Children's home run by Future In Mind Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 1 SC431315 Registered provider: Future In Mind Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 24 February 2020

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 12/06/2019 Full Good 04/12/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of inspection, there was only one child living in the home. The experiences of another child who had previously lived at the home were considered.

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improvement to be good

The home is clean and well maintained. The newly appointed manager is working to improve the environment by completing redecoration to offer a homelier appeal. The child living in the home has personalised her bedroom and has her own pet rabbit. This helps the child feel relaxed and contributes to a sense of belonging in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that education is promoted. The child has good attendance and is making good progress. As a result, the child is predicted to achieve academic qualifications. Education staff say that communication with the home is good.

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improvement to be good

Staff are committed to establishing a trusting relationship with the child. Staff complete regular key-working sessions with the child to discuss feelings, behaviours and the day-to-day running of the home. In addition, the newly appointed manager is completing weekly one-to-one reflective sessions with the child to build a further understanding of what it is like to live at the home. This practice demonstrates a commitment to building meaningful relationships.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to spend time with their families and friends. The child living in the home regularly spends time with her grandparent, and staff complete weekly calls to provide update on her care. This helps children to maintain relationships that are important to them.

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improvement to be good

Children know how to complain. However, on one occasion, although investigation activity took place, the managers did not ensure that the social worker had been notified. In addition, a social worker told the inspector that there is a delay in receiving information from staff following incidents. This does not ensure that the placing authority is fully updated on the care provided and limits the opportunity for the child to receive support from their social worker.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the child’s known risks and actions they are expected to take to keep the child safe. However, the written assessments are not updated to include new and emerging risks. For example, one child’s risk assessment was not updated to reflect her using a mobile phone. This leaves staff without all the necessary information they need and potentially increases the risk of harm. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 4 Staff respond to incidents of children going missing. However, staff do not always record the incident in full. For example, one record did not include the duration that a child was away from the home. In addition, the manager has not ensured that the local authority completes independent return home interviews, and that information provided by such interviews is considered. This is a missed opportunity to learn from incidents and to evaluate decision-making.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention has been used in the home, and following incidents, children are provided with the opportunity to discuss their views. There have been attempts to improve recording. However, some interventions do not include all the information required. For example, the duration of the intervention is not always clear. In addition, not all staff involved are offered a debrief to reflect and learn from incidents. This does not support effective monitoring of incidents and managers are unable to demonstrate that the practice is safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise children’s achievements. Staff have implemented incentive charts, which offer an opportunity for the child to receive additional pocket money or complete a chosen activity with staff, such as visiting a beautician. This ensures that positive behaviour is promoted and motivates children to make positive choices.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practice requires improvement. When the home has used agency staff, managers have not ensured that gaps in employment history have been checked, or if the staff have the correct qualifications. Because of this, managers cannot be assured that all staff who work in the home are suitable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, there have been significant changes in leadership and management. The registered manager left in March 2021 and since then, there has been inconsistent managerial oversight of the home. This has affected the quality of care provided. There is a new manager in position. She took up her post in December 2021 and is not yet registered with Ofsted. The manager is reflective and transparent about the areas for development and has an action plan in place to address the shortfalls identified at inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are positive about the changes in the management team. During the inspection, a team supervision, supported by a clinical psychologist, took place to discuss team dynamics and changes in the home, and for the manager to give reassurance to the staff. This practice helps managers promote stability within the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of the individual supervision that staff receive is variable. There are some staff that receive regular supervision and others that do not. Furthermore, managers do not always ensure that appraisals monitor staff progress and professional development effectively. This does not give staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice and limits the manager’s understanding of staff’s competence in meeting the needs of the child. This lack of oversight means that the care provided in the home has not improved. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 5 There are gaps in staff training. Some staff have not completed retraining in mandatory training, such as fire and medication, despite their certification expiring. Lack of sufficient training means that staff may not have current information to help them meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The administration of medication is not accurate. There are recording errors on medication sheets, and staff do not always follow the home’s approved protocol. The staff complete audits in the home; however, shortfalls have not been identified. This has the potential to compromise children’s health and well-being and fails to address poor practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s use of monitoring systems has not been effective in identifying and responding to issues. In addition, the shortfalls that have been identified at this inspection have been raised at previous inspections. This does not demonstrate that leaders have a clear overview of the home and an understanding of their responsibilities to address weaknesses. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that the child’s placing authority is notified if complaints are made against care staff. 10 February 2022

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the managers ensuring that the children’s risk assessments are up to date. 10 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— 10 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 7 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the managers ensuring that all staff complete mandatory training. In addition, the manager should ensure that monitoring systems are effective at improving the care provided.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, managers must ensure that staff receive appropriate supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that medication is safely administered, and that recording is clear. 10 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 10 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 8 This specifically relates to ensuring that all gaps in employment are checked and information about the worker is clear and consistent.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use if the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(b)(i)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that recording of the interventions used is clear. 10 February 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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: SC431315 9

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC431315 10 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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