Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2515613 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 children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for two children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

p.1

Information about this children's home

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

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 13 December 2022

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2515613 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/12/2022 Full Good 17/08/2021 Full Good 21/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2515613 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home, both moving into semi- independent accommodation. Two children have been welcomed into the home and have settled in well. However, the impact risk assessment for one child was completed after the decision to admit the child. This does not ensure that children are safely matched to live together.

p.3

improvement to be good

Some aspects of the home environment are pleasant, with lounge and kitchen areas being nicely furnished. However, there is a recurring odour emanating from the toilet located in the staff office. Staff and children told the inspector, ‘It is a horrible smell that goes all over the house and is not nice when we are eating’. This environment is not conducive to creating a homely environment where children feel valued.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children receive education based on their individual needs which helps to ensure that they are receiving the right support. Consequently, children’s school attendance is good, which helps them to increase their chances of reaching their full academic potential.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children enjoy good health, and they have access to specialist services and support to promote their physical and emotional wellbeing. They are encouraged and supported to attend routine health appointments. Appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe administration and management of medicines to promote the safety and wellbeing of children.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support children to spend time with their families and supervise this when necessary. This helps children to sustain important relationships with people who are important to them.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff hold key-work sessions with the children. These sessions cover a range of topics, including healthy diet, education and managing emotions and anxieties. Consequently, children feel valued and listened to.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s positive behaviour is promoted, and restraint is rarely used. However, an agency member of staff engaged in a physical restraint with a child, even though they were not trained in the technique that is used in the home. The use of untrained staff puts children at potential risk of injury. Furthermore, staff do not ensure that all relevant information is captured in records that relate to a physical intervention. For example, records do not include details of the intervention used and what methods of de-escalation were tried. Inspection report children's home: 2515613 4 Staff understand the risks and potential hazards for each child and follow risk management strategies to promote their safety and well-being. Staff manage safeguarding concerns effectively and in a timely manner. Staff work directly with children to help them to understand potential risks.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff complete safeguarding training that is refreshed and have a good understanding of their duties in promoting children’s welfare. This reinforces the safety and protection of children living in the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

The home provides a safe environment for children to live in. A range of health and safety checks are completed to assess whether there are any hazards which could pose a risk to children. Children and staff take part in regular fire drills to ensure that they know how to safely evacuate the home in the case of an emergency.

p.4

improvement to be good

The staff recruitment and selection processes are thorough. These processes make sure that only suitable people are employed to care for the children who live at the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new manager started in September 2023. She is beginning to develop a greater understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, in order that she can put systems in place to move the home forward.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite the home having a nearly full staff team, current staffing arrangements fail to provide children with consistent care. Regular staff provide cover in other homes, whilst agency staff support staff in this home. In the previous two months, agency staff were used on 24 occasions. This does not promote children’s ability to develop positive and healthy relationships with familiar staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff receive regular supervision. This means that staff miss out on having opportunities to learn from and reflect on care practice along with any development discussion.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings are not regularly held. This hinders the staff and managers in having regular opportunities to discuss as a group children’s care and what is working well and what needs to change.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager submitted their six-month review of the quality of care at the home to Ofsted. However, this report lacked consultation and analysis of specific areas. including staffing information. The manager therefore failed to give an accurate account on the quality of care provided and the way the home is managed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff and manager have established good working relationships with a range of agencies and external professionals who are involved in children’s care. Staff work closely with teachers, social workers, and parents. This ensures that appropriate support is in place to encourage children’s progress and maximise their potential. Inspection report children's home: 2515613 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the smell emanating from the ensuite bathroom in the staff office 25 January 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure-

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the homes day to day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to all staff being trained in the organisation's method of physical intervention 25 January 2024

p.5

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- 25 January 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2515613 6 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there is a consistent staff team in the home and that regular team meetings take place. The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to impact risk assessments being completed prior to a child’s admission to the home. 25 January 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 25 January 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 25 January 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2515613 7 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(v))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that records of physical restraint contain a description of the restraint used and what de-escalation methods were used by staff. The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

p.7

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

p.7

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(5))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the review of care report includes evaluation and analysis of specific areas including, staffing information and information on behaviour management 25 January 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2515613 8

p.7

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 children's home: 2515613 9

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited

p.9

Children's home details

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

p.9

Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2515613 10 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.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10