Children's Home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 1 SC020595 Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to care for four children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably experienced to oversee the service and is currently nearign completion on her level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 8 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2023 Full Good 21/04/2021 Full Outstanding 20/11/2019 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. One child has lived in the home for nearly two years. The other child has been living in the home for six months. Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home and another child has moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences moving in and out of the home. The manager ensures that the process is well planned and child-focused. Children’s views are considered and regular planning meetings take place before children move into or leave the home. Staff also remain in contact with children who have moved on. This nurturing approach means children are well supported during a difficult time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical health needs are well met. They are registered with local health services and regularly attend routine health appointments. Additionally, the home has an appointed therapist who works alongside the manager and staff to develop strategies to support children with their emotions. Children’s progress is frequently monitored. This allows for a flexible approach to ensure that children’s needs are continually met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have full-time education placements. One child regularly attends and is making good progress. Another child’s attendance is not as frequent, however, they have still made progress from their starting point. When children experience barriers to learning, staff advocate for them and work with teachers in the way a good parent would. As a result, children continue to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children’s hobbies, interests and talents. They arrange for children to attend local clubs. One child is currently playing for a local football team and another child attends a cheerleading club. One child is very talented at art and staff celebrate their work by displaying it in the home. Additionally, children enjoy activities with staff, such as ice skating and going to the cinema. Staff capture these experiences in photos which are displayed around the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children maintaining family relationships. They ensure that children see their families in line with their wishes, while also considering any relevant risk. This helps children to maintain important relationships and promotes a positive sense of identity.

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

There have been several incidents when children have gone missing from the home. This is predominantly related to one child who has a deprivation of liberty order in place. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s presenting risks and needs. They follow the child’s missing-from-care protocol and make every effort to locate Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 4 the child and report them missing to police. This proactive approach ensures that the child is quickly located and returned safely.

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

Staff respond well when managing incidents involving children. There have been occasions when one child has caused harm to themselves. Staff have taken appropriate action to ensure the child is kept safe, offering medical treatment or first aid. Additionally, staff have taken proactive and creative steps to support children to manage their heightened emotions. This supports children to feel safe and well cared for.

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

Staff always use a range of strategies to help children manage their big emotions. However, on occasions, staff have used physical intervention to keep children and others safe. Use of restraint is always proportionate and incidents have been recorded in a timely manner. Additionally, managers have ensured that staff and children are consulted with afterwards, which means that they have opportunities for reflection and learning.

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

Allegations from children are usually well managed. Leaders and managers have been able to demonstrate efficient and effective responses to allegations made by children. They ensure that action is taken to protect the child and information is shared with appropriate agencies. However, on one occasion, the manager did not follow the correct process, referring an allegation made against her to safeguarding agencies. This should have been made by someone senior to her. On a separate occasion, the manager did not notify Ofsted of an allegation.

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

New staff have been safely recruited. Recruitment of staff is detailed and robust. This makes sure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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good

Leaders and managers do not always act on concerns raised by children. For example, a child was unhappy regarding the conduct of a staff member. The manager did not take appropriate action or investigate the matter. This means that inappropriate conduct is not always addressed, and children may not feel listened to. Furthermore, this is a missed opportunity for reflection and learning for the staff member.

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good

The independent person does not regularly speak to children when they visit the home. Leaders and managers have not highlighted or taken action to address this. This is a missed opportunity for children to provide feedback on their experiences and could have led to an earlier resolution of a child’s complaint.

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good

The registered manager is highly motivated, dedicated and child-focused. She takes pride in creating a homely environment and in the progress children are making. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 5 Staff speak positively about working in the home and the support they receive from each other and, more so, from the manager. There is a settled core group of staff. This has meant children have remained relatively settled during a time when there have been challenges regarding staffing sufficiency and temporary staff have been used to cover shortfalls. The manager has been proactive in supporting new staff and has been an effective role model for them.

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good

Staff receive regular reflective supervision and ongoing support. Three staff currently hold the required level 3 diploma and a further seven staff are working towards their qualification. In addition, staff receive a wide range of training that informs their practice to meet children’s individualised needs. This means children receive care from skilled and well-informed staff.

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good

The manager has developed positive relationships with partner agencies. Feedback from professionals is positive. One social worker described the support from managers and staff for their child as ‘brilliant’ and said, ‘The placement is perfect for my child.’ This demonstrates the commitment and child-focused approach displayed by the manager and staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 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 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on —

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring appropriate investigation is evidenced in relation to inappropriate comments made by staff towards children. 29 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that children are regularly consulted with during visits by the independent person about the care they receive. 29 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 29 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 7 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring Ofsted is notified when a child makes an allegation of harm against a person working in the home.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior manager. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)

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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: SC020595 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Family Care Associates Ltd, Business Centre, 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire PR5 6QE

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC020595 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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