Children's home run by Future Focused Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2726531 1 Registered provider: Future Focused Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in August 2023 and is operated by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection there was one child living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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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: 7 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2726531 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2726531 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has positive and trusting relationships with staff who know them well. Managers and staff spoke fondly and passionately about the child. The child said that the staff are one of the things they like most about living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child has plenty of opportunities to express their views, wishes and feelings through key worker sessions, general conversations and weekly consultations. The child said that if they have any worries or concerns, they can talk to the staff and feel that they will listen.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work alongside the child’s school to ensure that relevant information is shared and that all relevant professionals are working together to achieve the best educational outcomes for the child. As a result, the child’s school attendance has significantly improved and they enjoy going to school each day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to attend routine health appointments such as the dentist and opticians. They have also worked with professionals to make sure that specialist health and wellbeing support is available through the home’s in-house therapy team and child and adolescent mental health services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to take part in activities to meet their social, physical and educational needs such as therapy games, football, metal detecting and trampolining. Family time is also supported in line with agreed plans, this means that the child can maintain relationships that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment with photos of the child throughout. However, there are some areas of the home which have damage to the walls and require re-decoration. The child’s bedroom also does not have a covering on the window which means their dignity and privacy is not protected.

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

There has been one concern raised since the last inspection. This was responded to quickly and appropriately and all relevant professionals, including the local authority designated officer and social worker, were notified. Discussions took place with the child following the incident to ensure that they understood what had happened as a result of the concern.

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

Positive risk and behaviour support plans are detailed documents which are frequently updated. They include clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow.

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

When it has been necessary to hold the child to keep them safe, it has been reasonable and proportionate. Staff and the child have time after the incident to reflect on the Inspection report for children’s home: 2726531 4 incident. Staff also ensure that the child understands the reasons for the hold. The manager has suitable oversight of each incident to evaluate the effectiveness of behaviour support techniques used and to identify any triggers to the incident.

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

When staff have imposed consequences following negative behaviour, these are reasonable, proportionate and necessary. They are recorded appropriately and the manager reviews each occasion. However, staff use natural consequences as a more effective method to support the child to learn about their actions and choices. Positive behaviour is celebrated, rewarded and praised.

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

Staff complete direct work sessions with the child. These are both proactive and reactive. They cover relevant topics and current risks and are also completed following any significant events. They support and educate the child to understand about safety and emotions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a registered manager in post who is supported by a deputy manager. Leaders and managers know the child well and have an ambitious vision for what they can achieve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has suitable processes in place to ensure that he makes effective use of internal and external monitoring systems and has oversight of the home. He is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. However, there were some shortfalls in the oversight of staff recruitment files. One staff file checked did to include a full employment history or overseas checks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and consistent workforce. This means that children are looked after by staff they know well. Staff are trained in to ensure that they are able to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. They are an opportunity for staff to share information about the home and updates about the child. Staff also receive regular, practice related, supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff advocate for the child and work collaboratively with external professionals such as social worker, therapists and school to ensure that there is a team around them who can promote positive outcomes for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2726531 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

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

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any damage to the home is quickly repaired including re-decoration when required.

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Requirement Due date

In addition to this, the registered person must ensure that there is suitable window covering on the child’s bedroom window to ensure that their dignity and privacy is protected. 27 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 27 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2726531 6 Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is a full work history for each member of staff. Where there are gaps in employment, these must be explored. In addition to this, overseas checks must be completed when necessary.

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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: 2726531 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Future Focused Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Future Focused Limited, Crows Nest Business Park, Ashton Road, Billinge, Wigan, Lancashire WN5 7XX

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Inspector

Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2726531 8 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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