Children's home run by First 4 Care Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1256608 1 Registered provider: First 4 Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is run by a private company. It is registered to provide care and support for up to three children with learning disabilities. The home is committed to providing care on a long-, medium- or short-term basis, depending on the needs of the child.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in December 2018. They have a level 5 qualification in leadership and management and have the relevant experience and knowledge for the role.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 December 2019 Overall judgement at last inspection: good Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1256608 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/12/2019 Full Good 05/02/2019 Full Good 28/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1256608 3

p.2

outstanding

The manager and staff all speak fondly and passionately about the children. The staff team is highly motivated and united in its care of the children. The home forms part of the wider community. Some children spoke about feeling part of an extended family. This results in children establishing a strong sense of belonging.

p.3

outstanding

Children’s achievements are celebrated, regardless of how small these may appear to be. Milestones, such as learning to ride a bicycle, are captured and shared with parents, enabling them to enjoy and celebrate their children’s successes. This results in parents feeling involved in their children’s care.

p.3

outstanding

The manager’s efforts in establishing positive relationships with parents is commendable. Parents are consulted on a daily basis. One parent said: ‘I feel respected as a parent and all the staff are lovely.’ Positive working relationships with parents reduce the risk of children developing a sense of divided loyalties, enabling them to embrace their relationships with the care staff.

p.3

outstanding

The manager makes great efforts to maintain a safe and predictable daily routine for the children. Staff are well versed in why routines for the children are important. The manager stated that one child ‘loves to come home from school to the smell of tea cooking’. This creates a homely environment and a foundation for children to feel safe and well cared for.

p.3

outstanding

The home has been pivotal in progressing one child’s ability to communicate her wishes and feelings. This has significantly improved the child’s quality of life. This has resulted in the child’s relationships with family members, teachers and carers improving as she is able to communicate the support that she needs.

p.3

outstanding

The manager has made extensive efforts to prioritise children’s education. This starts prior to children moving into the home, which ensures that disruption to children’s education is minimised.

p.3

outstanding

The manager has established a fun learning culture in the home for the children. This improves children’s confidence in their learning and, in doing so, increases their ability to learn in school. There is strong collaboration with children’s schools. This ensures that care staff and teaching staff are aligned in supporting the children’s education.

p.3

outstanding

There is careful and sensitive planning when children come to live at this home. Leaders and managers make great efforts to determine whether children are a good match. Children experience a sense of familiarity when they move into the home. This ensures that there is a strong starting point and foundation to build on. Inspection report children’s home: 1256608 4 Relationships with children are maintained when they leave the home. This ensures that children continue to retain a sense of belonging and security. This also bolsters the sense of a family community that the manager and staff have worked hard to establish.

p.3

outstanding

Staff are confident and have a clear understanding of what safeguarding means and the processes that need to be followed to protect children. There are clear risk assessments in place that are well written, understood by staff and reviewed by management. This helps to ensure that children are protected from harm.

p.4

outstanding

Staff have a thorough insight into the vulnerabilities of the children that they look after. Staff take advantage of frequent supervision and team meetings to review care strategies. This reduces the risk factors in the children’s lives, enabling children to safely develop their sense of independence.

p.4

outstanding

There is consistent evidence of children being helped and of improved outcomes for them. One child has made measurable and sustained progress in their ability to regulate their emotions and in their independence skills. This has been recognised in school and by their parents. Staff capture children’s wishes through interactive house meetings. This ensures that children are consulted and, as a result, their sense of self- worth is enhanced.

p.4

outstanding

Staff make extensive efforts to involve children in the preparation of food. As a result of these efforts, one child is now able sit at the dinner table with others and share food, which is a remarkable achievement from their starting point. This was noted by the child’s parent, who stated that the quality of their visits has improved.

p.4

outstanding

Creative solutions are taken to improve the safety of the children in their home. For example, a handmade floor-to-ceiling banister, which is in keeping with the surroundings, improves the safety of the children. This enhances children’s freedom of movement in their home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s influence is evident throughout the ethos of the home. Staff are enthused by the input and energy from the management team. Staff invest in a culture of learning. This improves the lives of children as they are better understood, and their individual needs are responded to.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team implements innovative ideas to bolster staff confidence in their day-to-day practice. An example is the ‘question of the day’, which results in staff having a safe method of expressing any doubts in their role. This simple but effective measure forms a small part of creating a safe learning environment. Inspection report children’s home: 1256608 5 Staff consulted with said that they feel well supported and are valued by the management team. There is regular staff supervision, which is evaluative and reflective. However, not all staff appraisals are formally recorded. This is an administrative error and does not affect children’s well-being.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Clinical supervision is provided by a qualified practitioner, and is valued by staff. Much emphasis is placed on the well-being of staff, acknowledging that this has a positive impact on children. Language that staff use with children is poignant and contributes to the children being understood and feeling loved.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains frequent contact with professionals involved in children’s care planning. Professionals consulted all commented on the family ethos of the home and the benefits that this has on children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals from the local authority are updated on children’s progress, enabling confidence in care planning. The manager challenges professionals when required. This ensures that there is no drift in children’s care planning and promotes a culture of accountability.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has noted that the home requires refurbishment. Progress is underway to create a more homely environment. Inspection report children’s home: 1256608 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children have a nurturing and supportive home environment. The home would benefit from decoration to the lounge, hallway and communal area adjoined to the kitchen, and the cracked floor tiles in the entrance hall should be replaced. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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: 1256608 7

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspectors

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Steve Guirey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1256608 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8