Children's Home run by Future In Mind Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 1 SC063653 Registered provider: Future In Mind Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to accommodate up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. The home provides a therapeutic environment for the children that it cares for. The home is owned by a private organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 20 October 2020 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/11/2018 Full Good 10/01/2018 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child told the inspector that ‘staff listen to me. I like my bedroom and I feel safe.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been refurbished and redecorated to meet the needs of the child. However, there are several repairs and maintenance jobs that remain unfinished.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have taken the time to get to know the child. Consequently, staff have developed a bespoke care package that meets the specific needs of the child. This is managed in a sensitive manner that gives the child a sense of security and positive self-esteem.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been difficult for children to attend school. When children have not been in school, staff have liaised with children’s teachers, social workers and senior management to ensure that the impact of school absence on the child’s learning and development is minimal. However, because staff do not yet understand the barriers to children’s learning, the strategies used to improve school attendance can be ineffective.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to improve their well- being. The child is also supported by staff to attend all routine and specialist medical health appointments. As a result, her health needs are continually promoted.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff hold meaningful conversations and hold key-work sessions with the child about things like internet safety and how she manages her emotions and worries. These discussions are centred on the needs of the child and are also used as opportunities to gather her wishes and feelings. Consequently, the child feels valued and listened too.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to in-house therapy support, which helps her to keep herself safe and have a better understanding of her vulnerabilities. Also, staff receive regular input from the in-house therapist. This support helps them to provide the child with a consistent approach in line with the home’s therapeutic model of care.

p.3

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

Staff ensure that the child has an individualised risk assessment that reflects her vulnerabilities. Staff understand the risks that the child faces, and staff keep a detailed record of how the child is safeguarded. Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 4 The child rarely goes missing from the home. When she has gone missing, the staff have acted quickly by following the missing-from-care protocol and by working closely in partnership with the placing local authority, local services and the police.

p.3

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

When staff are required to intervene to safeguard a child, these incidents are well managed and documented. This means that the number of incidents in the home involving physical intervention are low. Records show that the child and the staff receive a debrief following each incident.

p.4

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

The home’s fire risk assessment does not cover all potential risks. For example, it does not ensure that all matters relating to health and safety of the environment are fully considered. Ofsted made a referral to the fire and rescue service following this inspection so that additional clarity can be sought.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is enthusiastic and passionate about the child and about providing good-quality care. The registered manager works closely with the child’s family and professionals, and feedback is positive. This partnership means that the child receives continuity of care and results in them feeling safe and secure, knowing that everyone is working to her best interests.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite the positive aspect of care, the registered manager does not always use monitoring and review systems to help with her oversight of the home. For example, the statement of purpose needs to be brought up to date to reflect changes in the home and the staff structure. It took the inspector to highlight a concern that there is not adequate precautions against the risk of fire, and the fire risk assessment is not up to date. This health and safety oversight has the potential to place the child at harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager holds monthly meetings with staff. These meetings consider the individual needs of the child and provide opportunities for staff learning and discussion.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

It is acknowledged that staff face-to-face training has been impacted by restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the manager has used technology well to ensure that staff continue to receive up-to-date training to enable them to support the child in their care. This has included receiving specialised training in bullying and self-harm awareness. Staff either hold or are working towards their level 3 diploma in residential childcare within timescale.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the support of the registered manager. During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have continued to receive regular supervision. However, the registered manager does not always use supervision effectively to enable staff to reflect on their practice. This creates a missed opportunity for raising staff aspirations and development. Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, 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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that several repairs and maintenance jobs are finished. 18 June 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The relates to the registered manager using monitoring and review systems to help with her oversight of the home. 18 June 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

p.5

Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children s 11 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 6 home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that adequate precautions against risk of fire are in place and that the fire risk assessment is kept up to date.

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have an awareness that children who have experienced severe trauma, who have mental health difficulties or who have been excluded or who have been out of education for significant periods may need to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively participant in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will pay a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. In particular, the registered manager and staff need to understand the barriers to children’s learning and ensure the appropriate support is provided. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for staff,

p.6

Recommendations

including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33 (4)(b). In particular, the registered manager should ensure that all staff receive reflective practice related supervision. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, pages 61, paragraph 13.3)  The registered person should keep under review the statement of purpose (regulation 16 and schedule 1). The home’s statement of purpose should be child focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care to meet the quality standards for the children in its care. The information set out in the statement of purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered persons and the placing authority to decide that the placement in that home is the right one for that child, and the home will be able to respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs. In particular, the registered manager should ensure

p.6

Recommendations

that the statement of purpose contains accurate information and reflects staff structure and staffing levels to meet children’s needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, pages 14-15, paragraphs 3.5 and 3.6) Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 7

p.6

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 children’s home: SC063653 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Future In Mind, 65 Market Street, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire WS12 1AD

p.8

Inspectors

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Melanie Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC063653 9 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.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9