Children's home run by Fresh Start Care Group Ltd

Inspection report children's home: 2682789 1 Registered provider: Fresh Start Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private provider. The home provides care for three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home registered in July 2022. A second manager has been developing into the managers role, they have submitted an application to register. Should their application be deemed suitable the current registered manager intends to resign but will continue to support the new manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2682789 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2682789 3

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outstanding

The passionate staff are dedicated in supporting children to do well in their education, recognising the positive impact this can have on their future life chances. Staff work assiduously to ensure all three children achieve 100% attendance in school and are flourishing. The progress children have made, considering their starting points, is exceptional.

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outstanding

Moves to and from the home are carefully and thoughtfully planned. For example, one child had progressed so well whilst living in the home that they were able to successfully return to their family. Staff knew for this to be successful the child needed to learn key independent life skills. Over a period of several months the child, with support from staff, developed the skills needed to return to the family home and so was able to experience this positive outcome. Another child who moved into the home was welcomed with sensitivity. Trusting relationships were quickly formed, which helped the child settle and gain a good sense of belonging.

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outstanding

Staff have developed strong and highly effective relationships with healthcare professionals. Staff find unique and innovative ways to help children who are struggling to attend health care appointments in the community. Healthcare staff are invited to the home at differing times to informally build a rapport with children, without discussing health matters. Relationships are formed which then lead to children agreeing to take part in important appointments that ensure their crucial physical health needs are met. Arrangements for managing medication are robust, safe, and effective.

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outstanding

Managers and staff place a strong emphasis on the value of children having every opportunity to take part in an array of recreational, educational, cultural, and social activities that reflect their individual interests and hobbies. Staff have an in-depth understanding of each child’s needs and use research-based practice to ensure that they are able to help every child to make the best progress they can. Staff explore unique ways to sensitively help children to engage in opportunities that they not only enjoy but which also help to educate them and to enable them to develop their own identity. Staff support children to create wonderful memory books that depict some of the fantastic activities they have enjoyed, which include trips to the theatre, children meeting their music idols and educational and recreational holidays abroad.

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outstanding

Staff are proactive and work positively with children’s families to ensure all three children enjoy meaningful time with their loved ones. Staff help children to take every opportunity possible to ensure that strong relationships are maintained. One parent commented that there is nothing the home could do better, and that the staff do everything amazingly well. Inspection report children's home: 2682789 4

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outstanding

Children say that they feel safe living in the home and have staff they trust and would go to if they had any concerns. Compassionate staff take time to listen to children’s fears and respond to them with kindness and warmth. Staff promptly take appropriate action to allay any fears and promote children’s mental and physical well-being.

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outstanding

Staff know children well and any potential risks. Written risk assessments address all known vulnerabilities of each child effectively so staff can use this to ensure they have the most up to date information to inform their care. Risks gradually reduce over time. Staff take a positive approach to supporting and enabling the children to take age-appropriate risks. Children spend quality independent time with their friends in the community without any unnecessary restrictions. This helps children to develop their self-identity and to form strong and important relationships with their peers.

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outstanding

Staff are skilled at communicating with children and are quickly able to establish trusting and secure relationships with them. Children are supported to manage their own emotions which has resulted in serious incidents reducing in number. There have been some serious incidents that have led to staff needing to physically restrain children to keep them and others safe and protected from harm. When physical intervention has been used the records detailing the event are robust with excellent managerial oversight. The learning from these incidents and the subsequent changes to practice have positively reduced the number of incidents that take place.

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outstanding

There is strong collaborative working between the home and partner agencies. Staff are dynamic in their approach and challenge services effectively, when appropriate, to ensure that the best outcomes for children are achieved. One professional said that children receive a high level of care from staff in the home, that communication is excellent and that children are safeguarded, and their needs met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leaders and managers in this home lead by example and are ambitious in their approach. They use children’s aspirations and dreams to set the culture in the home that all staff work enthusiastically to achieve. Strong leadership underpins the whole ethos of the home and ensures that excellent care is consistently delivered to improve children’s lives and enable them to experience positive outcomes. A parent commented that they were impressed with the home, their child had come on leaps and bounds and that the staff were wonderful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The settled and stable staff team provide important consistency of care for the children. The manager has high expectations and encourages and inspires their staff Inspection report children's home: 2682789 5 to feel empowered and fully utilise their individual expertise. Staff told inspectors about their joy at being given additional responsibility to help to ensure that the home runs efficiently and effectively. Training and professional development are high on the agenda and key in helping to improve the lives of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Records are written in a child-focused way and reflect well how staff support children’s everyday lives. Children contribute to their records and their voice is strongly evidenced throughout, clearly showing what is important to them and their hopes and dreams for their futures. Records are full of praise for the excellent achievements children have accomplished and clearly illustrate the vast progress children have made to date. The manager and the staff team say that they love working in the home and come to work with a smile. Laughter and singing echoes around the home and creates a nurturing and friendly atmosphere from which children can grow. The home is impressive and set in an idyllic location, it is extremely well maintained and has a loving family home feel to it. Children are proud of their home, especially their bedrooms, which are uniquely decorated to reflect their individual hobbies and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been raised at this inspection. Inspection report children's home: 2682789 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 children's home: 2682789 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fresh Start Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Inyanga, Lawnswood Drive, Stourbridge, DY7 5QW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Whitworth

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Inspector

Gary Turney, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2682789 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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