Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 1 Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited Full 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

There is a new manager in post, who took up position in August 2022. Ofsted is currently processing her application for registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection :

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good

A notice restricting accommodation has been in place since 21 July 2022. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2022 Full Inadequate 24/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home has made measurable progress from her individual starting points, particularly in relation to her emotional, social and behavioural development. She has benefited from living in a supportive, caring and nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with the child to help her to understand her specific targets and the support available to achieve them. The child’s care plans are written with her contribution and input. Staff make sure that the child’s views are central to the formulation of their care, and, because of this, the child’s plans contain information that is meaningful to her.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends an educational setting appropriate to her needs and abilities. Staff work in partnership with education departments and other relevant professionals. This ensures that the child has every opportunity to enhance her academic ability and reach her full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that the child has a clear health plan and is registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. The organisation’s therapeutic team works alongside staff and the child, providing clinical oversight as necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The relationships between the child and her family remain a priority for staff. Staff provide transportation and monitor arrangements closely. All time spent with family members takes place within a clearly defined plan. Friendships are encouraged, and the staff support the child to have friends in and outside of college. This allows her to engage in the local community in a positive way.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have a clear understanding of the importance of safeguarding and the need for vigilance. Good collaborative working with the police, teachers and other professionals contributes to keeping the child safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Effective risk assessments and risk management plans are in place. Staff ensure that these plans are regularly reviewed and closely followed in practice. These records demonstrate that the staff have a clear understanding of the individual risks to the child and have implemented effective strategies to reduce and manage the risks that she may face.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child’s behaviour has significantly improved. Staff set clear and consistent boundaries. Staff help the child to complete plans, which identify triggers that make her feel angry or upset and think about techniques that they can use when she begins to feel like this. These systems, combined with effective strategies, help the child to manage her behaviour and reduce incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 4 The child lives in a physically safe environment. Regular health and safety checks on electrical, gas and fire safety equipment help to make sure that it remains in good working order. Staff carry out regular fire drills so that the child knows what she needs to do in the event of an emergency.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child is protected by the organisation’s recruitment practice. This ensures that staff are suitably vetted before they start work in the home. This protects the child from unsuitable individuals gaining access to the home.

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good

There has been no registered manager in the home since July 2021. The last manager left before registering with Ofsted. A new manager started in August 2022. Ofsted is currently processing her application for registration.

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good

The manager has made several improvements. She has focused on reviewing the services provided to children and has reviewed staff training. The manager has also identified and addressed some difficulties within the staff team. She has recruited some new staff and provided platforms for the staff to have an active voice in the home. Consequently, staff team morale is much improved.

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good

Monthly staff meetings take place and staff receive monthly supervisions. Staff receive training that supports them in their role. All staff are qualified to a level 3 diploma in residential childcare or are working towards the qualification within the regulatory timescale.

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good

The manager and the staff work well with other professionals. As a result, the child receives well-coordinated care. The manager will actively challenge other professionals when the responses from other services are not meeting the needs of the child effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 5

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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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)) 28 November

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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 6

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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: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 7 to achieve excellence in the care of children and 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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