Children's Home run by New Focus Child Care LTD in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 1 Registered provider: New Focus Childcare Ltd 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 company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities .

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Information about this children’s home

There is a permanent registered manager, who is suitably experienced and qualified. This home was registered on 16 May 2023. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child moved into the home the following month after the home was registered The child has received good care and they have made progress in some areas. The staff have provided the child with positive experiences, through activities in the home and trips out. Staff consider the child’s interests and choices in planning activities, for example, they enjoyed Lego club and a trip to a cat cafe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff set targets for the child and progress is measured daily. This is supported by incentives for the child, with rewards for progress made. A visual display board is used to illustrate the progress they are making towards their chosen reward. The child has made good progress with their personal care and hygiene. In addition, they have attended all their health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported the child to resume contact with their mother. This was done in a planned and sensitive way. Staff contacted the parent each week and encouraged the child to join in, at their own pace. This is now much-valued quality time for the child and her parent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have been actively seeking a school placement for the child, however, this has not yet been successful. Staff provide educational activities during the day. They have been creative in seeking resources to support the child’s education, and have embedded clear routines in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have good relationships and interactions with the child. They use a lot of humour in their communication, as this is a known approach that the child responds well to. Staff have ensured that the child knows how to make a complaint. They have made one complaint, which was responded to with a letter and a conversation to inform them of the outcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s bedroom has been planned with their needs and interests in mind. For example, there is a large chalkboard on the wall. Staff have encouraged the child to use this as an alternative to drawing on the walls. There has been some damage to the home due to the child’s challenging behaviour. Prompt and ongoing action has been taken to complete repairs, so there are no hazards. However, the damage in some areas detracts from a welcoming environment.

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

Care plans outline the child’s needs and risks well. Plans have been revised and updated when necessary, so plans reflect current needs and actions for staff to take to provide safe care. Staff provide clear guidance and boundaries to the child. As a result, the child understands what is expected of them. Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 3 Staff understand and use de-escalation methods, in line with the home’s therapeutic model. This is successful at times in promoting positive behaviour. Despite this, there have been an increasing number of behavioural incidents. Physical intervention has been used when necessary. Managers review all incidents. When lessons are learned about how incidents were managed, the manager takes steps to improve practice. For example, staff receive refresher training and additional supervisions for their development.

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

Allegations have been a significant issue at the home. Measures have been put in place to safeguard the child and staff. This includes enhanced staffing ratios and staff reporting all concerning comments and allegations to a manager.

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

Staff have confidently broached discussions around sensitive and difficult topics with the child, for example, gender identity and aggressive behaviour towards adults. This provides opportunities for staff to listen to the child’s views and to support the child to learn about keeping themselves and others safe.

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good

While staff have followed the clear guidance about allegations, managers have not consistently dealt with this appropriately. Managers have had discussions with the child’s social worker and the local authority designated officer (LADO) about managing the high number of allegations. However, this has not led to a shared agreement or understanding about action to take. Issues were exacerbated as the LADO from the neighbouring authority was incorrectly consulted initially. As a result, not all allegations have been reported to Ofsted or the LADO. In addition, recording of the action taken by managers over each allegation is weak and inconsistent.

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good

Despite some changes in staffing, there is now a stable staff team. There are sufficient staff to care for the child, with minimal use of agency staff. The staff rota does not detail the names of agency staff, which is of particular concern because of the high level of allegations. There is a need to know exactly who is in the home and when. Managers have not yet embedded audit activity at the home. This has reduced the effectiveness of management oversight.

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good

There is a plan for the child to move on from the home as the staff cannot meet their needs in the long term. Professionals agree a more specialist setting is now required. Managers and staff are dedicated to making the child’s move a positive experience and it is being done in a planned way. Managers are working with the placing authority on the timing of the move and to devise a joint plan to support this transition. Staff are creating a positive memory photo book for when the child moves on.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision which supports their well-being and development. The organisation has good, effective arrangements for staff training. Staff say the induction and the training have equipped them well for their roles. Staff feel well Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 4 supported by managers. Despite the challenges they have experienced, the staff team is resilient. Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 5

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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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers following clear and consistent approaches to managing and reporting allegations appropriately and maintaining detailed records of all action taken.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers embedding monitoring systems to ensure effective management oversight, to make improvements at the home. 29 December

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 29 December Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 6 This specifically relates to keeping records of the staff duty roster of those working at the home, and a record of the actual hours worked, including by agency and bank staff.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 29 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children and is a homely domestic environment. This includes ensuring the upkeep of the home and timely repair of any damage caused, so the home remains a welcoming and comfortable environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2724906 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Focus Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit A4 City Trading Park, Dewsbury Road, Stoke- on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2TE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Laura Richardson

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Inspector

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2724906 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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