First Thought Care Services

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: First Thought Care Services 1 First Thought Care Services

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Registered provider: First Thought Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service is owned and managed by a private provider.

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provider

First Thought Care Services registered with Ofsted on 29 February 2024 to provide ring-fenced shared accommodation. The service manager registered on the same date and is also the nominated individual for the service. At the time of registration, the provider had one property offering supported accommodation for up to five children.

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provider

At the time of this visit, the provider was not accommodating any children.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to assess the provider’s response to a suspension notice issued by Ofsted, which was served on 23 August 2024. Ofsted suspended the provider’s registration due to significant concerns that children were at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

At the monitoring visit on 23 August 2024, Ofsted found that the provider had admitted children to the service whose needs exceeded those the regulator would expect to see in supported accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

The provider was given one day’s notice of this visit. The monitoring visit took place at the property operated by the provider.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, the provider had changed their admission processes to ensure that children with needs not suited to supported accommodation would not be admitted to the service. The registered service manager has oversight of the process and Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: First Thought Care Services 2 there are improved information-gathering protocols which actively involve social workers when referrals are being considered.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management systems and decision-making protocols have been amended and improved. Leaders and managers spoke confidently about how they would respond to a child whose needs increased or presented as higher than identified during the referral process. There are systems in place to ensure that children would not be placed with other children who were unsafe for them to live with. Staff have received additional training and were able to speak about how they would support children in line with regulation.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has implemented new first-aid guidance that sets out the actions staff are to take in relation to a child becoming ill or appearing to be intoxicated. Staff are clear about the action they would take if a child required medical assistance.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has implemented new processes around notifications and incident management, to ensure that Ofsted is notified of relevant incidents without delay. A training pack has been introduced, designed to give staff and managers a better understanding of when to notify external agencies of serious incidents.

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This monitoring visit

As no children were being accommodated at the time of this visit, improvements have yet to be put into practice and the effectiveness of improvements has yet to be determined. As a result, the requirements are repeated. Following the visit the suspension notice was lifted with immediate effect. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: First Thought Care Services 3

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(f)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that responses to serious incidents involving children are shared with all safeguarding and other professionals in a prompt and timely way. 18 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

13.—(1) The registered provider and the registered service manager must, having regard to— the category or categories of supported accommodation provided by the supported accommodation undertaking 18 January 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: First Thought Care Services 4 concerned, carry on or manage that undertaking with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 13 (1)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children receive a level of support not in excess of what would be expected in a supported accommodation setting.

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Requirement Due date

27. The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious; there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that Ofsted is notified without delay of any serious incidents involving children. 18 January 2025

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: First Thought Care Services 5

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: First Thought Care Services Ltd

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Inspectors

Stephen Challis, Social Care Inspector Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: First Thought Care Services 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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