Children's home run by Future In Mind Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 1 SC394875 Registered provider: Future in Mind Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2023. The manager also manages another registered children’s home.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/09/2019 Full Good 06/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good care. Their lived experiences and evolving needs are understood and met well by staff. This has enabled children to make progress in many areas of their lives. One child said, ‘ The help and support I have had has been amazing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. They have lived in the home for over three years. Their independence plans have been well managed by staff. Children can confidently handle many aspects of everyday life, including cooking, budgeting and making decisions for their future. One child also spends short periods of unsupervised time in the home. This is in line with their plan to move into semi-independent living. The other child is now ready to move to a foster family once this becomes available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and promote family time. Children have regularly spent time with people who are important to them. When children have struggled with their family relationships, staff have supported them to resolve these issues. This supports the children’s identity and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have high aspirations for children. One child has completed entry-level exams. Their attendance at college is gradually increasing. The other child is preparing for their GCSE exams. They are engaging in tutoring to bolster their knowledge in core subjects.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to routine health services. One child has been engaging with specialist support regarding their additional needs. As a result, the child has been able to gradually reduce their use of medication. This, alongside regular support from the in-house therapist, has also led to the child having a better understanding of their behaviours and emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A range of positive activities are enjoyed by the children. They have been on holidays with the staff, trips to the theatre and visits to the cinema. Children also spend time out of the home independently. This promotes children’s social skills and their ability to make safe decisions for themselves while out in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is well furnished, nicely presented and offers the children adequate space to study and relax. Photos of the children with staff adorn communal areas of the home. The children’s bedrooms are personalised. One child has posters, wall murals and photos of his family members in his room. The rear garden has been transformed to a good standard. This has enabled one child to explore their interest in gardening and nature. A couple of specific issues need to be addressed, for example a window restrictor needs to be repaired. Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 4

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

Children benefit from consistent boundaries and clear routines. Children share their views and contribute towards their developing plan for independence. This helps them to take ownership of their future plans, and they respond well to this approach.

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

Risk assessments provide staff with clear guidance to help them manage risks to children. These assessments are reviewed and updated regularly. This helps staff know what they need to do to keep children safe. At times, updated plans have not reflected the correct dates of when the additional information has been added. The manager is working with staff to address this.

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

Children say they feel safe and well cared for in the home. Professionals and family members generally agree with this view. However, one child’s parent and their social worker were not clear about risks to the child when they use their mobile phone. There are ongoing efforts by staff to monitor this. Direct work has been ongoing with the child, and age-appropriate restrictions are also in place. The manager acknowledges that this remains an area that will require ongoing vigilance.

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

Complaints and allegations from children are taken seriously and managed well. The manager ensures that matters are investigated thoroughly, and children are kept informed of the outcome. This helps children to feel respected, listened to and valued by staff.

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

Procedures around the storage and administration of medication are robust. The manager undertakes weekly audits. They have a clear system in place to ensure that procedures are being followed by staff.

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

Recruitment processes are thorough. Staff who work in the home are subject to all necessary checks. This helps to ensure that children receive care from safe adults.

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

There have been no physical interventions by staff, and children have not gone missing from care since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced and committed manager. They spend their time between the two homes they have oversight of. They are assisted by a deputy manager, and this helps to ensure that there is constant management oversight. The manager is also well supported by an effective, responsible individual. Together, this management team works well to monitor and support children’s progress and staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are child-focused and clear about children’s future plans. They have worked with professionals to identify a semi-independent home for one child. Plans are in place for the child’s key worker to continue to support them. This Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 5 is to provide the child with ongoing consistency to help them manage this important transition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions and team meetings take place regularly. Staff are well supported through their induction and probation periods. Their ongoing practice and development in the home are promoted by managers. This is underpinned by a range of training courses that equip staff with relevant skills and knowledge to provide children with good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff generally work well in partnership with children’s families. One child’s social worker said there is good partnership working and communication by staff. However, some family members said they have not always been kept up to date about their children’s progress and incidents that have occurred. One child’s social worker echoed this feedback. The manager acknowledges this and has made changes to improve it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable core team of staff, and the use of agency workers has been reduced significantly. One staff member described the team as being a work family due to the positive relationships in the home. As a result, children benefit from care and support from a familiar and motivated staff team. Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the home’s 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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should assure themselves that staff consistently monitor children’s phone and online activity to ensure they remain safe. 5 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve the child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to sharing information in a timely manner with professionals and relevant family members. 5 February 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained. In particular, ensure the window restrictor in the attic and the front door letter box are replaced. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 7  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that records are accurately dated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC394875 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Future in Mind Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 65 Market Street, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire WS12 1AD

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Carina McLean-Armstrong

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Inspector

Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC394875 9 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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