Children's home run by Fresh Start Care Group Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2682789 1 Registered provider: Fresh Start Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private provider. The home provides care for three children with social and emotional needs. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022, when this home was registered.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2682789 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2682789 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection of the home. Children experience stability and very positive relationships with the accomplished manager and a permanent care team. These relationships contribute to children feeling safe and making progress. There has been minimal disruption when staff have been away with sickness or on holiday. Dedicated team members cover these shortfalls to avoid the use of unknown agency staff at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On entering this home, children and any visitor can see that it is welcoming and homely. A large kitchen and dining area provides the hub of the home, where children sit and chat, help to cook and enjoy meals and snacks. Children and staff wear slippers around the house to support the homely family style atmosphere. The children have a sense of belonging to this home and they are comfortable in their surroundings. Pictures, photos and soft furnishings are tastefully displayed. The creative use of battery-operated candles in the home creates a calm ambience in the darker evenings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in all aspects of their lives and in a short period of time since living at this home. Introducing routines has led to improvements for all the children in their physical health and personal hygiene. There is a holistic focus on supporting children with their emotional and social well-being. This is achieved through direct therapy, key-work discussions and having new and exciting experiences. Children enjoy going to theme parks and attractions in addition to enjoying activities at the home, such as a quiz night, pamper time and cooking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children report that this home is a good place to live. They are encouraged to voice their wishes and opinions. They are listened to and, where possible, the staff respond favourably to support their requests. Children are respected as individuals and are accepted for who they are or want to be. Children receive non-judgmental support to explore their personalities. One social care professional reported very positively, saying, ‘This [home] is my favourite place to visit. I have never met a staff team who are so accepting and empathetic in their care for the children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and social care professionals report very positively about the quality of care provided at this home. One parent can see changes where their child has lost weight, looks smarter and is healthier because of living here. Another parent said, ‘I am absolutely clear that they care about my child. [Name of child) is being respected and loved.’ Children are very proud of their photo albums that have been created since the first day that they came to live at this home. By viewing the photos, one can see over time how each child has grown in confidence. Inspection report children’s home: 2682789 4

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

Children are cared for and supported by staff who are trained in safeguarding. In addition to the mandatory training, staff members are creative in finding videos and websites to increase their level of learning and understanding about the protection of children. For example, staff have sourced a series of short videos showing rap stars talking about their experiences with trauma, grief and body image to engage children in talking about such difficult personal issues.

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

Children have not been restrained at this home. At times when children are upset, the staff use their training and skills to de-escalate the situations. Training in therapeutic parenting is effective. Children know that the staff team cares about them, no matter what. A clinical psychologist provides the team with group supervision sessions and training. This level of support enhances staff’s professional development, which the children then benefit from.

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

On the three occasions when children have gone missing from the home, the staff have actively searched and tracked their location to ensure children’s safe return to the home. Staff support children in the safe use of the internet and social media. This has meant restrictions and boundaries at times, which the children have begrudgingly accepted. Social care professionals report that they are satisfied that safeguarding concerns are taken seriously at this home and that the correct procedures are followed.

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

Safer recruitment procedures are followed to ensure new staff are suitably checked to work with children. A few records where references have been verified lack written detail of any discussion held, and some recruitment records are stored in different locations, making their retrieval difficult. Medication is stored safely. However, records of medication have some gaps, and the reason for the administration of medication is not always clearly recorded. Leaders and managers accept that these shortfalls in administration are an area for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well led by a strong management team. Succession planning is developing the skills of the two deputy managers effectively, with the aim of them becoming registered managers in the near future as the organisation expands. Since this home was registered in July 2022, no staff have left, and the staff team has grown. A full permanent staff team ensures that children receive consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that effective matching of children has led to a calm and safe environment for children to live together. Staff members spoken to during the inspection reported that they enjoy their work and that they feel supported and trained to do it well. One member of staff reported, ‘There is a true sense of a supportive community within the home.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2682789 5 Leaders and managers show an ambitious vision for this home, and they have high expectations for the children and the staff team. As a result, the staff team is highly motivated. Some team members have completed their qualification in residential care within a year, much quicker than the permitted two-year time frame. The assessor for the residential care qualification reports very positively on the commitment shown by leaders and managers in their support of staff members to achieve this qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members receive regular supervision sessions to reflect on their practice and identify any training needs. One member of staff told the inspector how supported they felt after a particular incident with a child. They welcomed receiving feedback on how well they had done in managing the incident. They were asked how they had coped at the time, and their feelings were thoroughly valued. This example of particularly good practice by leaders and managers was not supported by a written record. This missed opportunity means that a record of staff performance is not available to evidence such professional development. Inspection report children’s home: 2682789 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. In particular, ensure that there are no gaps within the records and that the reason for any medication being administered is clearly recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice. In particular, they should ensure that there is thorough scrutiny of references received and that recruitment records are stored together in one place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision sessions is kept for staff, including the manager, in particular when supervision sessions are held after a significant event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including

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Recommendations

the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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 children’s home: 2682789 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fresh Start Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Inyanga, Lawnswood Drive, Stourbridge DY7 5QW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Whitworth

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Inspector

Clare Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2682789 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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