Children's home run by Future Focused Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2693530 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 home is operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2022.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2693530 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2693530 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children living in the home are happy and have good, caring relationships with staff. Staff support children to attend a wide range of activities. These include paddleboarding, visits to the cinema and going to the local trampoline park. One child told the inspector, ‘It’s good living here, it is a 10, no make that an 11, as it’s the best place.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s educational needs. The registered manager has worked with the virtual school to identify a new school provision one child. One child, who has not been attending a school, has been supported by tutors in the home. Education is also promoted via the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance. This is where children can build on their independence and skill base. Both children are completing this course and have received certificates.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health needs of both children are being met. Staff register children with local health services. One child is accessing support from a play therapist. Staff support the child to attend appointments. The therapist said, ‘Staff have participated and attended feedback sessions. Staff have implemented strategies and invested in suggested resources to support the child.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their families. Staff work alongside professionals and advocates. This shows a multi-agency approach to providing the right level of family time. One child’s friend visits the home for tea. Staff have good relationships with children’s families and their friends’ parents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult with children, which shows children that their views matter. Children provide ideas for meals and activities. They have chosen their holiday destinations and enjoyed holidays away from the home. This demonstrates that staff consider and welcome children’s views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapist employed by the home provides staff consultations. This allows time to consider the needs of the children. Strategies are well documented in children’s records. This therapeutic model supports staff to understand and respond to trauma- based behaviours. This helps and supports children’s emotional well-being.

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

Staff understand children’s risks, and these are recorded in children’s plans. As a result, staff know what actions they need to take if an incident occurs. Staff talk with children to explore risks. For one child, risks have reduced. This shows that working with children is having a positive impact.

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

When safeguarding incidents occur, staff follow the correct procedures. The registered manager escalates concerns to the local authority. She takes part and Inspection report for children’s home: 2693530 4 contributes to safeguarding plans. This means that children have plans in place to keep them safe.

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

Safeguarding incidents are not always relayed to Ofsted on time. This limits the regulator’s oversight of safeguarding actions.

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

All staff have received training in safeguarding. This includes child sexual exploitation, managing aggressive behaviour, online safety and self-harm. An external agency has delivered trauma-informed training. This means that staff have the skills to manage and support the children’s needs.

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

Staff have used physical intervention when children’s behaviour has not been safe. The registered manager reviews the physical intervention records. She ensures that debriefs take place with staff and children. The therapist team helps staff to understand the triggers for some behaviours and consider new strategies to support children.

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

Staff work in good partnership with the local police team and share information. The police provide information about new risks in the local community. Following this, staff carry out direct work with children. Children have received extra support to learn about stranger danger.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands children’s needs and areas that need support. She has clear oversight of children’s care, plans and records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has strong links with multi-agency professionals. Feedback from professionals is positive. The headteacher of the virtual school said, ‘The manager has gone above and beyond to promote the education plan.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has developed the team’s skills. She has made sure that staff have access to extra training and support. This ensures a consistent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that the management team provides good support. Staff feel listened to and able to raise any concerns. Managers ensure that staff receive supervision, but the quality of this is variable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place monthly. The registered manager has also included research findings in these meetings. The team meetings celebrate staff practice with ‘employee of the month’ awards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team morale is good, and staffing is stable. Staff recruitment is safe and there is a clear induction plan in place. The registered manager ensures consistency with the use of temporary staff. They use the same members of staff, which allows children to receive care from staff they know. Inspection report for children’s home: 2693530 5 The statement of purpose does not always show changes to the care and monitoring of children. This means that the regulator does not have a clear overview of the home’s function.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Damage to the home is not always repaired in a timely way. There has been a delay in repairing damage to the bathroom. This means that children have had to use a bathroom that is in disrepair. This could have caused injury to the children. During the inspection, a maintenance worker completed the outstanding tasks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2693530 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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, review the statement of purpose and update the monitoring and use of door alarms on children’s bedrooms. 20 September

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people and Ofsted. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend, on a public holiday or when the registered manager is not in work. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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: 2693530 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, Crow’s Nest Business Park, Ashton Road, Wigan, Lancashire WN5 7XX

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Inspector

Tracey Sykes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2693530 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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