Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 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 home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post, who took up the position in September 2023. She is currently completing her application for registration.

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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

Date of last inspection: 17 January 2023

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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: 2560648 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2023 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Outcomes for children are largely good. Two children living at the home at the time of the inspection are very settled, and they are making progress in areas specific to their different needs. This is largely due to the positive relationships enjoyed by staff and children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child’s placement ended in an unplanned way because the managers and professionals recognised that they could no longer meet his needs safely. This had been identified earlier by previous managers who did not act promptly to review the child’s placement with the placing authority and plan a move on to somewhere more appropriate. Had they done so, several incidents that happened could have been avoided. Thankfully, staff managed incidents well, and he was kept safe while living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans reflect children’s individual needs and how staff will meet them. These are reviewed regularly, which helps to ensure that children are getting support based on their current needs and risks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have clear health plans and are registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. Children understand the importance of good health and are supported by staff to attend physical and psychological health appointments. Medication is stored safely, and arrangements for the administration and recording of medication ensure that children receive their prescribed medication safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school or college placements that are appropriate to their abilities. Staff provide transport to support children to and from their respective placements and seek feedback from their teachers on their progress. This sharing of information helps the staff to stay up to date with children’s education progress and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to keep in touch with their families and friends where this is appropriate and in line with the children’s wishes and needs. This is working well, and some of the children have been able to make significant improvements in the quality and quantity of their family time arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made friendships in the area and regularly spend time with their friends. They enjoy a good range of well-considered activities and experiences, which are thoroughly risk assessed in line with individual plans.

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

The manager and staff have created a safe home environment that protects children from harm. Children feel safe and have a strong sense of belonging. They know that they can talk to staff about their worries and that the staff will help them to be safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 4 Risk assessments, behaviour support plans and care plans are generally well documented and regularly reviewed. This ensures that staff are aware of the strategies in place to respond appropriately to risk-taking or harmful behaviour such as self-harm.

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

When children do go missing from the home, staff make sure that a detailed record is made that reflects a rigorous response. Staff are diligent in their efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of children by searching and contacting friends and known acquaintances. Staff will contact the police and other relevant agencies to share information and promote the child’s safe return. Children can discuss any issues with an independent person. This gives them the opportunity to discuss the reasons why they went missing and for staff to take action to minimise this happening again in the future.

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

Incidents of physical restraint are rare. Staff are skilled in de-escalating behaviours and resolving conflict. When restraint has been used, the recording of incidents is clear. There is clear management oversight of practice, which is evaluative and ensures that children are safeguarded.

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

Staff take health and safety seriously in the home, and this helps to keep children safe. Equipment and installations are serviced as required. Fire safety tests are carried out as required, and children and staff take part in regular fire drills.

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

Children are protected by the organisation’s recruitment practice. This means that only adults deemed suitable and safe are employed to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been several changes to staffing in the home. This includes a new manager and some new care staff. However, there remains a core team of staff who have worked hard to ensure that there has been no negative impact on the children because of these changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is beginning to develop a greater understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has started to make changes to take the home forward. However, her limited time in post means that she has not yet had the opportunity to fully embed these changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and benefit from a range of appropriate training opportunities that develop their knowledge, skills and professional practice. This makes sure that staff remain competent to look after children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses regular team meetings to ensure that everyone is up to date on how to promote children’s welfare and protect the children’s safety. A therapist who works for the organisation attends team meetings, which enables staff to reflect on any incidents of significance and how they can learn from them. This means that Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 5 learning is captured from significant incidents, which enables staff to learn and develop greater skills in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff and the manager have established effective working relationships with a range of agencies and professionals who are involved in children’s care. Staff work closely with teachers, social workers, health professionals and the police. The manager challenges partner agencies appropriately and effectively when required. Consequently, children know that they can trust the staff to advocate for them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 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, 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that reviews of placements are managed appropriately. 6 December 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) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 7

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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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Inspectors

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2560648 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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