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

Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 1 SC390293 Registered provider: First 4 Care Ltd 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 owned and run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home offers medium- to long-term care for children aged between six and 18 years. There are currently three children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2018.

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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.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 3 December 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Full Good 07/02/2018 Full Good 07/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 3

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outstanding

The ethos of the home is not only reflected in the statement of purpose but in its warm, welcoming and nurturing atmosphere. Children say that this is their home and this is where they belong, and that staff are part of their extended family. The individualised care and support the children receive have contributed to the strong and trusting relationships that have developed between the staff and the children.

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outstanding

Children have a voice in their day-to-day care and are very much involved in decisions about their future. The children’s presence is felt whether they are in the home or not. Photos adorn the walls and their personal effects are left lying around, such as a guitar on its stand in the lounge, all of which create an aura of familiarity. This has allowed the children to grow in self-confidence and make considerable progress in all aspects of their lives.

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outstanding

The manager and staff make every effort to ensure that children have positive relationships with their family and friends. They ensure that children spend time with their siblings at the home, and children have invited their friends for sleepovers. One child is now travelling independently and navigating trains to have quality time with her family. This represents a significant area of progress for that child. Engaging the children in education, employment and other learning opportunities is creative and tailored to their individual needs and capabilities. The staff and manager will unpick the barriers effectively and will actively challenge and advocate on behalf of the children, to ensure that education is in place and is meeting their needs. One child said, ‘If I wasn’t living here, I wouldn’t be going to school. Staff have really helped me, and I am really excited about going back after the summer

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outstanding

Children have clear aspirations for their future careers. This is a real testament to the progress they have made since living at this home.

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outstanding

All the children are in excellent physical health and their emotional well-being is overseen by the in-house therapist. All the staff are trained in attachment, loss and grief and have refreshed their knowledge of using therapeutic language. The children have formed appropriate attachments with the staff, which is building their self-esteem and sense of security. Their emotional health and well-being have significantly improved since they have lived at this home.

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outstanding

Strong partnership working is a key strength. Professionals confirm their satisfaction with the quality of care being provided. Professionals said: ‘Staff have gone far and beyond my expectations’; and, ‘Staff have provided stability and allowed [Name] to trust the adults that look after her.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 4 The children are supported to develop their independence in line with their individual needs, in preparation for their transition to adulthood. Staff work hard with the placing authority to ensure that children move on to the right provision and have the necessary support when they leave the home. The home has a long history of staying in touch with and supporting children who have left the home. This provides children with much-needed continuity and familiarity as they move into their adult lives.

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outstanding

The staff are very mindful of and attuned to the risks for each child in their care. This is clearly reflected in their well-documented risk assessments and behaviour management plans. Children who have lived at the home for a considerable period of time do not engage in risk-taking behaviour because they no longer feel the need to do so. Comments from the children, such as, ‘I feel safe,’ and ‘I no longer need to go missing, because I have everything I need here,’ are testament to how secure the children feel.

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outstanding

The children living at the home have differing needs. Matching of children and new referrals is undertaken through good-quality impact risk assessments. The manager has learned from a previous experience to look beyond what is written on referral documentation, so as to ensure that she has all the information to make an informed decision. Consulting with the children already living at the home has helped the transition of new children.

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outstanding

The team uses a restorative approach to behaviour management. The access to therapeutic support via the in-house therapist is a real asset. The manager and staff have a wealth of knowledge about the risks posed by child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation and self-harm, and have cascaded this knowledge in their key working with the children. As a result of this, the children are better informed, and this is evident in their behaviour and outlook on life.

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outstanding

The professional working relationships with the police, social workers and parents help to minimise risk. In particular, for two of the children, the shared understanding around the risks associated with social media and online internet activity means that children are better protected. Equally, the children have been receptive to having mobile phone and internet use supervised or blocked by staff. A great deal of work is done around keeping safe online. This holistic approach is keeping the children safe from online grooming.

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outstanding

Staff know the areas that the children frequent when they are on free-time. They regularly undertake welfare checks, dependent on the child’s age and understanding. As any good parent would do, the staff get to know the children’s friends, associates and boyfriends/girlfriends. Children respond well because they understand why this is necessary. The children say that they feel safe and that staff make every effort to protect them from harm in all its forms. Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and her deputy are highly motivated and dedicated in their respective roles. They are very self-driven and complement each other, having worked together for over three years. The manager has high aspirations for the children in her care. She invests in their futures and ensures that they have access to opportunities that all children should be exposed to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has good monitoring and quality assurance systems in place to ensure that the children receive high-quality and safe care. Staff complete a monthly overview of the children, will set targets and record significant conversations. The manager’s hands-on approach ensures that she is fully abreast of everything that is happening at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Relationships with other professionals are excellent and the manager and her deputy ensure that there is an accountable team-around-the-child approach. The manager is passionate about the lives and outcomes of the children, and views the children as deserving nothing but the best. This is evident through her persistent challenge when advocating on behalf of the children in her care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff retention is good and new staff experience a well-coordinated induction and probationary period. Continuous professional development is encouraged, and staff say they receive regular reflective supervision. This means that the children have effectively ‘grown up’ with the same staff and have experienced stability of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is suitably located in a rural setting. The children have access to a range of activities that promote learning and independence. The manager and deputy use research to inform practice, and have been innovative in promoting additional educational opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The independent visitor does not rely on consultation and feedback from professionals, staff, parents and the children when completing their review of the home. This means that they may not gain an accurate and well-rounded opinion on the quality of care. Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 6

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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, 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 ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)) 30 September

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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 children’s home: SC390293 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 St Wilfrids Road, Bessacarr, Doncaster DN4 6AA

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC390293 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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Inspector

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