Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 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

The home can provide care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child is currently living in the home. They were spoken to during the inspection. Two children have left the home since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024. They also manage another children’s home.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

One enforcement action was issued on 9 November 2023. On 18 October 2023, Ofsted was notified of a serious safeguarding incident. As a result of this incident, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 1 November 2023 to assess whether the home had effective systems in place to keep children safe. Serious concerns were identified about the Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 2 home’s ability to keep children safe, and Ofsted issued a compliance notice related to the protection of children standard, regulation 12.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A second monitoring visit took place on 20 December 2023 to monitor compliance with the notice. All aspects of the compliance notice were found to have been met. Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has experienced significant change in managers, staff and the children living there. The child living in the home at the time of the inspection has made solid progress in their emotional health, social and psychological well-being. Trusting relationships have been formed that have helped the child to feel safe and secure in their home environment. Staff value feedback from children and take prompt action. For example, a new sofa has been bought for the home and flower borders have been created in the garden to encourage the child’s love for gardening.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide care individual to children. For example, the children’s guide was adapted for one child for their age and level of understanding. Staff are introduced to children gradually, to support them with building trusting and nurturing relationships with new staff. Individualised care has enabled children to communicate their feelings more easily, which better prepares them for future changes and independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is prioritised by staff. Attendance at weekly meetings with school staff ensures that they understand the daily lived experiences of children. Consistent communication with school helps staff to respond promptly to identified risks, so that children are safeguarded effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are trained in therapeutic models of care. Their expertise is recognised in feedback from one education professional, who said of staff, ‘It’s not a job because they are invested.’ Staff’s dedication is shown in the communication and emotional support offered to children after they leave the home. Therefore, children’s welfare remains at the centre of practice, which helps to make children’s moves less unsettling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Dedicated time and the attention from staff have enabled children to feel at ease in their home environment. One child said they are no longer worried about further rejection from carers and felt loved for the first time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child came to live at the home on an emergency basis; however, managers are scrupulous when considering referrals to ensure that the home is the right match for the child. Despite the child’s brief stay, quality time and care were provided by staff to minimise the child’s levels of distress, which assisted with their move to another home. Generally, moves in and out of the home have been well managed and responded to adequately, even when children’s placements have ended abruptly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships with family members and friends are encouraged by staff, which meets children’s identity needs. However, more curiosity could have been shown about one child’s arrangements as managers did not fully understand the child’s family network. These were outlined in care planning documents. This lack of knowledge prevented the child’s views and wishes being recognised and addressed fully. Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 5 There has been drift and delay from managers in escalating actions and ensuring documents are received to ensure that one child’s educational, health and physical well- being needs are understood and met. The lack of urgency in raising delays with the child’s placing local authority has prevented the child having access to support systems, such as a medical bracelet which they have been waiting for since February 2024. Leaders and managers are not reviewing recommendations and monitoring the actions

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

of all relevant agencies to ensure that they are being met and challenging when they are not. For example, when documents have not been received and professionals have not completed statutory visits.

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

Managers and staff fully understand the risks identified for children. Risk assessments are clear and regularly updated. This ensures that the child is safe. Staff are aware of what to do in relation to risks relating to children who go missing from home, children who harm themselves, allegations made by children and online safety. Staff regularly have discussions with children to help them understand how to keep themselves safe and better prepare them for independence.

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

There has been one complaint made by a child, following a serious assault by a child against a member of staff. The response to the complaint acknowledges the child’s views and wishes, and action plans were changed to implement their views and wishes. The child was spoken to promptly and sensitively after the incident.

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

Online activities had been identified as a risk for one child and this has been addressed well by staff. Greater levels of trust have been built up over time which have resulted in the child having more online access. Staff continue to carefully monitor the child’s online activities and the child has been helped to access the internet safely in the future. Consequently, no further issues have been identified in relation to the child’s online safety.

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

Positive rewards and recognition are used daily by staff and managers. Children’s self- esteem has increased, which enabled one child to buy an item they feel proud of with their pocket money. Consistent encouragement has enabled children to engage with school and make progress in re-engaging with community-based activities when they were previously reluctant to. Over time, children have become more reflective and accepting of advice due to the positive input from staff, which has built on their independence skills and brought about improved outcomes for children.

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

The fire risk assessment is adequate and reviewed regularly. However, all fire doors shut quickly, which could present a risk of injury if a child or adult did not move through the doorway quickly enough.

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

There have been no incidents of physical intervention since the last visit to the home, although one has been recorded since the last full inspection. Physical intervention is rarely used because staff rely on building nurturing and supportive relationships with children. Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 6 The home stores cleaning products and sharp knives in a locked cupboard. This is not necessary because these do not pose a risk to the child currently living in the home. Locking these items away does not add to the homely feel of the home and prevents the child learning how to keep themselves safe around chemicals and sharp knives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced, having managed another home for a year. She has only recently enrolled on a level 5 diploma so is not yet qualified. However, she has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She knows the staff team and the child. She implements effective monitoring systems to address areas of weakness and drive future improvement. She is supported by the responsible individual, who has good oversight of the home. Together they provide strong leadership, including in future development and contingency planning. The staff team has completely changed since the last inspection. They have learned lessons from their experiences with one child who no longer lives at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work alone with the child, however, staffing levels are currently sufficient and in line with the child’s needs. Managers are aware that there needs to be a consistent staff team to minimise disruption for the child and make them feel comfortable in their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recruitment is effective and helps to prevent unsuitable adults from working with children. All staff are qualified and experienced, and the statement of purpose is up to date with details of all staff. There have been significant changes in staffing since the last inspection, but the team has not changed since the new child came to live in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meet to discuss the welfare of the child and discussions are reflected in risk assessments and safety plans. The home is maintained to a high standard, with minor maintenance jobs responded to promptly. The manager and staff have high expectations for the home and feel confident in addressing issues promptly, to ensure high standards are maintained for the child living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to good training opportunities that contribute to their expertise. They have training specific to the needs of the child that ensures that they have the skills and knowledge to care for the child effectively. The manager checks learning in team meetings and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager keeps the location of the home under review. Appropriate action has been taken to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The development plan for the home is not written in a way that benefits staff or managers. Objectives in the plan tend to be stated as ongoing and are not always clear. This may prevent the development of staff. The manager has recognised this issue and intends to address this promptly. Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 7

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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 meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to reviewing and escalating outstanding actions set in meetings to address the care planning needs of children. 9 August 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the home complies with relevant health and safety legislation, however, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression. The rationale for cleaning products and sharp knives being locked away should be reviewed when children are not at risk from these items. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that internal monitoring documents are specific, with clear target dates to proactively implement lessons learned and sustain good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 8

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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: 2692103 9

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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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Inspectors

Caoimhe Richards, Social Care Inspector Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2692103 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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