Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 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 home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three 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 October 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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 11 January 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their individual starting points across all aspects of their social, emotional and behavioural development. Staff ensure that they provide personalised care that is based on their understanding of children’s past trauma and individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Detailed assessments are made to help children move into the home. However, the admission planning of one child did not consider the views of the children already living in the home along with the views of the child who was moving in. This lack of matching has led to a child moving into home without their needs being fully assessed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s individual physical and emotional health needs are supported through staff working with specialist health services. These links are important in helping children to process previous difficult experiences which might otherwise continue to impact negatively on their physical and emotional health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage children to engage in education that is appropriate for their abilities. Staff work productively and constructively with the providers of children’s education to maximise each child’s educational achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The cultural needs of each child are fully supported by the staff team. Staff have supported one child to observe their faith and religious practices. This was appreciated by the child, and it helped him to explore his developing sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that the home is generally kept to a good standard. However, some areas of the home need improving. For example, the shower in the main bathroom is unclean and has cracks in the plaster, one child’s en-suite bathroom has a door that, when swung open, hits the glass shower with the potential to cause damage, and one child’s wardrobe requires fixing to the wall. These shortfalls impact negatively on a homely, welcoming and safe environment for children.

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

All staff are clear about their safeguarding responsibilities and demonstrate a good understanding of the individual needs of the children. Staff ensure that tailored risk management plans help to identify potential dangers and risks associated with children’s behaviours. These are kept under regular review to ensure that the strategies remain effective.

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

Staff respond well when children go missing from the home. There are good links with other agencies, such as the police and local authority, which help to ensure that children return safely. However, on some occasions, children have not had the Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 4 opportunity to engage with independent return interviews following their absence. This is a missed opportunity for children to discuss their reasons for going missing and for the home to capture any learning.

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

Children’s behaviour is managed effectively by staff. They understand the triggers for children’s behaviour, and they support them to manage their own behaviour safely. This includes using de-escalation and other behaviour management strategies that are specific to the needs of each child. Staff anticipate issues well and manage conflicts positively and safely. There are far fewer incidents of challenging behaviour as children learn to regulate their own feelings and behaviour.

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

Staff ensure that the home environment is safe for children to live in. A range of health and safety checks are carried out to assess whether there are any hazards which could pose risks to the children. Children take part in regular fire drills to ensure that they know how to safely evacuate the home in case of an emergency.

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

Children are protected by the organisation’s safe recruitment practice. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a consistent and capable manager who knows the children and staff well. She provides effective leadership to a team that values her skills and experience. The manager supports her staff well with professional and personal issues. The manager’s approach supports stability in the home, which means that children are well looked after.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that morale in the team is good. They understand the complex histories of the children and provide sensitive care and support. They listen to the children and act on their suggestions, whenever possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive formal supervision and day-to-day oversight from the manager, which enables them to reflect on their practice and recognise their own strengths and weaknesses. Staff have training and development opportunities with access to good- quality training courses. This enhances staff’s knowledge to enable them to work effectively with children. Most staff have completed the level 3 diploma in residential childcare. The remaining members of staff are on track to complete their award within the required time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have established networks with a range of agencies and professionals who are involved in meeting the needs of children. Staff work closely with teachers, social workers, health professionals and the police. These relationships ensure that children have the optimum support for developing well in all areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager, when necessary, has challenged external professionals to get the services children need. Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 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 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that: children have access to independent return interviews following missing-from-care incidents; all necessary repairs to the home are carried out. 2 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 2 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 6 This specifically relates to ensuring that impact risk assessments are accurate and inform admissions to the home.

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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: 2560648 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: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspectors

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Glenis Staiger-Grant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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