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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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/10/2022 Full Good 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

At the time of this inspection, one child recently moved out of this home, and one child has recently moved in. The child was welcomed sensitively and supported to build trusted relationships with staff. Staff spent time getting to know the child. They spoke to him about activities and his likes and interests. Staff quickly found activities for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who has recently moved out lived at the home for several years, and she has now moved into supported accommodation. During her time at the home, she made good progress. A transition plan was put in place before she moved out. This ensured that she was provided with the skills and knowledge she needed to prepare her for living semi-independently. This was a positive move for the child, and she has maintained contact with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is supported and promoted in the home. Staff have developed strong links with children’s school and colleges to ensure that there is positive communication and a joined-up approach. This provides children with support and consistency. One child currently travels over an hour to get to school. In line with the child’s wishes, the manager is working towards locating a school closer to the home that will involve less travel for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with a range of health services to promote their physical and emotional well-being. They attend their routine health appointments with good support and encouragement from staff. The arrangements for the controlled storage and administration of children’s medication are safe and effective.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff support children to see their family and friends. The manager works with other agencies to ensure that any new arrangements are carefully assessed. When potential risks are identified, these are quickly addressed. This ensures that children can maintain important relationships safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are heard, listened to and respected by the manager and staff. Regular house meetings take place, during which children can raise any issues they feel are important.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage a good range of activities and crafts to promote children’s interests and talents. Outdoor activities such as golf, football and cycling are enjoyed by the children living at this home.

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

Children report that they can speak to staff and feel that their wishes and feelings are listened to and acted on. Children are provided with clear, consistent and age-appropriate boundaries. This means that they feel cared for by staff and are Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 4 developing a sense of belonging.

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

The staff team receives regular safeguarding training and has a good understanding of its duties in promoting children’s welfare. This ensures that staff are confident in the procedures to follow should any concerns arise.

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

Tailored risk assessments help to inform staff about the issues pertinent to each child. However, not all risk assessments reflect all known risks. This means that staff are not informed of all risks or the actions they should take to protect children.

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

Staff are trained in the appropriate use of physical restraint but only use this as a last resort, preferring to use de-escalation techniques. The home’s records confirm that there have been no incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection. This is a consequence of positive interventions at an early stage and recognising and rewarding positive behaviour.

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

The manager ensures that staff comply with locally agreed protocols for children that go missing from home. When children do go missing, staff liaise with the police and complete detailed records of actions taken and appropriate individuals contacted. Children have access to an independent person to speak to on their return home. This helps staff to consider any information that may help to protect children from going missing from home again.

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

Staff ensure that children are safe online. They undertake regular phone checks and monitor children’s internet use. Consequently, concerns are identified and addressed. Regular work is undertaken regarding exploitation so that children learn to recognise and reduce risks.

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

Children live in a home that is physically safe and secure. Regular environmental safety checks are undertaken, and staff and children regularly practise evacuating 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 effective recruitment and selection procedures. These procedures promote the safety of children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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good

Since the last inspection, the previous manager has left, and a new manager has been appointed. The new manager intends to apply to Ofsted to be registered. The absence of a permanent manager has been a long-standing issue, and the home has been without a registered manager since July 2021.

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good

The new manager is still establishing herself in the role. There has been a period of change under the new manager as she has a vision about how the home should operate. This is work in progress, and some of the changes are not yet embedded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 5 Supervision sessions are regular and of good quality. These help staff to generate ideas and reflect on their practice. New staff are supported through an effective induction process. This ensures that children receive good-quality care from skilled and well-informed staff.

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good

The training and development of staff has a high priority to make sure all staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to support children effectively and promote positive outcomes.

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good

The staff and manager have established good working relationships with a range of agencies and professionals who are involved in children’s care. Staff work closely with teachers, social workers and the police. This ensures that appropriate support is in place to encourage children’s progress and maximise their potential. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 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

This specifically relates to ensuring that all risk assessments reflect all known risks. 14 June 2023

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that a registered manager is appointed to manage the home. 14 June 2023

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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) Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 7 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 8

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Donna-Louise Harvey

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2627054 9 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 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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