Children's Home run by BFG Together Limited in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2591033 1 Registered provider: BFG Together Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It offers short- and long-term care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

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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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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2591033 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2023 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2591033 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector spoke to three children living in the home during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built trusting relationships with those caring for them. Staff regularly carry out key-work discussions with children about things that are important in their lives. Children say that they feel able to talk to the staff about things that are important to them. This has helped children to share their worries and experiences with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager carefully considers all new referrals to the home to ensure that children’s needs can be met. Children said that they are aware of changes when children move into the home and have a positive experience. When a child has had to move on from the home, staff have worked closely with other professionals to determine what support is needed. This integrated and thoughtful approach means that children feel safe, well cared for and listened to. This enables the children to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to pursue their interests and hobbies. Children enjoy spending time with staff and getting involved in a variety of activities, such as go-karting, and they go on holidays and trips. One child has experienced their first holiday abroad. This gives children the opportunity to widen their experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for children to have an education or training provision. When children are not accessing full-time education or training, they are provided with structured activities and key-work sessions to support them to return to education. Two children have made good progress with their education since moving to the home, with one professional stating that the team has worked tirelessly to support one child back into education. This means that children make progress with their education from their individual starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop some independence skills, such as washing and cooking, to prepare them for their future. However, there is limited evidence of preparing children for leaving care and helping them to learn how to manage risks, budget and manage their own property. This means that children are anxious about moving on to independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are individual spaces for children to spend time and a variety of games for them to enjoy. However, communal bathrooms and flooring are not maintained to a good standard and need updating. Also, when children have caused damage to some areas of the home, this has not been repaired in a timely manner. This does not provide children with a home that is in a good condition.

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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2591033 4 Children’s risk assessments are kept up to date. Each risk is clear and includes a history of concerns and dates of incidents. This makes it easier for staff to see patterns and changes in children’s behaviours. There is a clear action plan for staff to follow to help them identify triggers and interventions to reduce risk. This helps staff to keep children safer.

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

When children go missing from home, staff know how to respond. Staff work together to ensure that children return home safely. When children return to the home, they are offered a warm welcome and support from staff. This is then followed up through the manager reviewing any triggers and staff carrying out key-work sessions. This helps children to reflect on their behaviours and better understand risks.

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

Staff respond quickly when children are not getting along. They work with outside agencies and carry out key-work sessions and activities with children to help develop their relationships. This has resulted in children’s relationships with each other improving.

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged in the home. Staff understand each child’s needs. When required, they use consequences that are proportionate. When consequences are used, the children’s views are sought and a review the effectiveness of the consequence takes place by the manager. This helps children to understand and adhere to boundaries in the home.

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

Children’s bedrooms are searched by staff when this is required. Room searches are carried out in line with children’s risk assessments. When they take place, children are aware of the reason for this and items that are of concern are removed. This helps to reduce risks to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by an experienced manager who is committed to the children and aspirational for their future. This fosters a positive culture among the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a robust recruitment process in place. Staff are suitably vetted before working in the home. They are supported through a comprehensive induction and training offer, which includes shadowing more-experienced workers. This helps the staff to become skilled and knowledgeable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision sessions. This provides them with the opportunity to discuss their practice and how this may impact on children and their learning needs, and the manager provides effective oversight and challenge where required. This learning culture means that staff continue to develop and acquire the skills that they need to support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers regularly monitor the quality of care provided to children. The registered manager has a clear process in place for auditing and monitoring all aspects Inspection report for children’s home: 2591033 5 of the home. The manager has been able to use this to identify areas where improvement is needed and what changes are required to improve the children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly. The minutes are well recorded and give staff a clear and consistent message around practice in the home and the children’s needs. The meetings are used effectively to review the children’s plans and ensure that staff are aware of their wishes and feelings. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591033 6

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure-

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)) 1 January 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, homely and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. In particular, ensure that improvements to the bathrooms and downstairs flooring are made and maintenance of the home is carried out in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2591033 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: BFG Together Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: BFG Together, NBV Enterprise Centre, David Lane, Nottingham NG6 0JU

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Inspector

Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2591033 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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