Children's Home run by New Focus Child Care LTD in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children's home: 2774522 1 Registered provider: New Focus Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home. They were spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024 and also manages another local children’s home. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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 outstanding

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2774522 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child feels safe in their home and is building good-quality relationships with staff and the manager. The caring and consistent parenting has produced a positive environment and allows the child to speak openly about their lived experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm, friendly and personalised, with artwork created by the child. The manager has helped the child to personalise their bedroom, which they now take pride in. Clear boundaries are implemented, especially in relation to the importance of healthy daily routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work collaboratively with key professionals involved in the child’s life to ensure that all their needs are met. Access to suitable education provision is an issue to be resolved, which the manager has escalated in various ways. In the interim, the manager has been able to successfully engage the child in home education for three weeks when alternative services have been unsuccessful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A social worker described the child as ‘the happiest and most settled’ they have seen. Staff are knowledgeable about the therapeutic model used in the home. This is reflected in the way records are written and how staff respond to the child’s emotional needs. When there have been incidents, the manager provides timely oversight and then gives constructive feedback to staff to enable future learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has secured external therapeutic provision to help develop the knowledge and skills of the staff team, to meet the unique needs of the child. Significant progress has been made through the child engaging with this support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views and wishes are taken into consideration, with positive praise and regular discussions. The manager advocated for the child with an external professional on why the frequency of children’s meetings needed to be changed from weekly to fortnightly. The outcome of this challenge has allowed the child’s emotional needs to be met more effectively, due to the distress caused by more frequent meetings.

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

The manager and staff understand the child’s individual needs, which are clearly outlined in care plans and behaviour risk management plans. Plans are clear and updated regularly. The quality of these plans and staff practice have been strengthened because the manager identified that all staff needed to attend specific training to meet the individual needs of the child.

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

There have been no complaints or incidents of bullying, or the child going missing from home or hurting themselves. Physical intervention is seen as a last resort, with the Inspection report for children's home: 2774522 3 emphasis being on staff having helpful and therapeutic conversations with the child to resolve situations.

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

Consequences are fair and recorded in a timely way. A conversation is always held with the child to explain why consequences have been given and so they understand the reasons. The child is also helped to understand the internet restrictions in the home. The internet is turned on after education hours and once the child has cleaned their bedroom. These routines have increased the child’s engagement with education and helped them to start developing independence skills.

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

Staff educate the child about how to keep themselves safe and what a healthy future looks like. They discuss the importance of sleep routines, diet, personal hygiene and the benefits of therapy and attending education. Staff consistently review these subjects. They will arrange appointments with the doctor, for example, to assist with ongoing matters in relation to disrupted sleep routines. An independent reviewing officer described staff as showing ‘great commitment and persistence’.

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

Positive behaviours are recognised and recorded in a way that will capture memories for the child to read about in the future. These records have helped the manager to identify the progress that the child is making and the areas of outstanding need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a charismatic character, and staff speak highly of him, describing him as a ‘fantastic manager’ due to the high levels of support he provides to his team. This includes providing professional challenge to staff when appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s oversight is regular and thorough. He has created his own ‘progress planner’ as an effective monitoring tool to track the child’s progress against the quality standards and social care common inspection framework. The evidence-based tool allows staff to see sustained positive changes and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager thoroughly understands the needs of the child, which has nurtured a strong relationship between them and supported positive progress for the child. He has supported the child to rebuild their relationship with their social worker, which has been helpful them to feel their voice is heard. The manager has high aspirations for the home and leads by example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff support one another and have regular communication with the manager and responsible individual. The manager is better supported since a recent change of responsible individual and feels that senior managers listened to his concerns about work-life balance. His creative methods of working have enabled a collaborative working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are confident and value the regular supervision they receive from their manager. One staff member commented on how they feel they have contributed towards the Inspection report for children's home: 2774522 4 progress of the child, which has given them pride in the work they are doing. The manager trusts his staff, which is reflected in the consistency of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has taken prompt action when there is an expected change of staffing, to ensure that there are no vacancies. Rotas are organised to ensure that the needs of the child are met, and to ensure less experienced staff are partnered with senior staff to promote learning and confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made at this inspection.

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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: 2774522 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Focus Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit A4, Dewsbury Road, Fenton Industrial Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2TE

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Inspector

Caoimhe Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2774522 6 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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