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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2724156 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 three 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 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2724156 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved into this new children’s home in July 2023. They are having a good experience and are making progress. The child’s move to the home was well planned. They benefited from a gradual introduction and had opportunities to get to know the staff. As a result, they have settled well at the home. Staff are helping the child get ready to live with another child. This is in line with their care plan and wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed good rapport and good relationships with the child. They take a keen interest in the child’s hobbies. For example, they have become knowledgeable about go-karting and remote-control cars, to support the child’s activities. Staff know what topics the child likes to talk about. As a result, the child seeks the company of staff and enjoys spending time with them. Staff contribute to the child’s photo album and record lovely memories of holidays, activities and trips out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff implement clear routines for the child. This promotes a healthy lifestyle, with good sleep patterns and mealtimes. As a result, the child now eats all meals and snacks downstairs with staff, and these are nice social times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child to be ready to go to their community-based education, and their attendance and engagement have increased. The manager is progressing plans to ensure that the child has the opportunity to take formal qualifications.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A key focus of the child’s care is on developing independence and life skills. They now routinely get involved in cooking, cleaning and looking after their bedroom. This is preparing the child well for their future. The home is a pleasant and comfortable space for the child. They proudly display their go-karting certificates on their bedroom wall.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s needs well. However, this is not consistently reflected in the records and some documents contain unhelpful language. Managers are aware that this is an area for staff development.

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

Staff prioritise the child’s safety at the home. Risks are identified well in their plans, which provide staff with clear guidance in caring for the child. Staff give clear guidance and boundaries to the child. As a result, the child knows what is expected of them.

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

Staff know how to communicate effectively with the child. For example, use of indirect requests and humour can promote their interaction and de-escalate Inspection report for children’s home: 2724156 3 behaviours of concern. Staff are responsive to the child’s needs and any changes in their presentation. As a result, there are a very low number of behavioural incidents.

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

Incentives, rewards and praise are used to promote positive behaviour. Consequences are implemented for negative behaviour, such as damage to property. However, the time frame for the child paying towards the cost of repairs is lengthy, which reduces its effectiveness.

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

The child has not gone missing from the home. Their plans consider this risk and outline actions staff must take to prevent such incidents or respond in the event of them going missing. The manager considers risks relating to the home’s locality and updates the locality assessment frequently.

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

Staff have received training in a range of safeguarding topics. They know how to respond to allegations, and these are taken seriously at the home. When an allegation was made, appropriate safeguarding action was taken. This included work with the child to help them understand the implications of racist behaviours.

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

Staff are vigilant about online safety. The child is being supported to learn about keeping safe online and the risks. Staff take decisive action to address any concerns, such as providing supervision of internet use. There has been inadequate review of the arrangements for the use of door alarms. The justification is not clear, which could impinge on the child’s privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is responsible for overseeing two homes for this provider. The manager shares his time between the two and adopts an approach which ensures that he can maintain effective oversight of both homes. He is now beginning to upskill senior staff to support with leadership and management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is motivated to sustain a nurturing home for the child. The child has clear targets and their progress is measured and celebrated by staff. The manager is taking action to promote the best outcomes for the child. For example, a referral for an advocate has been made and further social opportunities are being encouraged.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A consistent staff team has remained at the home, with only minimal changes. There are currently no staff vacancies and no external staff have been needed since the home opened. Staff have been safely recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision which supports their well-being and development. The organisation has good and effective arrangements for staff training. Staff say the induction and the training have equipped them well for their roles. The manager is proactive in sourcing additional training for individual staff members or relating to the child’s specific needs. This learning is enhanced through in-depth discussions in team meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724156 4 There is a good team ethos at the home. Qualified staff support the development of staff who are not yet qualified. Staff are pleased to learn from each other. Staff speak very highly of the manager and the support he gives them to develop in their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: 2724156 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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 23 April 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  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. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2724156 6

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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: 2724156 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, Dewsbury Road, Fenton Industrial Estate, Stoke-on-Trent 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: 2724156 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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