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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 1 SC390293 Registered provider: First 4 Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned and run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children aged between six and 18 years old. Two children were living at the home at the time of the visit.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently not in work. The deputy manager is undertaking the day-to-day running of the home and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following concerns raised with Ofsted about this provider, a monitoring visit took place on 30 May 2022. Compliance notices under regulations 32 and 37 were issued. A notice restricting accommodation at the home was also issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, both compliance notices under regulations 32 and 37 were found to be met. The provider is complying with the notice restricting accommodation, as no further children have moved in. However, further shortfalls were identified and a new compliance notice under regulation 12 has been issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has completed a full audit of staff files to ensure that they now contain all information in line with regulation 32. Some small discrepancies in information were quickly addressed during the visit, and no breaches were identified.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has implemented new processes for recruitment checks. This includes a new human resources team and checklists for recruitment files. This prevents new staff working in the home without the appropriate safeguarding checks being undertaken. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 2 Managers have completed safe recruitment training and discussed this with the responsible individual to check their understanding. Previous shortfalls have been addressed formally with the deputy manager to reduce the risk of further occurrences.

p.1

This monitoring visit

All staff have a current disclosure and barring service (DBS) certificate and have recently applied for new certificates in order to be able to subscribe to the automatic DBS update service. The provider has arranged for six-monthly checks on this service to ensure that any offences are quickly identified and can be addressed.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children continue to make progress and report being happy and well cared for. Inspectors observed positive relationships and interactions during the visit between staff and the children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

During the inspection, the responsible individual was open and transparent with the inspectors. Information was readily available and easy to access by staff while being stored securely. The provider is in the process of moving to a new, computer-based system in an attempt to improve recording.

p.2

This monitoring visit

However, additional shortfalls were found on this visit. The inspectors found that the provider has failed to ensure that risk assessments and care plans clearly identify the current risks for children and the action for staff to follow. This means that staff do not have access to up-to-date information about the children’s known and emerging risks and vulnerabilities. Plans are lengthy and contain conflicting, historic information. There are no clear strategies for staff to follow to mitigate against these risks and to safeguard the children. Evidence was viewed that staff are following up on some of the information.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Other requirements raised previously were not checked during this visit.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Due to the findings at this inspection and the wider organisational concerns, the restriction of accommodation notice remains in place, and a further compliance notice has been issued under Regulation 12. A notice of decision to cancel the home’s registration has also been issued separately to this monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/09/2021 Full Outstanding 03/12/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Full Good 07/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 4

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v))

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the children’s risk assessments and missing-from-home protocols provide staff with up-to-date information and clear action for staff to follow. 4 September 2022

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 4 September 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 5 ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

staff have regular individualised practice related, reflective supervision

p.5

Requirement Due date

supervision records provide an accurate account of the conversation and are not duplicated, and signed by both the supervisor and supervisee

p.5

Requirement Due date

staff induction and training is delivered in a way that helps staff understand the expectations of their role, aligned to the provider’s own procedures

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is a written agreement that provides direction about the working arrangements when staff have a personal relationship. Also, a procedure that provides all staff with direction about how to report concerns about other staff’s practice when there is a conflict of interest due to the staff member’s personal relationships.

p.5

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.5

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: First 4 Care Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Inspectors:

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 7 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.6

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.7

Inspectors:

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

p.7

Inspectors:

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

p.7