Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 1 Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and has been in post since 19 June 2023. She is not currently registered but has submitted her application.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the first full inspection of the home since it was registered with Ofsted on 1 February 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 2

p.1

Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived at the home since it was registered. They had previously requested a move to a more urban and diverse area where she could be closer to her school and friendship groups. The child was involved in some of the decision-making processes in this planned move. She visited the home before moving in and chose items for her bedroom and the date she wanted to move. The child has therefore experienced a positive transition to the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is small but cosy, homely and welcoming. The child’s bedroom is personalised and includes items that reflect her personality and characteristics. The child also chooses items for the home. For example, she requested specific garden furniture, which the home purchased. This enables the child to positively invest in and feel part of the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of the child spending time with family members. Therefore, family time is supported. The staff ensure that the time is enjoyable and memorable, and important anniversaries are celebrated. Therefore, the child continues to have relationships with people who are important to her.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help to prepare the child for her future and her transition to adulthood. She is supported to learn skills to become more independent. The child prepares meals for herself and for the staff team. She is also encouraged to do her laundry and ensure that her bedroom is kept clean and tidy. During the inspection, the child was observed preparing a meal independently, and she told the inspector that she loves cooking.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to attend all health appointments with an optician, dentist and doctor when necessary. Staff support the child to understand important health matters and make referrals to specialist health services, which enables her to access all relevant health provisions to meet her health needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends church regularly, has joined the Army Cadets and attends a youth club, where she has formed positive relationships. Such opportunities provide the child with equality of opportunity with their peers.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s educational progress has been variable. The staff did not provide a planned and structured timetable for the child to access educational support during a period of exclusion. However, the child is now engaging well with tutors, who are educating her at the home until an alternative educational provision is found.

p.3

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

Managers and staff understand well the risks that the child faces. They work with the child to educate her on her personal risks and the risks she faces in the community, including safe relationships and keeping herself safe online. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 4 Staff know the child well and understand how her experiences impact on her behaviours. They care for the child therapeutically. This is underpinned by the support of a therapist, training in therapeutic approaches and specific training tailored to the child’s needs and experiences. As a result, the child is well supported and is improving her ability to manage her emotions.

p.3

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

There was a serious safeguarding incident involving the child and individuals in the community. The incident was promptly and effectively responded to, and the child was temporarily removed from the area. Collaborative working with senior management as well as external agencies resulted in the implementation of stringent safeguarding measures, which enabled the child to return safely to the home. The child responded positively to these measures with the understanding that they help to keep her safe.

p.4

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

There have been two instances of the child going missing while living at the home. Staff responded to the situations well. They followed the child’s plans, looked for her and involved the relevant professionals to return the child home quickly. When the child returned home, she was warmly welcomed and supported to talk about her feelings. This is in addition to the child having the opportunity to talk to an independent person on her return. Consequently, the number of times the child has been missing from home has significantly reduced.

p.4

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

The child told the inspector that she feels safe living at the home. As a result of the nurturing relationship the child has with the staff, she is able to share worries or concerns. When the child has shared concerns, these are taken seriously. The manager immediately makes contact with the appropriate professionals, and they work with the child to keep her safe.

p.4

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

The child benefits from the organisation’s safe recruitment practice. All staff, including agency workers, are vetted and assessed as suitable before their appointments are confirmed. This helps to keep the child safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works in a therapeutic way to provide good-quality care for the child. She is ambitious and aspires for the best possible outcomes for the child. The manager is a qualified and experienced childcare practitioner, who is a role model for good practice. This way of working permeates throughout the staff team, and they work together cohesively.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides the staff team with regular supervision that creates a space for reflective practice and learning, which strengthens staff development. Staff receive a wide range of training that reflects the individual needs of the child. This provides the staff with the skills and knowledge base to understand the child’s behaviour.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff told the inspector that the manager has created structure and stability within the home. They always feel supported and can approach the manager at any time. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 5 Management oversight and monitoring processes are effective as they allow for emerging trends and themes to be identified and addressed accordingly.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partner agencies report that the manager is proactive in following safeguarding processes. Communication is a key strength. The manager works collaboratively with these professionals, shares information and escalates areas of concern in a timely manner.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The location risk assessment included relevant information relating to known crimes within the vicinity of the home. No collaboration with a partner agency was carried out to determine the nature of the crimes and the potential risk to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.6

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)) 31 August 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). 31 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 7 When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

p.6

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: 2692103 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Donna-Louise Harvey

p.8

Inspector

Glenis Staiger-Grant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2692103 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9