Children's Home run by Future Focused Ltd in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 1 Registered provider: Future Focused 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 privately owned. The provider states in the statement of purpose that they provide care for one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened on 20 July 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 September 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 3

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outstanding

The child living in this home has flourished since the previous inspection. She receives consistent and exceptionally well-planned care from a stable and dedicated staff team. Staff have worked hard to get to know her background and understand her traumatic life experiences. As a result, she has made excellent progress in all areas of her development.

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outstanding

Staff know the child well. They have an excellent understanding of her needs and evolving psychological formulation. They are committed to providing optimum care in line with her therapeutic care plan. Staff have a strong knowledge of the child’s barriers to forming and maintaining relationships. They provide exceptional support to help her overcome these barriers.

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outstanding

The manager disseminates up-to-date research to staff relevant to the child’s complex needs. Staff incorporate this into their daily practice. Staff have developed strong relationships with the child’s therapist, who provides regular consultations. This supports them to understand the complexities of the child’s therapeutic needs and behaviours.

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outstanding

Staff work hard to inspire and motivate the child’s engagement in education. She has 100% attendance and is progressing well in her further education. Staff support and actively encourage her future aspirations. They provide excellent support in preparing her for independence. They recognise the potential difficulties she may face in moving on from the home due to her therapeutic needs, and they work hard to prepare her for living independence.

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outstanding

The child living in the home knows how to make a complaint. The use of ‘grumbles’ forms helps her to communicate any concerns or issues she has. Staff recognise when these are of a more serious nature, and they support her to submit formal complaints. Investigations are thorough and the child is consulted and updated throughout the process. Staff listen to and respond to her wishes and views. The safety and well-being of the child is always prioritised. Outcomes are agreed in line with her therapeutic needs and understanding.

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outstanding

Staff support the child to spend time with family and those important to her. They advocate for her to spend increased time with those important to her. They can identify those who have a positive impact on her emotional well-being. They recognise when arrangements to spend time with family are not in her best interests. They liaise effectively with social work professionals to manage this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 4

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outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of the child’s risks and underlying needs. Staff have an extensive knowledge of her triggers for challenging behaviour. The child told the inspector that she has developed trusting relationships with several staff in the team. This supports her to feel safe in the home. Staff have worked hard to get to know the child, and they actively seek guidance and advice to support her in line with her therapeutic care plan. Staff have developed an excellent working relationship with the independent therapist. This enables them to respond effectively to the child’s therapeutic needs.

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outstanding

Risk assessment documents include comprehensive guidance and strategies for staff to follow. The planning and management of risk is exceptional. Records are informative and detailed. They reflect the child’s needs and provide staff with a detailed psychological understanding of her. The strategies to manage risk have been developed in consultation with the child’s therapeutic care plan in conjunction with the professionals involved in her care. One local authority professional commented that the child’s risk assessment was ‘one of the best we have ever seen’.

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outstanding

There have been no incidents of the child being missing from care. There are clear strategies and comprehensive guidance for staff to follow if missing from care incidents do occur.

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outstanding

When incidents of challenging behaviour occur, staff manage these extremely well. They demonstrate high levels of commitment and persistence when faced with complex behaviours. Incidents of physically holding the child are rare. Purposeful follow up work is completed with the child following any incidents. The manager facilitates reflective work with staff following any incidents of challenging behaviour. This helps staff to learn from incidents and inform future practice. However, on one occasion, independent oversight was not undertaken when the manager was involved in the incident.

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outstanding

Strategies to support the child to develop independence skills are excellent. This has enabled her to enjoy time in the community without supervision. She has been able to develop relationships with others outside of the home.

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outstanding

Staff adopt research-informed approaches to managing the child’s complex needs. They provide the child with unconditional support and understanding. One social work professional commented that ‘the support [name of child] receives in the home is breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma’. Staff go above and beyond to help her in times of crisis. As a result, the child’s risks have reduced in all areas since living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational and motivational. He is committed to providing the best possible care to the child living in the home. He has high expectations of his team to always provide outstanding care for her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works exceedingly hard to know and understand the child’s background and early life experiences. He is child centred in all decision-making. He ensures that the staff fully understand her adverse life experiences and how these manifest in her behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff practice issues are addressed proactively. The manager ensures that the child’s safety and well-being are always prioritised. Careful consideration is given to the recruitment of new staff. This is to ensure that they have the skills and commitment to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say they feel fully supported in their roles. They are actively encouraged to access opportunities for career development. One member of staff is being funded to attend university to undertake a counselling degree. Another staff member has benefited from the opportunity to become the first mental health responder within the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works hard to support staff when incidents of challenging behaviour occur. He recognises the emotional demands on staff working with the child to meet her complex needs. He manages the staff and child’s emotional needs exceptionally well. He provides excellent support for both.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular reflective supervision and team meetings. They are provided with quality time to reflect on their practice and learn from incidents. Bespoke training and workshops are delivered in all team meetings. Staff are encouraged to actively participate in meetings and share knowledge and learning. This ensures that the staff have the relevant skills to meet the child’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is proactive in accessing up-to-date research to ensure that the care provided to the child is effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager adopts a strong multi-agency approach in caring for the child and has developed excellent relationships with professionals involved in her care. He is a strong advocate for her and challenges decisions when they are not in her best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The monitoring systems and monthly trackers the manager has implemented allow him to monitor the progress of the child and identify areas of further development. He seeks independent feedback to review and improve the care and experiences of the child living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should review and update the children’s guide as necessary. Specifically, that the children’s guide includes accurate information in respect of sleeping arrangements of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.23)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. Specifically, that independent scrutiny takes place when the registered manager is involved in incidents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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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: 2591916 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Future Focused Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Future Focused Limited, Crows Nest Business Park, Ashton Road, Wigan, Lancashire WN5 7XX

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Inspector

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2591916 8 regulates and inspects 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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