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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 1 SC394875 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

The home is part of a private organisation that runs several children’s homes . It provides care for up to two children with complex needs and emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home’s manager has been in post since December 2021. She has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/09/2019 Full Good 06/09/2018 Full Good 17/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 3

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improvement to be good

Staff want the best for the children they care for. They talk about them with warmth and affection. However, in contrast, there are some occasions when staff use poor language in children’s records. This does not show children the positive regard staff have for them.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not maintained the home well in all areas. While living areas are bright and inviting, bathrooms have mould in places and some areas of the home are dirty and need maintenance. Some children’s bedrooms are also untidy and items such as mirrors are missing, which has caused damage to walls. In addition, staff store children’s records in a room which is not routinely locked. As a result, children’s confidential records are not safeguarded.

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improvement to be good

Parents and professionals have a mixed view of the care children receive and the progress they make. Parents welcome the increased stability of staffing which helps children to feel settled. However, for one child there remains a concern that they are at risk of exploitation, and this has not improved during the time they have lived in the home. Parents also noted that they do not always get written reports from the home when they should. Since the appointment of the home’s manager, this has begun to improve.

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improvement to be good

Staff value equality and diversity. Staff have encouraged one child to complete equality and diversity training. This child has then shared their learning with staff in a workshop. This approach encouraged the child’s learning and put them central to the theme in the home. This is inclusive and shows the approach the home is aiming for.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged by staff with their education. Staff ensure that if children are not in school for any reason they continue with educational work that keeps them engaged in their learning. Staff also work collaboratively with schools when children are taking their next steps in education. For example, staff support children to visit colleges, so they are prepared for moving on when the time comes. As a result, children know that staff encourage and support their educational development.

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improvement to be good

Staff use different methods to engage children. This includes letter writing, playful conversation and physical affection. Children are also supported to engage in activities they enjoy, such as arts and crafts and physical exercise. These help them to feel a sense of achievement. However, the home’s manager has used the police unnecessarily on occasion to manage behaviour. This contrasts with the stated therapeutic aims of the home. It also detracts from the support that staff aim to provide to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 4

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improvement to be good

Staff’s responses to children during incidents is variable. For example, when children leave the home, staff do not always follow them and keep them in sight as laid down in guidance. This compromises children’s safety. The manager does not update children’s risk assessments quickly following incidents, so there is a delay in providing clear guidance for staff. This also weakens safeguarding for children.

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improvement to be good

Staff carry out work with children to address concerns about sexual exploitation. However, this work is ineffective. For example, despite completing a programme of work with staff, one child remains at high risk of exploitation online. Due to poor staff supervision of the internet and a lack of adequate internet safeguards, the child has continued to access highly sexualised conversations with adults. Managers have taken action to improve the child’s safety. However, this remains a significant concern for those involved in caring for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff physically intervene with children when necessary. On a small number of occasions, children state they have been hurt during these interventions. Managers do not ensure that this is always clearly investigated and challenged. Records are inconsistent and do not contain all required information. The lack of reflective challenge to the staff’s approach means that practice does not develop in this area.

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improvement to be good

Managers and leaders work hard to recruit staff. During the current period of staff shortage, senior managers have employed temporary staff to ensure that there is consistency. This has provided stability for children. Managers ensure that staff undergo the required recruitment checks. This enables managers to feel reassured about who is caring for the children.

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improvement to be good

Medication arrangements are effective. Staff know children’s medical needs well. They work with parents to ensure that medication reviews happen and are in children’s best interests. When medication changes, staff are quick to amend records so that everyone involved is clear about the arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s decision-making does not always prioritise children’s welfare. They put in place a strategy to contact police about one child’s behaviour. However, there was no clear agreement with the child’s placing authority about when this was necessary other than as a last resort. In addition, the child was not told this was going to happen in advance. As a result, the manager called the police on one occasion when staff did not feel this was necessary, and the context of the child’s distress at the time was not considered. During this incident, the child was handcuffed and placed in a police car. The manager did not consider this a serious incident. In addition, they did not show consideration for the child’s experience and welfare. As a result, the manager’s decision-making does not always inspire confidence. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 5 Leaders and managers do not show effective decision-making or oversight in several

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

areas of the home. For example, the manager does not believe a child being handcuffed by the police or a child’s emotional well-being being assessed by emergency services constitute serious incidents. These events were not notified to the regulator as required . This weakens the regulator’s oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s monitoring and oversight are insufficient. They have not noted errors in records or ensured that there is challenge to staff to learn from incidents. In addition, there is contradictory information between records, such as the timescales for completion of training, and the staff rota does not contain all essential information. Managers’ systems to monitor children’s progress are complex. The home’s manager does not fully understand these or how they show progress for children. As a result, while systems are in place, they are not yet ensuring high standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider has still not ensured that there is sufficient scrutiny of the home by an independent visitor. The provider has employed a new visitor since the last inspection, but they have not yet visited frequently enough to have any impact on the quality of care. Also, the visitor does not obtain the views of staff, parents or professionals about the home. This is a missed opportunity to gain feedback about the care children receive, to support improvement. The manager has also not completed a review of the quality of care since the last inspection, to update her view of practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff feel supported by the manager and appreciate their time in supervision sessions. However, agency staff who work in the home do not receive supervision in line with the organisation’s approach. This is a missed chance for the manager to both support and hold agency staff to account, if needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not all up to date with their training or qualifications. Regular agency staff are also not routinely trained in physical intervention techniques. In addition, permanent and agency staff have not all received training in the underpinning therapeutic approaches to practice, as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. The manager has provided a brief outline to some agency staff to support them with a basic understanding. While this is a good attempt to fill this gap, this is not sufficient to fully embed these approaches. Senior managers are aware of this concern and are attempting to address these gaps. Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 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 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

In particular, the registered person should have a system to assure themselves that staff know and follow guidance in risk assessments and other relevant documents.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 July 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—

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 27 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that leaders and managers lead and manage the home with sufficient competency and skill and make decisions that consider children’s well-being and promote children’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should ensure that staff are up to date with all the training they require them to complete within stated timescales. The provider must also ensure that staff complete training relevant to the children in the home and any additional needs that they have.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that their monitoring ensures that records are accurate and signed as required. In addition, the registered person should ensure that monitoring of the environment leads to sustained cleanliness and repair in all areas, including children’s bedrooms and bathrooms.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma").

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (3)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a)) 31 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 8 In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff complete the appropriate qualification.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all staff caring for children are trained in the underpinning models of the approach of the home. This should include therapeutic approaches as noted in the statement of purpose. The registered person should also ensure that all staff, including those on short-term or agency contracts receive reflective practice-based supervision. This should be recorded clearly and in detail.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 July 2022

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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

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. 27 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 9 (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vi)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that records of physical interventions contain all required details.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there. (Regulation 36 (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that children’s records are kept secure and not accessible to other children. 27 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff rotas include the required information outlined in schedule 4. 27 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that serious incidents involving the police and other emergency services are notified to Ofsted without delay. 27 July 2022

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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— 27 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 10 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.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

the placing authorities of children. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (7)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the independent visitor gains the views of staff, children’s parents and placing authorities for their report. The independent visitor’s report must also be sent to HMCI and children’s placing authority without delay.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s rooms are kept tidy, showers are free from mould and the home is clean throughout. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that recording in the home is accurate and respectful and does not include institutionalised language or phrases. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review report reflects the feedback and opinions of children and professionals who work with them. This recommendation was made at the last inspection and is restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64-65, paragraph 15.2) Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 11

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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: SC394875 12

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC394875 13 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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