effectiveness. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The experience of living at this home is having a positive effect on the lives of both young people. This is because staff have been effective in their efforts to provide them with a welcoming and nurturing environment that gives them a stable platform on which to further build their confidence and self-esteem. Staff were observed throughout the inspection supporting and encouraging young people in a sensitive and calm way. Staff spend time with young people listening to their views and actively engaging them in activities. For example, while the inspection was taking place, a young person was seen baking and listening to music with staff. The positive relationships between staff and young people was clear to see.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although young people are not in full-time education, placements have been identified, and they are making progress and learning new skills. Progress is continuous, and the home is actively involved in encouraging education as part of the young people’s daily routines. Staff actively challenge barriers to learning. They work effectively with the relevant agencies to ensure that young people have access to the correct placement and have every opportunity to achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of each young person’s specific health needs. They work collaboratively with the in-house therapist and seek advice and guidance on key issues, such as understanding grief, loss and attachment theory. As a result, staff are better equipped to effectively support each young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s views and opinions are integral to all aspects of their care. They are routinely involved in making choices about what they do each day and are frequently asked to offer their opinions about the quality of care that they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are well supported to keep in touch with family and friends. Staff demonstrate a detailed understanding of each young person and their family relationships. They have helped young people to strengthen relationships and improve the quality of contact they have with key people in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are provided with opportunities to pursue their individual hobbies and interests, which they do to varying degrees. This has been particularly effective in helping one young person to develop friendships by joining a local ice-skating group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The general decor, furnishings and maintenance of the home require attention. General wear and tear issues and damage caused by some young people are evident. Problems include damaged spindles, carpets, walls and furniture. The manager has taken some action to address this. However, she recognises the need for a rolling maintenance programme. This will ensure that the environment remains homely and comfortable for young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 5

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

Since coming to live at the home, young people are making good progress in reducing their risk-taking behaviours, such as going missing and engaging in criminality and anti- social behaviour. Professionals spoken with during the inspection said that young people are safer as a result of living at this home.

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

Young people’s risks are known and understood. There are appropriate strategies in place to reduce and manage known risks. Staff are confident about risk management and feel they have the appropriate skills and training.

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

Bespoke training from the in-house therapist supports staff to gain a better understanding of each young person’s past experiences and presenting behaviours. Staff work collaboratively with the therapist in order to deliver agreed strategies in the home. This has been beneficial in helping young people to develop stronger attachments, reduce anxieties and better regulate their emotions.

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

All staff have attended behaviour management and de-escalation refresher training. Records demonstrate that staff use these strategies to manage situations effectively in the home. This has meant that there has been a significant reduction in the need to physically restrain young people. This further demonstrates that young people are settled in the home.

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

Staff have worked hard to reduce incidents of young people going missing. They take on board the reasons young people give for their behaviour and make every effort to make changes to their plans. For example, increasing family contact has help reduce one young person’s missing from home episodes.

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

The manager ensures that reports are completed following incidents. However, the quality of information contained in these records varies. For example, not all reports robustly illustrate how the manager has critically evaluated staff decision-making and whether the course of action was necessary. This lack of evaluation hinders the manager’s ability to identify concerns, patterns and trends.

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

Regular fire evacuation drills are carried out to ensure that young people are rehearsed in how to leave the home should there be a real emergency. However, fire extinguishers are not easily accessible in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, not all staff understand where to locate this equipment. The manager took steps to address this during the inspection. However, a requirement is raised to ensure good practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She is open to new ideas and is motivated to continue to improve. She is committed to providing young people with the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff have access to appropriate training and reflective Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 6 supervision opportunities that stretch and challenge their care practice. Staff said that they are very happy working at the home and enjoy working with young people. Staff feel very well supported and that their skills and experience are valued in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meet as a team on a monthly basis. These meetings are well structured and meaningful. Meetings are facilitated as a forum to discuss practice and safeguarding issues. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and to identify any learning needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are positive and complimentary about the home and the quality of care provided to children and young people. One social worker said: ‘I really can’t fault staff and the manager. I think this home is fab. They have done an amazing job with my young person. He’s a different person now. I couldn’t be happier with the placement and I know my young person is happy and safe.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are used effectively to ensure that young people make good progress and achieve good outcomes. An external person visits the home to monitor and report on the quality of care provided. The visitor makes recommendations when necessary, and this contributes to the development of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Suitable action has been taken to address the requirements raised at the last inspection. This demonstrates good learning from inspection activity.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC390293 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: First 4 Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 313 Goodison Boulevard, Doncaster DN4 6TP

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Inspectors

Ceri Evans: social care inspector Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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