Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 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 children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for two children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post, who took up position in February 2024. Ofsted is currently processing her application for registration.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The same two children lived at the home as at the time of the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Some staff have left the home, which has meant that some important relationships that were built with children have ended. However, the manager and staff have worked hard to create stability in the home and for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Practice in the home has continued to develop. For example, the staff have created a new rewards system and are providing more consistent boundaries to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff meet children’s health needs and advocate well for them. This ensures that they receive relevant specialist assessment when required.

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Findings from the inspection

Children attend school settings according to their needs and abilities. They attend school regularly. When issues arise in school, the staff are proactive in helping children to address these. This swift intervention by staff means that children’s learning is not compromised.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff have not ensured that children’s bedrooms are clean and provide a nurturing environment. A lack of attention to basic care and good hygiene practice from staff does not create a homely environment where children feel valued.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from effective support, help and protection. Staff have a good understanding of children’s specific needs and vulnerabilities and take appropriate. action to address them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children who go missing from the home are protected by good reporting procedures that are shared between the local authority and the police. However, children have not received an independent return interview after an episode of going missing. This is a missed opportunity to enable children to discuss their reasons for going missing from care and for the manager and staff to capture any learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the use of physical restraint has reduced. However, the recording of behavioural incidents is not consistent. For example, some incidents have been recorded with incorrect dates, entries have been completed late and staff and children have not been spoken to about what happened. This limits the manager’s ability to monitor the appropriate use of physical intervention.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the previous manager has left, and a new manager has been appointed. She has started to make changes to take the home forward. However, her limited time in post means that she has not yet had the opportunity to fully embed them. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 3 Staff receive appropriate supervision and training to enhance their knowledge base in support of their role.

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Findings from the inspection

The current staff team provides consistency for the children. Most members of staff have worked in the home for a relatively short period and have a good mix of experience and skills. The home has sufficient staff, and any shortfalls are covered by familiar staff from one of the provider’s other local homes.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has met the requirements from the last inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/12/2022 Full Good 17/08/2021 Full Good 21/11/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s bedrooms are suitably maintained. 14 April 2024

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

this relates to return home interviews taking place after a missing from care episode. 14 Apr 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 14 Apr 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 6 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(iv)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that records of restraint are completed in full, and both staff and children receive debriefs following incidents. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 7

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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

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 8 regulates and inspects 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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