Children's Home run by First 4 Children Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2711236 1 Registered provider: First 4 Children Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home has been registered with Ofsted since 10 March 2023. This home provides care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 10 March 2023 and the responsible individual has been considered suitable by Ofsted since 3 August 2023.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection that took place on 22 and 23 August 2023. As a result of this inspection, Ofsted issued a notice to restrict accommodation. Additionally, compliance notices were raised under Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and Regulation 26, the fitness of the provider standard, of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the notice to restrict accommodation and the progress made against the compliance notices. The notice to restrict accommodation has been adhered to, and no children have moved into the home since the last full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit has found that all compliance notices and requirements raised from the last full inspection have been met. Despite this, the notice to restrict accommodation remains in place. This is because the positive changes that have been implemented remain untested, and it is not known at this time whether they can be sustained. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2711236 2 Since the last inspection, two children have continued to live at the home. The children enjoy positive relationships with staff. Children said that they like living at the home; they like their bedrooms and feel safe at the home. There are positive interactions between staff and children.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has been absent since the last full inspection and returned on 19 September 2023. The staff have been supported by the deputy manager and responsible individual who are focused on improving the quality of care provided for children.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s care, behaviour and risk management plans provide clear guidance to staff. These plans clearly outline children’s educational, cognitive, emotional and behavioural needs and include new and emerging risks. This helps staff to meet the needs of the children.

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This monitoring visit

The record-keeping for children has improved. This means that children’s records are easily accessible for anyone who has a legitimate reason to view them.

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This monitoring visit

Partnership working with external agencies has improved. A social worker said that she has a better understanding of the progress the child is making. A teacher said that the staff have been flexible in the way they support the children to attend school. This helps all professionals to provide better support to the children.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and registered manager now notify Ofsted of significant incidents in a timely manner. This helps the regulator ensure that managers have taken all the necessary steps to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has carried out a review of all safeguarding incidents and shared the shortfalls from these incidents with all external professionals. This means that all professionals have the information they need to keep children safe. These were not previously reported in a timely manner.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has implemented new policies that provide guidance to the manager and staff on how to make a notification to Ofsted, escalate concerns to professionals, ensure safer recruitment of staff and whistle-blowing procedures. These provide guidance to the manager and staff and prevent any confusion relating to their roles and responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual, registered manager and deputy manager have completed training in the management of allegations. This has helped managers understand how to make referrals of allegations of abuse to the designated officer and their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed training in therapeutic approaches, safeguarding children, record-keeping and anti-bullying. Training in global development delay is planned for 7 November 2023. Following the completion of training, managers have begun testing staff knowledge through quiz sessions. This helps leaders and managers to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2711236 3 assure themselves that staff are confident and competent in their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and responsible individual have implemented a new monthly management audit tool. This monitoring tool is in the early stages of implementation. Therefore, it is too early to gain an understanding of its effectiveness.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has completed safer recruitment and vetting checks on the responsible individual. This has helped the provider ensure that there is a suitable person in post.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual is in the process of handing over some of his other positions held externally from this home. This has helped the provider ensure that the registered manager is supported by a responsible individual who has the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual’s oversight of the registered manager and the quality of care provided to children have improved. This is a result of the responsible individual increasing the number of days he has allocated to this home. As a result, the responsible individual has a better understanding of the quality of care provided to children at this home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has appointed a new independent visitor. The effectiveness of the independent person’s monitoring of the home cannot be fully tested. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2711236 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2711236 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2711236 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: First 4 Children Ltd

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: William Mulvaney

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Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2711236 7 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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