Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 1 Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company and provides care for two children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager in post took up position in July 2021. She is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2021

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection in September 2021, the house has been upgraded to a good standard. It is well maintained and homely. Both children feel at home here and appear comfortable in their environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffing shortages caused primarily by COVID-19 have been a concern. The manager has covered shifts to help with the staffing shortfall; this has affected areas of management responsibility. The continuity of staffing has the potential to improve with the recent recruitment of a full staff team. However, staff shortages have had a negative impact across several areas.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restrictive practices are used at the home. Door alarms are fitted to the children’s bedroom doors and used at night so that staff are alerted if children come out of their rooms after bedtime. One child is constantly supervised by staff or known adults; she cannot go out unaccompanied. The risk assessments and strategies to reduce the use of these restrictive practices, or to examine the appropriateness of them, were not available for inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships between the children are not always positive or well managed. Incidents of bullying are recorded and monitored but there is a lack of direct work with children to address these. Children’s behaviour is not always managed in a consistent way by the team; there is a lack of clear boundaries and expectations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do not always experience a good range of age-appropriate activities, hobbies or interests. One child spends money designated for activities exclusively on false nails.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is an increase in the number of staff now in post; this is a very recent change. Although extensive training opportunities are available, staff are not yet fully trained. New staff were not trained in the therapeutic approaches to care that are set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff supervision has not been carried out at regular or sufficient intervals. The manager’s availability to supervise her staff has been affected by her working on shift to cover shortfalls in staff numbers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No immediate safeguarding concerns are identified as a result of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 4

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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 enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 1 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11) (1)(a)(b)(c)) 1 May 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. 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 5 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;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to risk assessments being updated and enabling children to take age-appropriate risks.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff training is up to date and that there is a full and consistent staff team in the home. 1 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 6 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(b)) 1 May 2022

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: 2627054 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nurture Childcare Services Ltd, Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspector

Janice Hawtin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 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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