Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2692103 1 Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited

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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 home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager joined the home on 21 November 2023. They are not currently registered with Ofsted but have submitted their application to register.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the monitoring visit, there were no children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 26 and 27 July 2023, a full inspection of the home was completed. It was the home’s first inspection since registration, and Ofsted judged the overall experiences and progress of children to be good. On 18 October 2023, Ofsted was notified of a serious safeguarding incident. As a result of this incident, Ofsted completed a monitoring visit on 1 November 2023 to assess whether the home had effective systems in place to keep children safe. Serious concerns were identified about the home’s ability to keep children safe, and Ofsted issued a compliance notice related to the protection of children standard, Regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted completed this monitoring visit to assess whether the compliance notice had been met. To satisfy the compliance notice, the provider organised additional training for staff on the assessment and management of risk. However, not all staff have completed this training. Due to staff changes, only two staff currently working at the home have received the training. Managers took additional action to arrange training, and following the inspection, they provided Ofsted with assurances that all staff working at the home have either completed the training or are scheduled to do so by mid-January.

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This monitoring visit

The previous manager completed a reflective review of the serious incident that occurred. Although this review identified some key learning, it did not address the decision to give immediate notice on the child’s placement at a time of significant trauma. As a result, they had not considered how the decision was made, whether Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2692103 2 things could have been done differently or the impact on the child and staff. Senior managers have undertaken an additional piece of reflective work to address this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

One child has moved in and on from the home since the monitoring visit in November 2023. The child lived at the home for a short time and moved on to live with his brother, in line with his plan.

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This monitoring visit

The child was welcomed into the home, and even though the child moved in with little notice, managers did have time to gather information and prepare for their arrival. Staff supported and nurtured the child. Staff listened to them, acknowledged their feelings and provided reassurance.

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This monitoring visit

No serious incidents have occurred requiring the manager to notify Ofsted. However, the new manager demonstrated a good understanding of the requirement to do so, and there is good oversight in place.

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This monitoring visit

There have not been any physical interventions since the last inspection. The new manager and staff were able to show through discussion that they understand practice and recording requirements relating to restraint incidents. This theoretical knowledge cannot be tested out at this time.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager also manages another home in the organisation and is proposing to be dual registered. The home has also had significant changes in staff since the previous monitoring visit, and some staff are working across both of the manager’s homes. The provider was not able to provide clear information about which staff are allocated specifically for this home. As a result, it is unclear who would be caring for any child placed and whether this would allow them to receive care from consistent adults. It is also not clear if there are sufficient staff to care for children.

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This monitoring visit

The home has recently updated its statement of purpose to reflect the change in manager. However, the document does not clearly set out which staff are allocated to work at this home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2692103 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2692103 4

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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 with 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

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (2)(d)(e)) 7 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the statement of purpose provides a full list of all staff assigned to work at this home, together with details of their role, experience and qualifications. 7 January 2024

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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: 2692103 5

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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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Inspector

Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2692103 6 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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